Introduction

The Fusion Hub specializes in reusing and upcycling waste products (tyres, pallets, plastic and
glass bottles, textiles etc) into quality furniture and high-end home decor pieces. Sagufta, our
founder, spent the majority of the start-up phase researching the different ways to prolong the life
of a product through upcycling. The materials are sourced from landfills, garage sales, inorganic
collections, donations from companies and individuals as well as participation in beach clean-
ups, and undergo a stringent cleaning process before they are transformed into home decor items.

Problem

According to a survey in January 2021 in Fiji, the landfills receive 60,000 tons of waste per year
from just urban areas. The rural communities do not have that luxury and thus have to resort to
burning, burying or dumping in the pacific thus resulting in sea life mortality.

The unemployment in Fiji has been on the rise since the 1990s mostly due to political instability,
expiry of land leases and problems in garment and gold industry which is a major determinant
for the 35.80% poverty rate in Fiji.

Solution

Create a strategic plan/ financial projection for new foundation arm that will look after training
opportunities and startup incubation.

Planning and delivery

In the past two years, the poverty rate of the Fijian population has increased from 29.9% to
35.08% with a gradual corresponding increase, since 1999, in unemployment rate.

In line with the SDG 1 initiative (No poverty), the fusion hub’s objective is to promote a zero
waste/ minimal lifestyle and to support Fiji’s economy by stimulating the SME sector and
supporting local SME’s, women and farmers by providing them with sustainable market access
and further by setting up training centers. The fusion hub also aims to be the go to source for
organic employee development that enables growth of the company and the island.

Sensitization

A fund raising event; a fund raising event should be organized four weeks to the start of the
commencement of the training classes. The event should be aimed at getting within reach of
important dignitaries and key stakeholders in the government and industry.

Social media posts; In our posts, we should focus on our mission but do provide a direct link to
your campaign’s page or site. Actively encourage readers to click through to learn more.
Our followers’ social media posts about the campaign; Peer-to-peer sharing is a crucial part of
successful awareness campaigns, we need to make sure our followers’ posts are helping to drive
more traffic to the website, too. Also we must encourage our supporters to link directly to the
campaign’s page or site in any posts they create.

Emails to existing supporters; In our awareness email blasts to existing subscribers, we need to
make it easy for them to learn more by linking to the campaign’s page. If email is the only outlet
where a supporter hears about the awareness campaign, we need to make that touchpoint
worthwhile.

Billboards, Direct mail and newsletters; the web link for your awareness campaign’s page on
printed materials should be included, to ensure that recipients know where to learn more.

Word of mouth; While we can’t guarantee that new visitors will find their way to the website
after talking about the campaign, it can be easier for them to find what they’re looking for if they
do decide to look us up.

Mode of delivery

The Covid-19 Pandemic outbreak changed and disrupted various aspects of life, including in the
world of education. This changes the learning system from conventional to online. Online
learning systems are the right obligation and choice in the current situation. Alongside physical
convectional trainings, the use of online learning systems use Google Classroom and Zoom
Meeting as learning media amidst the new wave of the Omicron variant should also be
encouraged. In addition, this online channels afford the participants the opportunities to learn in
their comfortable environment and at their convenience.

Target

Our Target audience are majorly women who aim towards caring for the environment and
constantly look for ways to reduce their "waste footprint" who recide in major towns and cities
around Viti-Levu. Women have limited job opportunities in Fiji and that is why their economic
participation rate is low. They are always thought to have soft skills and are not encouraged to
explore other opportunities so gender becomes a barrier. This is the stereotype we are trying to
break. We want women to play a part in solving the global waste crisis. Because in the pacific
women are most displaced during disaster and post disaster rehabilitation. When women are
given these opportunities we inch closer to achieving gender equality. An economy will only
achieve its full potential when all of its resources perform to their capabilities. Women make
50% of our economy, if we do not help them realise their full potential we will never be able to
achieve economic growth. It’s also important to complement these skills training with peer
groups, networks, and mentorship opportunities. Professional networks are less available for
women, when offered as part of business training, peers and mentors can be valuable as business
partners or for support or career counseling
Situational assessment

SWOT Analysis

Strengths:

 A unique concept
 An award winning entrepreneur with access to strong local and international networks
and recognition –
 A well trained team
 Access to a network of business advisors and mentors
 solid business expertise to manage costs and help the company grow
 Our Social Commitment of empowering women and the environmental impact
 Strong brand presence in media

Weakness:

 Low percentage rate of women involved in economic activity

 Lack of experience in deploying training model
 the need to outsource the mechanical maintenance and repairs that are endemic to this
type of business

Opportunities:

 Expand to other markets

 Certifications
 Foster unity
 Export to international markets - (OHS, Food and Safety, etc) –
 Fiji's support local campaign
 Threats
 Gender inequality
 Lack of funds
 Competitive big chain supermarkets can replicate similar model

Partners & Resources

Digital Partner

Although our founder has strong experience in Web development and marketing, she also has the
benefit of a long-time relationship with a digital marketing agency, Eventuros Fiji. The company
has developed the brand and website for The Fusion Hub. More details on the partnership can be
found here -
https://eventurosfiji.com/2020/03/31/when-the-fusion-hub-met-eventuros-women-ledbusinesses-
join-forces-in-fiji-using-blp-subsidy/ Philanthropic Partners

The Fusion Hub has been supported by many amazing funding and SME support organisations:

YHER - yher supports game changing, women-led impact ventures that are improving the lives
of people living in poverty across the Pacific Islands region. Their program provides the region’s
most promising women entrepreneurs with access to the skills, knowledge, connections, funding
and community they need to build sustainable and scalable ventures.

https://yherpacificislands.org/trash-into-treasure/

Business Link Pacific - Business Link Pacific (BLP) connects small and medium sized
businesses in the Pacific to local advisory services. The BLP quality approved network of
advisors offers accessible services for business growth. Business Link Pacific helped us gain
affordable access to Digital marketing experts - Eventuros Fiji - for the development of our
brand and our website. More details for this can be found here:

https://about.businesslinkpacific.com/fusion-hub-eventuros-women-led-businesses-fiji-
blpsubsidy/

Fiji Enterprise Engine - Fiji's first business accelerator program designed for growth level
SME's - a program designed in partnership with MDF.

https://www.pressreader.com/fiji/the-fiji-times/20190820/281848645250538

Commonwealth Secretariat

Our founder, Ms Janif was the overall Pacific Region Winner for the commonwealth youth
awards for her outstanding contribution SDG 12 - Responsible Consumption and Production.
She won 3000GBP as a grant for her project. After winning this award, Sagufta has become part
of the greater commonwealth network and has appeared on talk shows, international interviews,
panel discussions and training programs. Youth Co-Lab

Sagufta has also been selected to participate in the Youth Co-Lab program. Youth Co:Lab
positions young people front and center in order to solve the region’s most pressing challenges.
Co-created in 2017 by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Citi
Foundation, Youth Co:Lab aims to establish a common agenda for countries in the Asia-Pacific
region to empower and invest in youth, so that they can accelerate the implementation of the
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through leadership, social innovation and
entrepreneurship.

https://sustainability.southpacificislands.travel/the-fusion-hub-creations-upcycling-waste-
intosustainable-furniture/
Cherie-Blaire Foundation

With their partners around the world, they empower women and girls to start and grow
successful businesses – and to redefine the future for themselves and those around them. To
make it happen, they deliver business training and mentoring. they use technology to help
women connect, learn and reach more people. They open doors to finance, markets and
networks. They press for changes that break down the barriers entrepreneurs face. And because
women everywhere face different challenges, they tailor their work to what matters most to the
women. Cherie Blaire foundation has provide our company with a strategic and financial
management coach to help our business achieve its full potential.

Membership Organisation:

Young Entrepreneurs Council (Fiji Commerce and Employers Federation)

Our founder, Ms Sagufta Janif is the Vice-Chairperson for the young entrepreneurs council
which is the eighth council under the FCEF banner.

Women In Business (WIB)

Sagufta is also an active member of the Women in Business. She also won the Aspiring

Entrepreneur of the Year award in 2019 which helped her business gain momentum and achieve
many other successes along the way.

Australian Marketing Institute (AMI)

With the largest network of marketers across the country, the Australian Marketing Institute has
been supporting the career progression of members and advancing the marketing profession
since 1933. Ms Janif hold a Certified Practicing Marketer (CPM) status with AMI. She has
connections with esteemed marketing and business professional in the AMI network.

Company

Overview

Ownership & Structure

The Fusion Hub Pte Ltd is registered as a limited-liability company. Our founder, Sagufta Janif,
is the owner with 100% shares. No outside investors are involved at this point in time, though
there might be an opportunity for that as the business grows.

Founding Story

The Fusion hub was established in late 2017 as a sole trader but has now changed to a private
company in 2019.
Sagufta is a young woman entrepreneur who is trying to solve the global waste crisis and at the
same time empower women economically. She set out with only a few hundred dollars in her
bank account after facing rejections from donor agencies and other funding programs available
in Fiji. At that time no one believed in her vision and her business of turning waste materials to
sustainable furniture and home decor pieces. She started collecting the waste materials and
slowly tested the market whilst having a full time job to support her family. Along with rejection,
no one believed that a woman could make furniture that would be of quality and that to from
waste materials. Breaking these stereotypes were the biggest challenge for her, but she did not let
this deter her from her vision. She persevered and made 8 pet beds out of old used tyres, took it
to a local market and sold all 8 within the first 2 hours and this is when she realized the potential
this business would have. So she decided to leave her full time job and focus on her business full
time as it required a lot of work.

Sagufta since then hasn't looked back despite the financial challenges she had to face and
pressure from family to get back in a full time employment. Her products started to get the much
needed attention form the market when she was recognized as one of the honorees for Mai Life
30 Under 30 at the ADB conference. With this exposure, her customer base grew and she was
later selected to participate in Fiji's First Business Accelerator program, Fiji Enterprise Engine.
With the knowledge and experience, Sagufta managed to exponentially grow her business in
terms of job creation, production and revenue. She also was selected to participate in the YHER
business accelerator program which was for Pacific Island Women who are social impact
entrepreneurs; at the same business accelerator program she managed to win

$7000AUD in a pitching competition. Again with the knowledge and some financial support she
was able to create more jobs and started venturing out in the rural communities. With the funding
Sagufta decided to establish a "Waste-2-Worth" capacity building program where women living
in disadvantaged economic situations were brought in and taught the basics of furniture making
and designing. Upon successful completion of the capacity building, these women either
employed by The Fusion Hub or Sagufta helps them setup their own businesses and they become
part of the supply chain for Fusion Hub.

Her business model being so unique and innovative gained her the aspiring entrepreneur of the
year award at the Women in Business Awards 2019 and with this recognition her market grew
and gained interest from resorts, hotels and other corporate organizations. She has also started
working with villages in rural island communities to ensure they are able to generate income
with the common waste items they find on their islands. In 2020, Sagufta has won the
Commonwealth Young Person of the Year Award for the Pacific Region for her contribution
towards SDG12 - Responsible consumption and production. She is also the Vice-Chairperson of
the Young Entrepreneurs Council and has been an inspirational young leader as she motivates
and encourages the youth of Fiji and the Pacific Islands to become change-makers and solution
providers. She empowers them to become job creators rather than job seekers. She not only
motivates young entrepreneurs but other young people who are working towards achieving the
sustainable development goals. She empowers women and young girls to go beyond the
"stereotypical" jobs and provides training and capacity building opportunities so they can realize
their true potential. She is also now empowering remote communities and giving them income
generating opportunities so they can contribute to the economy and at the same time help solve
the global climate crisis and global waste crisis.