Doctor Jacklyn runs small side-hustle business

By LORRAINE KLUKI
AFTER her mother passed away in December 2022, Jacklyn Kaiwa, who was studying medicine at the University of PNG, decided to start a small online business to earn some money.
“I am someone who likes quality stuff, especially clothing and other accessories such as jewelry and shoes. But I was not able to find these items in local shops. That was when the idea came about to start ordering online.”
Jacklyn, 26, is the eldest in a family of three sisters and one brother whose father is from West New Britain, and mother from Manus.
She graduated with a Bachelor in Medicine and Surgery at the University of PNG in April last year. She is currently doing her residency at the Angau Memorial Hospital in Lae.

“ One should always think outside the box and start something for oneself that will not only benefit one now, but also one’s children in the future.”

Jacklyn began her small business in 2021 and registered it as the Pikus Shop. She operated it like a mobile-business, retailing goods purchased online.
“People send money to me and I pay on their behalf. Once all the items are consolidated by my shipping agent, the total freight is divided among the number of SMEs which purchased the items.
“They pay at a lower price. It gives them the chance to resell and make more profit.”
Weighted down by a job that requires 99 percent of her time, and siblings to help look after, she took up the challenge of starting a business.
“People started asking me where I get these items I sold online. That was the beginning of the Pikus Shop.”
Her customers are from around the country.
Jacklyn also helps other small business owners order their items online with an affordable freight cost. Usually, the customers send pictures of their preferred items to buy, then she browses the online shops for the prices, and informs them.
Because of her profession, she finds as one of her biggest challenges time to commit to Pikus shop. But now she knows how best to allocate and manage her time between being a doctor and a businesswoman.
She believes that people should not solely rely on their fortnightly pay as their sole source of income but explore other ways they can generate money.
“Our society is such that once you are employed, you carry the burden for your family plus other responsibilities as well.
“One should always think outside the box and start something for oneself that will not only benefit one now, but also one’s children in the future.”
Her advice to young professionals wanting to venture into such side-hustles is to start now.
“You may have millions of ideas but you have to start with one and make the effort to achieve an end.”
The Pikus name spontaneously came about when she was trying to create a Facebook page for her business.
“Sounds cocky, but yeah, Pikus is a huge tree that sometimes signifies strength and power. I am someone who my family refers to as independent and strong at a very young age, because I am the eldest.”
The good doctor clearly wants to set an example not only to her siblings but to others as well.