Oe-cusse, February 18, 2025 (Média Democracia) – Veronica Bait, 59 years old from the Special Region of Oecusse, Ambeno, RAEOA, so far she has created a small business selling tobacco and other things in the Kabun complex to earn money to meet her daily needs.
According to Veronica, she decided to make a small business on the side of the road like selling tobacco. She did this business to get income to meet her daily needs and pay for her children’s school, because her husband had left her for more than five years.
“The goods that I bring to run this small business such as tobacco, and others. These goods I have to buy at Pante Makasar, Tono and I bring to the market to run my business, when we just sit at home who will help feed us every day, therefore everyone must try hard to do small activities based on our strengths to earn a little money to meet daily needs and pay for the children’s school fees.” She said
She continued, the merchandise that she had been using for her small-scale sales had only been purchased from Pante Makasar at Tono Market, but she had to pay $6.00 for a Granmax car to transport her merchandise.
“The items I buy I use 20 USD every week, if I buy a lot some of them are damaged, because we sell them for a long time, like betel leaves that are damaged so people don’t want to buy them, that’s a problem, so every week I have to buy items for 5 USD for each type of item so that they don’t get damaged and sell out easily.” She said.
She added that the merchandise she brought every day to run her small business had a different price from other people’s merchandise. Because, if the price is the same, the merchandise is difficult to sell, therefore she must do various ways so that her merchandise is easy to sell.
“The items I sell are like four betel leaves for 0.50 cents, smooth arak fruit for 0.50 cents and dry arak fruit for 1.00 dollars, one plastic tobacco stick for 1.00 dollars, and so on. So, every day I can sell 5.00 dollars to 7.00 dollars and above, even with a small income, but I am sure I can meet my living needs,” She said.
She further explained, although she has been running a business with a mediocre income, it is not a problem to stop her business. The important thing is that every day she must be able to make money to meet daily needs, because if she just stays at home she will not get money.
Reported by : Nelfiano
Picture by : Nelfiano