For Arishma Ashwini Devi and her husband, the turning point in their small printing business came the moment Business Assistance Fiji connected the duo to a BLP-approved Business Advisor, Ronal Singh of Expert Edge Accountancy Solutions.
From preparing their financials to lodging their BLP grant application, Singh handled everything, making a process that once felt complicated, suddenly simple.
“He manages everything for us, all accounting responsibilities, as well as the full process for any grant applications, including the paperwork. We simply provide the required details. Having the right advisor is crucial,” Arishma says.
The BLP advisor’s support opened the door to the assistance they needed most: a BLP grant to get a T-shirt printer that would transform their income and their confidence.
Before this, Arishma Electroprints, was just printing cups, key tags, and frames from home, the only customised printing service in both Rakiraki and Tavua. But while those items brought occasional sales, the income wasn’t steady.
Once the T-shirt printer arrived, everything changed for Arishma Electroprints.
T-shirt printing brought daily customers, bulk orders, and consistent earnings. Arishma now prints close to 100 T-shirts a month. Some weeks, customers even bring in pillowcases and other items to print. The steady flow of work means she now earns about $1,000 to $2,000 in a fortnight, a dramatic shift from when she first started as a housewife trying to support her family.
With growing demand and stable income, they opened a dedicated shop in February this year, thanks to the printer that was enabled by the BLP grant.
“We ran our business from home, but this printer made it possible for us to earn enough to open our shop in town,” she shared.
Today, customers no longer have to travel to Lautoka or Ba for customized printing. Everything they need is now available right in Rakiraki.
“Look at these boxes,” Arishma said, as she points to the boxes piled in the small room. “These are T-shirts for some students and their parents. We get these now every other day,” she adds.
Arishma encourages other small business owners to take the same path:
“When you get an approved BLP advisor, it becomes very easy because they already know the process and if you get a grant, it really helps you expand.”
What began as a mother’s effort to support her husband and children is now a thriving, sustainable business built on determination, strong family support, and the power of having a BLP-approved advisor by her side.
Arishma Electro Prints’ growth journey has been strengthened through targeted support and timely assistance from BAF at critical stages of the business.
The business recently received support through the Trade Enhancement Programme (TEP), where BAF guided and assisted with the application process, helping position the enterprise for growth opportunities.
To strengthen financial compliance and business credibility, BAF also supported the preparation and filing of the 2024 fiscal year financial statements, including the Financial Statement Compilation Report and the submission of Personal Income Tax (PIT) returns through the FRCS Portal, with these services provided under subsidy support.
As the business expanded its operations, Arishma Electro Prints successfully secured printing equipment through the BLP Small Grant Facility, enabling improved production capacity and service delivery.
In addition, the enterprise benefited from Sole Trader Grant Business Plan development, with costs subsidised under the BLP programme. This ensured the business had a clear, structured plan to guide operations, growth and future funding opportunities.
Together, these interventions have strengthened Arishma Electro Prints’ financial management, operational capacity and long-term sustainability, demonstrating how coordinated support can help MSMEs move forward with confidence and clarity.
Better, fast
If you are an MSME owner looking to grow your business, improve your systems, or strengthen your resilience, reach out to BLP today. BLP can facilitate access to business advisory services and financial support.
To start your journey with BLP, you can self-assess your needs by using the free online tools available to help small- and medium-sized businesses diagnose areas in their businesses that an advisor could improve.
The first step can be the online Business Health Check. You can also check your business’s resilience to respond to crises or climate change challenges on the Business Continuity Planner and the Climate Action Sensor.
If you prefer to meet a local BLP representative in person to discuss your business, get in touch with BLP local partners to arrange a face-to-face Diagnostic