Thelma sees value in selling traditional baskets

By CLARISSA MOI
PEOPLE should not drop the value of traditional products but consider their intellectual properties and sell them accordingly, owner of the Imbonggu Baskets shop Thelma Ninjipa Kavanamur says. The 40-year-old is from Piambil in Southern Highlands, and married to Ronald Kavanamur. They have two daughters Ariela, 7, and Natera, 4.  After lack of space to sell traditional baskets made by people from Imbonggu, she finally secured a space at the Unity Mall, Steamships Compound, in Waigani, which was opened on Friday. She is passionate about providing services to her people. “(One) has to have a push, a vision and drive but it has to come from something,” she said. Ninjipa-Kavanamur moved to Port Moresby from Imbonggu in June 2018. She said a father would ask her to help him with school fees or food. “They would bring me all these baskets which I would buy just to help them,” she said. “My room was filled with baskets.” A man came to her home early one morning and dumped baskets at the door. “He said I trust you. I know you can sell these baskets and bring back the money to me,” Ninjipa-Kavanamur said. “Those words moved me because someone trusted me and he woke up at about 5am, walked about three to four miles just to be at my door. “I told him that it was December but he said I don’t care just take them (baskets).” Ninjipa-Kavanamur registered the business as a social enterprise which benefits the people. “It’s going to the market with a purpose and the purpose is for the community,” she said.“In PNG, we really don’t know the concept of a social enterprise. “People don’t want to do it. “I want a profit for myself if I am doing a business. “But this is what Imbonggu Baskets is all about.  “We’re here, buying baskets from the weavers, sell to the consumers and give the money back to the weavers.“We want to minimise the middlemen. “SMEs have been concerned about middlemen but prices of the products are so expensive. “You buy something for K20 in the village, bring it here and sell it for K100 or sell it for AU$100 in Australia. “What actually goes down to the weavers is where we are coming from.“I make what I make to keep the shop open, for operational expenses, to pay for my staff but the weaver has to get a fair price on the ground.”