BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN

GIVE people what they want and not what they don’t want.

Words to live by for Norlela Hj Jambu, who has been selling ornamental plants at the Rimba Horticulture Centre for the past 20 years.

Norlela said she tries to stick to these principles, when she tries to figure out what kinds of plants to sell at her stall.

She also works with the other stall owners to ensure they offer something different and ensure customers are happy.

For now, she said, ornamental plants like the Bunga Lipstick, Bunga Daun Nasib (Fortune), Salsavera, and others are selling like hot cakes.

Norlela said she grew these plants herself from seeds and stems she imported with her fellow vendors.

She said these kinds plants are in demand because they are pretty and decorative. Buyers could just bring the plants inside their homes to make their homes look fresh and naturally colourful all the time.

“We imported the seeds and baby stems from Thailand and planted them ourselves in Brunei,” she said.

She said baby stems for some of the plants would cost up to $45 apiece.

Usually, she said, the the vendors at the Rimba Horticulture Centre would discuss what plants to buy and everyone would chip in to get different kinds of imported varieties, which would be distributed accordingly upon arrival.

However, Rome wasn’t built in a year, the $45 she put in would take a numbers of years to grow.

But now, her labour gives Norlela more than 50 folds as the plants have flourished under her care.

The mother of five said she has been reaping the fruits of her labour for the past 10 years.

She said though sales were not like how they used to be 20 years ago.

“Honestly speaking, unlike before, we could earn more than $2,500 of profit every month. It’s so different now,” she said, citing tougher competition, among others.

But for now, Norlela said she makes enough to sustain a living as except for her fourth child, all of her children are already working.

She said that even though her children are busy with their jobs, during their spare time, they still help her in her garden.

Norlela gave her thanks to Allah the Almighty (SWT) for the life that she is blessed now.

“Four of my children are working in the government sector and the fourth is waiting for the call,” she said.

She said that her husband also works for the government.

“I am still happy although my business nowadays are unpredictable. I am doing it because this is my patience and I really enjoy it. Without my family’s support, I strongly believe that I will never be able to do this on my own,” she said. The Brunei Times

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