TARAIVINI Qaravi, a passionate beekeeper and mother of four from Nasaucoko, Navosa, is the proud owner of “Sabolo Honey”, a growing family business that has transitioned from humble beginnings into a promising brand.
At 48 years old, Ms Qaravi’s entrepreneurial journey began over a decade ago, rooted in a simple desire to turn their love for honey into a thriving business.
“SABOLO,” a name chosen by her daughter, reflects the journey of their hard work.
In Fijian, “Sabolo” translates to “sample” signifying the first official step in turning their beekeeping into a more formal and market-ready product.
The moment marks a significant milestone for the Qaravi family, whose honey business has grown from a small-scale operation to a fully-fledged venture.
What began as a family affair, with Ms Qaravi’s husband harvesting the honey and her children assisting with cleaning and packing, has evolved into a business that now produces bottled honey for retail.
Initially, the family sold honey in bulk, packaging it in buckets without any labelling. However, with the support of their daughter, who is now overseas helping financially, Sabolo Honey has introduced neatly packaged, sealed bottles with eye-catching labels, elevating the product to meet business standards.
“We never knew the opportunities that were available in the honey business until we started looking into it more seriously,” Ms Qaravi said.
“We started with just two bee hives and now, we have ten. We even have some boxes in our village and are slowly expanding.”
A major turning point for Ms Qaravi and her family came when they joined the Academy for Women Entrepreneurs (AWE).
Through the academy, Ms Qaravi gained invaluable business knowledge and built connections with other women entrepreneurs.
The AWE also helped her realise that running a business, no matter its size, is a big achievement.
“I have learned so much from AWE, and it gave me the confidence to present our products and grow our business,” she said.
The success of Sabolo Honey isn’t just about profit. Ms Qaravi said she is committed to giving back to her community and family, investing any earnings back into the business and helping her children develop important skills.
“This business is not just for me, but for my family. It’s about creating something that will last and benefit everyone around us,” she said.
Ms Qaravi has a clear vision for Sabolo Honey’s future. She hopes to continue expanding the business, with a goal of making it a well-known brand in Fiji.
Through hard work, perseverance, and the support of her family and organisations like AWE, she is confident that Sabolo Honey will grow into a household name.
Her advice to aspiring entrepreneurs is simple yet powerful:
“Take that first step. Don’t be afraid to start. Once you take that initial leap, everything else will fall into place. If you have the interest and the mindset, you can succeed.”
With the foundation built on dedication and family values, “Sabolo Honey” is poised for a sweet future.
NOTE: This article was first published in the print edition of the Fiji Times dated December 28, 2024.
