SAMOA: Growing the business with dough
Nearly 30 years ago Tapusoa Malulaufai I’aulualo, along with his wife Vaotoga Lauaki I’aulualo, started a humble shop selling groceries to passing customers through a street-facing window in their home. That shop is unrecognisable now as it has been converted to a walk-in minimart or supermarket in front and a rapidly expanding bakery at the back.
There’s no competition in tiny Fa’a’ala, Savai’i, and the I’aulualo family struggle to keep up with demand which now includes school children buying not just their school lunches from the bakery, but breakfast as well! It’s their own fault – this family just keeps having great ideas for expansion. Tapusoa Malulaufai and Vaotoga Lauaki are members of a business owners association in Savaii – the Business of Salafai Association (BOSA) – which has partnered with the local Chamber of Commerce.
It was through the Chamber that they found out about Business Link Pacific, and the wonderful John Lemoa who heads BLP in Samoa. “John came to Savai’i to talk to our association. He was so helpful, providing a lot of information about the Business Support Grant when applications opened. He encouraged people to apply so businesses would grow and develop on Savai’i.”
Twice now the I’aulualo family has successfully applied for a Grant from BLP, on each occasion relying on John for assistance during the process. The first Grant was used to purchase a large oven for the bakery and a bread mixer. Vaotoga Lauaki explains, “At that time we had only recently started the bakery. For the second Grant we needed funds for another mixer because demand had grown, and production was not keeping up. We also purchased another smaller oven and an ice machine so we can sell ice through the minimart.”
The expanded bakery capacity means more bread, pies, cream buns, coconut buns and doughnuts, as well as wedding and birthday cakes. They even offer catering for local events such as funerals, weddings and birthdays.
I’aulualo Minimart and Bakery now employs seven men in the bakery and five women in the minimart. “We like to employ young people straight out of school to give them a chance, and an opportunity to experience the workforce.”
The I’aulualo family has plans for even further expansion of the bakery. Vaotoga Lauaki says, “We need more space and a larger working area. We also need to get more airflow for our workers. The oven is very hot and it’s a busy working place. Some of the boys run outside for cool air even on very hot days, but the air outside isn’t much cooler!”
Growth is growth, and as the bakery grows so do the number of employees, and the amount of money being put back into the community. “We are so grateful to BLP for the money; it is a huge help.”
It requires the right mindset for business owners to see and grasp new opportunities as they arise. Business Link Pacific can help with this through their free online business assessment tools – https://sme.businesslinkpacific.com/#business-toolkit, or by providing subsidised business advice or Business Support Grants – https://about.businesslinkpacific.com/what-are-blps-finance-services-support/.