CREATIVITY matters for self-taught seamstress Carol Moses who sews and sells clothes at her Butibam village in Lae.
Moses said tailoring businesses took advantage of major national events such as Independence Day to increase sale.
But this year, the Lae urban local level government and Lae City Authority have banned selling in public areas.
Moses is part of a group of Butibam women allowed to sell in a vacant area near the town cemetery along Markham Road every weekend.
“Independence day is a big event for us where we normally triple or more the usual revenue on any other given day,” she said.
“This year, with that law in place, we are now selling from our residences.
“Not a lot of customers come this way.”
Moses sells other items such as bilum, laplaps, tote bags, sewn button shirts and blouses on Facebook through her Jacabris collection page.
She is also making use of platforms such as the Lae Incubator Hub’s monthly weekend markets at Botanical Garden.
Moses, left formal employment when she had her eldest daughter more than five years ago.
She started off her small business at a small roadside table market.
Then she built a trade store, and eventually went into sewing and selling blouses three years ago.
“Being small business owners, we have the financial power and freedom,” she said.
“I used to rely on fortnightly income. Now, I make money every day.”
Moses said it was about creativity and the variety offered.
“This independence, my wish is for our district governments to initiate enablers for SMEs like myself; provide a proper market, increase our exposure, maybe even oraganise for us to participate in SME events in other places such as Port Moresby,” she said.
