JUST as

Leather bags and shoes are top new exports for 1998

companies must release new prod ucts into the market place to stay ahead of the competition, so too must countries

expand their product base to stay ahead of demand fluctuations and market down-turns.

Fiji’s expansion into non traditional exports was led by the garment industry almost a decade ago. That expansion continues today with the export of products as diverse as handbags, nails, spices, and water. This diversification combined with the quantum leaps in footwear production

has sustained the export sector of the Fijian economy.

INBA Shoes & Bags Ftd was formed in July 1997 with 35 staff in premises above a supermarket in Ba, a rural town of Fiji.

Since then they have expanded to 260 staff in two factories with a third factory under

construction. Manufacturing exclusively in

leather, they export shoes and handbags to Australia and New Zealand. Sales in the Fijian marketplace are mainly through the hotel and tourism industries. Hotel prod ucts include menu covers, bill folders, in room compendiums and stationery folders.

The tourism market is serviced by the “Mango Designs” brand of handbags,

backpacks, purses and souvenirs. Conference folders and satchel briefcases are also an often requested prod uct line.

Using only premi um-grade, genuine

leather gives INBA’s prod ucts a high level appeal which sets them apart from the imported (usually plas tic) competition. Director Angeline Shoveller com ments on the pleasant sur prise of buyers when they first see the very high quali ty of leathergoods coming from Ba.

INBA Shoes & Bags Ltd received the ANZ Bank New Exporter of the Year Award

at the Prime Minister’s Exporter of the Year Awards in November 1998.

They are currently reviewing options

for expanding “Mango Designs” and the hotel product lines to other Pacific Island countries. They may be contacted via: The Director, INBA Shoes and Bags, P O Box 3399, Ba, Fiji; or fax: (679) 675 999. ■