Denise Taueetia Earns 2007 Hand-Up Award

  
During the award presentation Denise Taueetia (at left), owner of Denise’s Baskets & More/Molokai Furniture, accepts the 2007 Hand-Up Entrepreneurial Award from MEO BDC CEO Susie Thieman (right), while Denise’s husband Afa Taueetia looks on.

MEO Business Development Corp. (MEO BDC) has named Denise Taueetia of Denise’s Baskets & More/Molokai Furniture, the winner of the 2007 Hand-Up Entrepreneurial Award.

In 2002 Denise started a part of her dream; it was called Denise’s Baskets & More. She approached her bank for a small loan and they said no. She heard about MEO Business Development Corp and its loan program when she responded to an announcement that MEO BDC would have a Loan Fund Manager on Molokai to meet with residents regarding start-up microloans for their businesses. Denise borrowed $2,500.

Denise was doing really well, but she felt that she needed to expand and offer more for the people of Molokai. In talking with her customers, she discovered that they wanted a furniture outlet. After about a year of operating her gift store, she decided to bring in hardwood, unfinished furniture. She thought bringing in unfinished furniture packed in boxes would be easier to handle than those that were finished, due to the bulkiness. Dealing with a wholesaler located in Canada proved very costly for her and her customers. Again, she listened to her customers and decided to venture into Hawaiian style rattan and wicker furniture.

Denise has participated with MEO BDC twice in it’s booth at the Maui County Fair. On both occasions she virtually sold out of the inventory she brought to sell. Denise says that attending the fair brought her more contacts for products and sales than she could have ever found on her own. She thanks MEO BDC for their continued support in helping with her business.

Last month Molokai Furniture celebrated its 4th anniversary. They have outgrown the store areas they now occupy at the Kualapuu Center & will soon move into a larger space in the new second building located in the same Center. The new location will have a larger area to better showcase her furniture and island gifts.

When asked if she had any words of encouragement for new entrepreneurs, Denise replied, “They should really know what’s going on with their business…knowing the bookkeeping portion as well as the sales side and always paying attention to their customer’s needs and wants. Both play a large part in their business’ success.” Denise Taueetia was nominated by MEO BDC Molokai Loan Fund Manager Kuulei Arce.

Samples of the fine furniture offered by Molokai Furniture can be seen at www.molokaifurniture.com.

The Hand-Up Entrepreneurial award, which is presented annually to the client who most represents the value of an MEO BDC Hand-Up in the success of their small business, was presented at the MEO BDC Maui Microenterprise Alumni gathering on November 28, 2007.

MEO Business Development Corp. – Helping to promote self-sufficiency for Hawaii’s people through strategically placed microloans and training for local entrepreneurs. MEO BDC has made almost 550 loans totaling $2.5 million since 1997.