A mum’s ambition
PAULINI Dulaki has had many jobs before she ventured out on her own to do her own thing. The 30-year-old mother of one said she loves what she does despite how things may look to others.
She operates a booth selling junk jewelries along Robertson Rd in Suva. The former bank employee believes that no job is too big or small for anyone.
Paulini makes her own collection of amazing jewelries located at her booth just opposite the busy Suva Municipal Market.
Sometime you’ll catch her making jewelries, carefully crafting piece together to form beautiful earrings and necklaces. She sells it not more than $5 each to anyone willing to buy. Some of those earrings cost $2 to $3 each.
Paulini graduated in 2012 from the Fiji National University, majoring in Economics and Finance and also worked at the Mind Pearl between 2012 and 2015. She joined an Australian company up until 2016 when she left to join a bank and later resigned in 2018.
Throughout her work career, Paulini wasn’t really happy - more longing to operate her own business. That thought had crossed her mind many times before until she finally found the strength to follow her intuition.
“People look at me and ask why I left my job to be on the roadside selling, but everyone has a different perspective about which job is better – I believe no job is big or small.
“The idea to sell jewelry first dawned on me when my family got into a small business selling imported perfume products. In 2018, I left work to help my family in the business
“While assisting in the perfume sale, I started my jewelries on the side to earn a little extra for myself. I have reasonable priced jewelries to make it easy on others,” she said.
She adds that she wants every girl to be part of the fashion jewelry trend hence her low prices.
So far business has been good she said. “It keeps fluctuating, sometimes more and sometimes less,” she said.
Paulini said she used to sell from Rodwell Rd just in front of Courts but was moved by the council to Robertson Rd.
“It’s a good spot but I’m really wanting to explore another better spot in the future. Time management is a problem I face because I operate the business from Monday to Saturday and then go to church on Sundays.” She barely gets time to rest.
“One of my biggest challenges starting, was when some people looked down on me, but I’ve grown in the past two years and it doesn’t bother me much anymore,” she said
Paulini says her advice to people that want to start a small business is to always believe in yourself.
“Always believe in yourself, what you can do for yourself. I have actually learnt so much here compared to when I was at the desk,” she said.