Esther plans to help local artisans venture into online business

ESHTER Sione, an art and jewellery enterpriser, has pursued further studies to help local enterprises and artisans to venture into online business, according to the Australian Awards.
Her business called Te’hine Trend integrates jewellery, craft and fashion pieces from local artisans to create contemporary styles and are sold online.
“As sales grew, I realised that customers in other provinces were also interested in culture-based pieces from other provinces but were unable to purchase online as local artisans were unfamiliar with the use of the internet,” Sione said.
According to Australian Awards, the unpopularity of online business in the country prompted Sione to pursue her second aim – to advertise and deliver domestically to other provinces and internationally.
“Esther’s desire to expand her business and help her community has inspired her to undertake a Certificate IV in Entrepreneurship and New Venture Creation through the Australia Awards short courses,” a statement said.
She had to teach other women who didn’t have jobs to have an entrepreneurial mindset and buy from local artisans and resell online.
“I developed more confidence while studying in Australia, observing the businesses and markets there, developing new skills and ideas,” Sione said.
Reflecting on her time in Noosa, Sunshine Coast, Sione said: “It was fascinating to learn how much this Australian region’s economy was growing, with tourism being one of the main contributing factors.
“I also noticed that most people living in Noosa were very successful, strong entrepreneurs.”
Esther believes that one of the most valuable lessons she learned from the course was to diversify her products and this was the first thing she focused on when making her business plan.
While Covid-19 prevented her from returning to Australia for the second block of the course, Esther said it forced her to think creatively and diversify her fashion line in just a few months rather than over a number of years as she had planned.
It has helped her to focus on utilising technology to achieve her goals.
She had learned to use new tools such as Canva to improve her online marketing.