SAM THE FLORIST
SAMUELA Bavesi is turning heads in a business predominantly the domain of women. The 39-year-old Navuso man is a florist. And the story of how he established himself is a tale in itself. Mr Bavesi said he was educated at Navuso Primary School and moved on to Rampur College where he completed his high school education.
“After I left school, I was working for a Samoan lady and my job was to deliver flowers to some of the hotels along the Coral Coast, Nadroga. One day she got sick and she encouraged me to take over the business.
“I told her that I couldn’t do it because I’m a man, but she kept on pushing me,” he said.
Mr Bavesi said his traditional role allowed him to adapt to the new opportunity.
“She gave me a pair of scissors and taught me the basics of flower arrangement.
“And because I’m a descendant of mataisau (traditional craftsmen), when we see anything once, we pick it up very quickly.”
After one week of on the job training, he began to manage all three hotels the Naviti Resort, Warwick Resort and Tambua Sands.
“As time passed by, I met someone in a bus on my way to Suva and little did I know at the time, she would become the mother of my children in the future. We got married in 2016 and I never regretted choosing this Mataso girl from
Ra as she has always been by my side, encouraging me through my ups and downs.
“We used to deliver flowers from home in Davuilevu to the three hotels three to four times a week, depending on the number of weddings and birthdays that were booked there.
“Unfortunately, when COVID-19 struck last year, hotels closed down so I had to stop my business.
“From there, I decided to try making wreaths and wedding bouquets and posting it on Facebook.
“I was surprised at the amount of people who began calling me and placing orders.”
Mr Bavesi said he buys flowers from vendors along the Nausori-Nasinu corridor and some are cut from their flower garden in the village.