Dorecca taking first step into business world

People

By BOURA GORUKILA
MILNE Bay girl Dorecca Dominic Kurena, 25, is venturing into the business world.
She is starting small, like many people, but is determined to see how far she can go.
She sells carvings, mats and other items at the craft markets around Port Moresby.
As part of her plan to expand her business skills and entrepreneurship, she has enrolled for a six-month Accounting course at an institute in Port Moresby.
She thanks God that her business plan is slowly but surely falling into place.
“I will continue my craft sales on top of my studies because I earn money to help my family.”
Her husband who works for an airline company gets paid fortnightly. So she complements his salary.
Dorecca is from Kiriwina in Losuia district, Milne Bay.
She is happy that the skills and knowledge she will acquire during her studies will help her in her business.
Her school fee is K3,900. K3,000 of that is covered under the Kiriwina Goodenough MP Douglas Tomuriesa’s scholarship programme. She will pay K900 from her craft sale business.
“I have been selling small craft like earrings, bungles, necklaces since 2017. I sometimes get my husband to sell them to his female workmates and I make good sales out of it. I also advertise my products on my face book page Buna Arts and Crafts.”
She did grades one to six at the Okaiboma Community School in Milne Bay up to 2005. She completed Grade Eight at Gusaweta Primary School in 2007 and Grade 10 at Kiriwina High School in 2009.
She flew over to Port Moresby to pursue an Office Administration Studies programme at the Limana Vocational Centre for six months.

“ I will continue my craft sales on top of my studies because I earn money to help my family.”

She was offered a job at the Pacific Industries as an Accounts officer, then a Payroll officer. She worked there for about two years.
She decided to leave her job when she became pregnant. She stayed at home for four years.
In 2017, she decided to start a small business selling carvings of fishes, combs and traditional items carved out of eboni wood and kwila wood. She sold them for between K50 and K700.
She also sells mats for between K50 and K150 depending on sizes and designs. Yam baskets called peta and bilum are sold for between K15 and K50.
She orders her carvings and items from Milne Bay on a regular basis, depending on how fast her sales go.
“If the sale is good, I earn K400 to K500.”
She sells her products at the market located near the Sir John Guise Stadium, and the night market in Down Town. She made K1,100 there on her first night.
She paid K150 at these venues as fees. The market at Holiday Inn only charges K20 fees.
She is also trying out her hand on sewing dresses.
She is happy that her business is expanding.
“Life would be only fun when you start something, because that’s when you will earn money and work on your dream.”
As the Chinese proverb goes, a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. Dorecca is taking her first step. From here, she will see how far she can go.