Labasa mother turns grief into growing hamper business

Aqeelah Bano has turned personal grief into a new business venture.

In doing so she showed how mothers can find healing after losing a loved one while pursuing their own goals.

The 31-year-old started Bano’s Creation Hamper from her home in Batinikama, Labasa, three months ago, turning her leisure activity into a business after the loss of her two-year-old son.

“I place someone else’s happiness and well-being ahead of my own, to learn the hard lessons, to do the right thing and to forgive myself, over and over again, for doing something that seems wrong,” Ms Bano said.

“I have a 10-year-old daughter and an 11-month-old baby girl; I want to raise a generation of children who will grow up to believe that they can do anything in this world because they watched their mother do it.”

After completing a Diploma in Computing at Fiji National University, Ms Bano got married to Sanjay Mani, a staff of BSP Life Insurance in Labasa.

She then worked as an accounts clerk at Climatec company.

The former Labasa Sangam SKM College student later left the job to nurse her first child full-time.

With the support of her husband, she began learning to drive and later received a vehicle as a reward after obtaining her driver’s licence.

“After sending my husband to work, I drive my daughter to school and carry my baby in the back seat to deliver gift hampers during the day,” she said.

“I am thankful to my husband for supporting my hobby, which I turned into a business. I find great happiness when I see customers satisfied with my service.”

Her gift hampers, decorated with lights and presented in wooden baskets, have attracted attention on social media through her business page.

“I had tried even doing online clothing business from home after having my second child, a son,” she said.

“Men and women entrepreneurs tell me that becoming a mother has actually made them a better boss, a better business owner and a more creative and innovative entrepreneur.”

Ms Bano is encouraging mothers who have lost loved ones to find ways to move forward and live the lives they want.

She is much more focused on her goals now. Proper organisation and prioritisation of each day is absolutely crucial to her survival.

“I direct my time and energy to the areas of my life and business in which I excel, and I ask for help from my husband when I need it.”

She is advising mothers to take one step at a time because life is short.

Customers praise hamper service

One of Ms Bano’s customers, Poonam Chand of Labasa, said she chose Bano’s Creation Hamper because the service offered was more than just a delivery.

“For the first time, we ordered a gift hamper for my mother-in-law for her 70th birthday. We wanted it to be done in a thoughtful way and more like a surprise,” Mrs Chand said.

“I am so happy with Ms Bano’s reliable service and presentation. My mother-in-law felt she was like her own relative surprising her with the gift on her birthday.”

Another customer, Shabina Nisha of Qelewaqa, Labasa, chose Ms Bano to deliver a gift hamper to her husband for his birthday on Thursday.

“I chose Ms Bano because her presentation is creative, timely and presentable,” Nisha said.

“Apart from the delivery, she took her time to explain to my husband that I had sent the gift, my wishes and what it all meant for both of us.”

She said the service was worth the money spent.