Treasure Box will jet to Auckland’s Pacific Trade Show next month

By Sapeer Mayron 21 March 2019, 12:00AM

Home-grown jewelers from Treasure Box will make the trip to Path to Market in Auckland next month, to seek out a place in the New Zealand marketplace.

Path to Market initiative is hosted by Pacific Trade Invest New Zealand, which is a workshop event to help small to medium Pacific businesses enter the New Zealand market, as well as a showcase for the businesses to display their products.

For a growing business like Treasure Box, having mentorship and support to expand into NZ could be a game changer. And manager Stefan Szegedi said what he really wants is to make their jewelry accessible to Samoan’s abroad.

“We try and focus on Samoan themes, for example the fine mat design, the tattoo design, flowers, fish, we try and design rings based on what is important to Samoan culture and Samoan characteristics.”

“Obviously anybody can wear them who likes them, but a big focus for us is the Samoan population in places like New Zealand. This is something they cannot necessarily find in New Zealand, jewelry based on Samoan themes.”


Mr Szegedi said he hopes the Path to Market will help his family’s company get a good understanding of the New Zealand market, consumer base and price range of getting their hand-made products sold there.

Along with Treasure Box, Samoan businesses Mailelani, Triple T, Ena, and Head to Toes are all attending the event. Mr Szegedi said they are already speaking and working together to improve everyone’s chances of tackling the New Zealand market.

“Instead of everybody individually trying to get it, maybe if we can work together as a group, that could be a way for all our businesses to grow,” he said.

“We all have different products, so we are not in direct competition for a particular customer group.”

The opportunity to learn the export ropes will make a huge difference to the Samoan market too, he said.

“One thing I do know is that we in Samoa, we really need to increase our exports.

“Hopefully with this opportunity, going forward we can maybe minimize the deficit between what we import and export.

“If we export, that will create jobs, it will bring more foreign currency into the country and in the end have the trickle-down effect of benefitting everyone in Samoa,” said Mr Szegedi.

The trip to New Zealand will be a time for research and consideration. Mr Szegedi said Treasure Box is not ready to rush into a massive export, but it is time to test how capable the store is to meet an international demand.

Networking with other Pacific businesses, and researching potential distributers and stockists in Auckland for Treasure Box jewelry are top of Mr Szegedi’s priorities.

He said hopefully he can get their rings and pearl necklaces and bracelets into stores where Samoan people actually shop.

“Especially a wedding band, or an engagement ring,” he said.

“You’re going to wear that for, hopefully, if all goes well, you’re going to wear that for the rest of your life! So what better way than to have something from back home, not just made in Samoa but with Samoan themes.”

The Pacific Trade Invest New Zealand Path to Market show is on April 6th and will be held in The Cloud, in Auckland.

By Sapeer Mayron 21 March 2019, 12:00AM

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