Ritesh Lal has proven that being a school dropout is no barrier if one sets his/her mind to become successful in business and catering for a family of their own.
A Year 5 dropout currently runs two tailoring businesses under the name Ritz Radhey Professional Tailoring at the Suva Flea Market, and one tailoring business at the Metrople building in Suva.
Ritz Radhes Fashion & Professional Tailoring is specialized in tailoring men’s and women’s apparel, as well as western and traditional attire, uniforms, and made-to-measure alterations.
The 32-year-old, who lives Dhanji Street, Suva did not have an easy childhood. He began working as a labourer at the age of 11 to help his impoverished parents.
While working at Comfort Home Fiji in 2007, Mr. Lal always had an opportunity to operate the sewing machines and that is when he realized his talent for sewing clothes.
Mr. Lal then learned from his mother and aunt how to cut and sew clothes. Mr. Lal opened his first business stall where he rented a stall at the Flea Market in 2009. He forfeited his stall to consider learning the art of sewing.
In 2016, with confidence and experience, Mr. Lal once again rented a stall at the Flea Market until 2020, when a fire broke out at the Flea Marker destroying not only his stall but other businesses as well.
Mr. Lal never gave up on his dream and continued to do tailoring from his home and after months he was able to get a stall at Flea Market. His business started to pick up in sales, in which he decided to acquire his second shop employing three females.
Mr. Lal came to know about Business Assistance Fiji (BAF) and Business Link Pacific (BLP) through one of our Business Service Providers (BSP) PKF Aliz Pacific.
With the assistance from BAF, PKF Aliz Pacific was able to prepare the financial statement for his business for the year ending 31 December 2020, 2021, and 2022.
Using the financial statement for the previous three years, Mr. Lal was able to get his second and third stalls for his tailoring business.
“I have fought hard in life to get where I am today, and I am grateful for the help I received from BAF because without their assistance I wouldn’t have been able to get a second and third stall for my business,” he said.
Mr. Lal is happy that there are organizations like BAF and BLP to support Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) like Ritz Radhey Professional Tailoring in Fiji and the Pacific region.
“MSMEs are crucial to the economic growth of our nation, so it is fantastic that BAF exists to support MSMEs in Fiji. We previously had no idea where to turn or who to contact if we had any issues or concerns about our business, but now that BAF and BLP are available, we have that assistance,” he added.
Ritesh is also grateful to PKF Aliz Pacific for informing him about the BAF and BLP services.
BAF together with BLP conducts business diagnosis, build network of service providers, link MSMEs with the service providers, provide general business inquiries and business-related trainings.
To access BLP services in Fiji, you can contact BAF for a face-to-face business diagnostic using the link: https://about.businesslinkpacific.com/countries/
You can start an online self-assessment to identify gaps in your business using the BLP SME Toolkit: https://businesslinkpacific.com/
For more information on Business Assistance Fiji, please click the link https://businessassistancefiji.com/ or visit our office on Ground Floor, Vanua Arcade, Vanua House, Victoria Parade in Suva.
ENDS
Business Link PacificBusiness Link PacificFiji GovernmentMinistry of Trade, Co-operatives, SMEs and CommunicationsWomen In Business (Fiji)PKF aliz pacificFiji Commerce & Employers Federation (FCEF)Fiji Institute of Chartered AccountantsFiji Chamber of Commerce & IndustryFlea Market SuvaRitz Radhes Fashion & Professional Tailoring
#MSMEs#SMEs#smallbusinessfiji#smallbiz#businessgrowth#BusinessAdvisoryServices#financialplanning#financialstatements
