Stitches to success – from hobbyist to entrepreneur
In her childhood Kerima Kalangi enjoyed watching her mother sew and this joy sparked an interest in sewing and valuable business skills which has grown a hobby into a developing garment business.
“My mother sewed, and I would sit next to her, watching her create clothes for her customers in our village,” she recalls. “Before long I was asking her to cut dress patterns so I could sew garments for special occasions, such as Christmas.”
After moving from her home island of Malekula to the busy town of Port Vila, she worked as a housemaid for one of her aunts who worked with other women sewing. From these experiences her passion for sewing deepened and while raising her family she continued to build her skills at home as a hobby for 16 years.
In 2022, Kerima decided to register as a business and joined the Resilience Tailoring Group, which operates booths in a building near downtown Port Vila. Her customer base grew and gave her exposure to various business activities, events, and resources. However, as sales increased, she faced challenges in maintaining stock.
Lacking business and financial acumen, she struggled with cash flow which often meant she needed to wait for her sewn dresses to sell before she could purchase more materials. While she was generating income to support her family, she didn’t yet possess the entrepreneurial mindset or business skills necessary to take her business to the next level.
It was fortunate that at this stage Kerima learned about Business Link Pacific (BLP) and approached the BLP Business Service Manager at the Vanuatu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) for assistance with her online application for a BLP Business Support Grant.
“Bai mi traem nomo,” she expressed, meaning “I will just try”. Meanwhile, VCCI organised a workshop on budgeting and product pricing for local seamstresses, in which Kerima participated. The workshop transformed her perspective, emphasizing the importance of separating personal and business finances, as well as record-keeping.
Eager for further knowledge, Kerima enrolled in a three-month, one-day-per-week training program offered by the Mormon Church focused on starting and growing a business for self-reliance.
She was then elated to learn that her application for the BLP Business Support Grant had been approved. With the grant, she acquired an overlock machine, rolls of fabric, fabric paint, and various sewing accessories (laces, thread, scissors).
Since then, she has:
- increased her production of dresses, without the need to wait for sales to purchase further materials
- established a separate bank account for her business to deposit earnings from products purchased with the grant
- committed to depositing business profits into her business account, aiming to reach and exceed the grant amount of 270,000 VT
- observed a rise in her overall profit.
Kerima extends her heartfelt gratitude to Business Link Pacific for their assistance. “I have never received a grant before; this is my first time,” she says, beaming with joy.
BLP facilitates 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 our local partners to arrange a face-to-face Diagnostic.