Photos by Mary Lyn Fonua

Culture Fusion with their "I Love Tonga" mugs, from left, Chris Egan, 'Ilisapesi Fonua, Finau 'Ahokava, and Luisa Fonua. Nuku'alofa, 12 December 2013.

Three young Tongan entrepreneurs and their mentor won  $4,000 investment capital for their creative business venture “Culture Fusion”, receiving the top award and the praise of the judges last night in Tonga’s Women in Business Be Your Dream 2012-13 programme.

The "Culture Fusion" team of creative sisters Luisa and 'Ilisapesi Fonua, with their marketing head Finau 'Ahokava and mentor Chris Egan, over the last six months have successfully developed a small business enterprise using their creative talents to produce souvenirs for Tonga's tourism market.

Their hand-painted mugs, fridge magnets and other souvenirs incorporate modern Tongan motifs and have been successfully marketed through Nuku‘alofa's new cruise ship markets, and with flair through a "mug shots" Facebook page, after the team resolved their production issues successfully.

The chairperson of the panel of judges, Leta Kami, Managing Director of the Tonga Development Bank, said that during the implementation phase of the competition the winning team had faced some serious production issues that they had resolved impressively over the last six months.

“Last week was the most exhilarating, fulfilling experience to judge this and be totally blown away as they shared to us their presentation and video clip,” said Leta.

Each business in the programme, although very different in product lines and services, had common issues in finance, human resources, hiring, the technology, marketing issues, and dealing with competition.

“We were so impressed and totally inspired hearing how each businesses commitment and persistence got them to where they are today,” she said.

Taking the risk

“Real business experience is learning new skills, dirtying your hands and getting down to it and as a success factor in business, to keep going the extra mile, get yourself trained, if that's what it takes, just to get the sales up and to get it going. ... This is what business is all about this is how dreams are realized, it is taking the risk to trust someone else, it is the commitment and the dedication to entrepreneurial spirit and how you put it into action that makes the difference.”

She said that the judges, including the lending manager of the ANZ Tonga Morrison Dansey, and Adiloa Latu, the Honorary Consul for Finland, believed that all the teams were winners in their business journey.

“We enjoyed seeing your growth not only as a team but also individually, the talents, creativity, the confidence and stretching your ability…you have all got it what it takes to be successful in business, and your network has extended now right into the loans offices of the Tonga Development Bank and the ANZ Bank.”

“We challenge all of you keep your dreams alive and leave a legacy with being a pioneer in this women in business programme,” she said.

Teams

The three runners- up in the competition were: Tasty Delights (Tupou Kefu, Pisila Taufe'ulungaki, Anau Tupou and Suliana 'Uta'atu); Taste Tinglerz (Lusitania Nakao, Patea Fonua, Kathleen Burenivalu and Anatangi Hala'eua); 
and Fonolahi Trading (Ane Fonolahi, Naise Dakai, Lupe Goulton and Seini Osonara Vakanawa Kubu).

Culture Fusion entered the first phase of the competition with sponsorship from WISE (Tonga) Inc. and progressed to the final four teams last April when they won over $1,350 in seed capital to implement their business plan. They underwent a three-day business training program mid-year, and had six months to implement their plans under the mentorship of TBEC, before the final judging last week.

The business development programme was run by the Emerging Pacific Women's Leaders Program, which aims to provide women with an opportunity to learn how to make a sustainable livelihood.

The programme was supported with AUD $25,000 through the EPWLP Programme and Australian and New Zealand Aid, team support from WISE (Tonga) Inc. and TBEC, and with local sponsorship of $10,000 from FEXCO Western Union and Robina Nakao who supported the completion of the programme.

The top award was presented last night at dinner hosted by Robina Nakao at Café Escape.