Sydney-based company ‘Siuhuu’ has launched its services in Fiji, with plans to expand to Vanuatu and Samoa in the near future.
The online marketplace has around 200 businesses selling food, beverages, handicrafts, jewellery, and more to customers based in Australia, New Zealand, and the United States.
Tongan founder Akanesi Kaufusi, who has a background in business theology, launched the venture two years ago after taking a course in web development.
Kaufusi noted: “When I was living in Wellington, New Zealand, I was struggling to find Pacific Island products and services near me so I thought, ‘If only there was a marketplace for Pacific Island people?’. That was 14 years ago. Then I moved to Sydney, Australia, and I experienced the same struggle. Some of my family and friends who’ve lived in Australia for 10 years don’t know any Samoan or other Pacific Island restaurants [near them], so I thought why don’t I take up this challenge and create this platform.”
Kaufusi believes the Siuhuu platform can address this marketing issue for Pacific MSMEs.
“To create a website is expensive and you have to market your own business. Most small businesses don’t have that kind of resource and that’s why we [also] created Siuhuu,” she said.
Kaufusi, who attended the recent Women’s Forum at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Samoa, said the event also recognised logistical challenges that Pacific MSMEs face.
“Sometimes, the cost of delivery is more expensive than the product. That’s something we’re looking to solve as well once we sort out our payment gateways,” she said.
Vodafone Fiji has partnered with Siuhuu to provide its online payment method, M-Paisa, to its regional vendors and customers.
Speaking at Siuhuu’s soft launch in Suva last week, Vodafone Fiji’s Head of eCommerce & Digital Financial Services, Shailendra Prasad, noted Siuhuu’s entry into the Fiji market “couldn’t have come at a better time”, acknowledging the recent integration between commercial banks and mobile wallets in Fiji.
“Let’s say, a customer on Koro Island who’s seen something very interesting on Siuhuu, they can easily pull money from their bank accounts and into their M-Paisa account, and use M-Paisa as a payment method,” said Prasad.
“We are all working together to open up more opportunities for MSMEs to target customers that they’ve never been able to. The M-Paisa platform is available in Kiribati, Cook Islands, Vanuatu, Samoa and soon in Papua New Guinea,” he added.
Fijian entrepreneur Noeleene Billings, 50, has seen the benefit of marketing her products on several e-commerce platforms. She runs businesses in project management and selling freshwater pearl jewellery.
“My advice to people is to get online while it’s still new. Don’t wait for later because it takes time to build your reputation and your visibility online,” she said.