Businesswoman Sharryll unfazed by competition

By MAZIE SELMBIA
SOMEONE once said: “If you want to be the best, you will be the number one. But if you want to be unique, you will be the only one. Remember that.”
At 23, Sharryll Waramboi owns and runs her own business supplying stationery and retail goods to corporate clients and walk-in customers in Lae.
“It is very challenging to run a business at an early age, but with the right group of people for support, nothing can stop you.”
Sharryll is the eldest of three children born to Joel and Julie from East Sepik and New Ireland. She is the managing director of Fortune Niugini Supplies Ltd whose clients include the PNG University of Technology, Balob Teachers College, National Polytechnic Institute PNG, Morobe provincial government offices and business houses in Lae city.
“We have a family business managed by my parents. So I grew up working with my parents, learning from them and that really inspired and motivated me to do something for myself.”
She recently completed her Bachelor in Business Management degree at the University of Papua New Guinea and is awaiting her graduation in April.
“I took up business management mainly because I felt that I needed to know how to manage my business, and help my parents manage their business as well. I can assist them with anything they are not familiar with.”

“ It is very challenging to run a business at an early age, but with the right group of people for support, nothing can stop you.”

Another reason is that Sharryll does not want to look for jobs, which are scarce right now, after graduating from university.
“There are limited jobs out there and I hate the idea of finishing from colleges and universities then looking for jobs from other people, only to get paid under the minimum wage.”
She set up her business in 2019 before she went to UPNG.
“While at university, my parents helped run and manage the business. I take over when I return for semester breaks and Christmas holidays.”
She has a showroom at Lae’s Toptown Second Street with 12 employees. They also provide secretarial works such as printing and letter-writing.
Her main challenge in the stationery and supply business is the high import tax and the competition with foreign-owned stationery businesses.
The business imports A4 paper, lecture books, exercise books and other stationery items.
“The cost of importing which includes freight costs, customs, import duties, taxes is very high. The Kina value has depreciated in the last three years which has really affected business because we have to reduce some of our stock.”
Competing with foreign-owned stationery shops is something her team is coping with.
“We have to work very hard to compete against them and bring in more customers. Rentals have also gone up, electricity bills have gone up, salary bill is high as we have to pay above the minimum wage rate of K3.50.”
But Sharryll is determined to continue the business with the support of her hardworking employees and her family.
“I plan on growing and expanding my business. I do not want to remain the same in the next 10 years.”
She is happy to be self-dependent and satisfied to be providing people jobs, believing that helping those who are helping you results in a win-win situation.
“As long as I am helping them, they are helping me, and together we can prosper.”
Self-driven, industrious with a positive mental attitude, Sharryll is reaching for the sky.
“I have to do something to support myself and my family during these times.”