THE first trade show for the Women Entrepreneurs and Business Council (WEBC) held yesterday proved to be a success for the members.
WEBC chairwoman Eseta Nadakuitavuki said their plan was to come up with a lot of activities such as business mentoring for members, toastmaster competitions to ensure they boosted their self-confidence and be able to communicate with potential buyers of their products.
Ms Nadakuitavuki said the major objective of the trade show was to bring women entrepreneurs from the council together and give them a level playing field where they could showcase their products.
“At the end of the day we would like people to know about us and connect with us,” she said.
She said another prime objective of the event was to help members get access to markets.
“So we hope that there are some retailers or shop owners and connect with the members who would be able to supply them with the products that they have.”
Ms Nadakuitavuki said the event started at 9am and by midday members had received positive response from people who visited their stalls and bought their products.
She said the WEBC members would have their entrepreneurs’ convention at the Raintree Lodge today where they would talk about their issues and challenges and how they could support each other better.
Meanwhile, consultant Sharyne Fong, who has been roped in to be a champion of the council’s trade show and convention, said the event provided a good platform for entrepreneurs to raise awareness on their products.
“I am from the service industry, I have my own consultancy business and those of us who are in consultancy are here to talk to the women on how they can advance their business,” she said.
Ms Fong said this was to also expose members to the public and raise awareness on what the members had in terms of products and services.
According to Ms Fong, the event also gave them the opportunity to talk to women who were interested in what the council did and how it could assist them in their business.
Api Kurusiga from Lapita Marketing Enterprises said she had been a member of the WEBC since its inception and advised other women to make an effort to join.
Ms Kurusiga said the trade show was a good place for entrepreneurs to be part of if they wanted to let people know about their products.
Speaking on the work being done by WEBC, Ms Kurusiga said the council gave women entrepreneurs an opportunity to come together and work with each other.
She said being part of the council encouraged the women to commit to their business and talk about their struggles, challenges and discuss ways to overcome the challenges.
The trade show was held yesterday at Terry Walk in downtown Suva and was supported by the Fiji Women Fund and the US Embassy in Suva.
