Marian turns food venture into growing enterprise

What started as a small home-based food business operating only two days a week has grown into a catering enterprise and a second business for 41-year-old Marian Sivo, who is determined to create better financial opportunities for her family.

Ms Sivo, from Bua with maternal links to Taveuni, began selling food from home while studying, preparing a small number of food packs twice a week.

At the time, she was working at Carpenters Finance PG Limited, where she spent more than 12 years.

However, after running her small business for some time, she realised the income she earned from selling food over two days exceeded what she earned from her full-time job.

“That was when I saw that within those two days, I was getting more than I was getting from the place I was working before,” she said.

That realisation encouraged Ms Sivo to take her business seriously.

She registered Marian's Investment, which now provides food and catering services, beverages, cakes and pastries.

Her business has expanded beyond home-based sales, with catering provided at carnivals, the Coca-Cola Games and other major events.

While growing her business, Ms Sivo has continued her studies and raised her four sons, saying time management has been one of her greatest challenges.

She said maintaining a positive mindset and carefully planning her daily routine had helped her balance her responsibilities as a mother, student and entrepreneur.

“For me, first of all, it is a mindset. If you have a positive mindset, everything is possible,” she said.

Ms Sivo recently completed a three-day Start and Improve Your Business (SIYB) training programme, which she said strengthened her understanding of cash flow, marketing, financial management and time management.

“I have learned a lot, mostly about cash flow, marketing, finance management and time management,” she said.

The success of her catering business has also enabled her to establish a second business in money lending.

Ms Sivo said she hoped to continue expanding her businesses while completing her studies.

She acknowledged that setbacks were inevitable but encouraged entrepreneurs to remain resilient.

“You are expected to have downfalls in the business, but you have to have that will of standing up and then moving forward,” she said.

Ms Sivo encouraged young people, school leavers and single mothers to believe in themselves and make use of their talents.

“Don’t doubt yourself. Keep moving and do something that you know you have skills and talents in,” she said.

She dedicated her certificate to her mother, whom she described as one of her role models, as well as her husband, four children, friends and former colleagues who supported her journey.