We are all increasingly being called on to support various causes, sometimes it is issues we don't know much about nor necessarily care about and often these issues or even people are in far away lands that we have never met or hope to ever meet.
However the people asking us to provide financial assistance maybe ones we like and care for so we do our best to support them in their causes. It has however become near impossible to decide which cause deserves our support.
This increase in causes that deserve our financial support has meant that only those charities that are creative and are able to innovate may be the ones that survive. The large national and multinational charities have already done so and in part built up large reserves through activities such as having High street shops etc.
The smaller charities are catching up too and one of these is the http://www.africanrevival.org/
On Friday 23 May 2008, they held an art exhibition in a home of one their supporters in Oxhsott to raise money for children in Northern Uganda.
What was unique about this event was that the guests were not necessarily required to donate money into a tin towards the cause, in fact they were given a goody bag to take away simply for showing up.
Instead a prominent Art dealer, Artist and Ethnic Supplies were invited to display their work for the guests to view and buy. In return these businesses were to donate a percentage of their profits on the day towards the charity.
This created a win, win situation for the participating businesses, (more customers than they would perhaps not find themselves in one day) the guests, (support people in a far away place and whom they will never get to meet, and in turn get something for their money)and the charity (more donations and they could have otherwise got by say standing on a street corner with a collection tin!
Is this a sign of things to come? Have you got other examples that have worked really well for all concerned?
Monday, 26 May 2008
Friday, 23 May 2008
African Summer fashion accessories from Ethnic Supplies Part 2
Handmade fashion accessories and accessories from East Africa promoting financial independence for Africa women
As you plan your Summer Wardrobe, we at Ethic Supplies, would like to draw your attention to our stylish and ethically produced baskets. These handmade baskets are made of palm and wrapped in raw silk, that is hand collected in Madagascar woodlands by Malagasy women.
I hope you will agree with us when we say that Madame Henriette and her team of 10 men have done a fabulous job with these baskets. The baskets are practical as well as stylish!
Wednesday, 21 May 2008
African Summer fashion accessories from Ethnic Supplies Part 1
The summer holidays are nearly upon us and you have probably booked your two weeks in the sun by now! Naturally you will be thinking about your wardrobe next and are we!
One item that we think you can't possibly leave behind is a straw hat! Our hats here at Ethnic Supplies are simply amazing. The hats are hand crafted by our female producers in Madagascar from the finest Raffia. This makes them easy to fold so that you can put them away in a beach bag/ suitcase. And the best part is however many times you fold the hats they do not lose their shape!
Sunday, 18 May 2008
Springing into Action
We are nearly half way through May and a busy start to the month. It's also been a time of mixed blessings. Following my participation at the Guildford Business event, I was approached to participate in an upcoming summer school event aimed at youngsters about to leave college. This is a very exciting prospect for me.
On Monday 12 May 2008, I joined the good folk at Guildford Mukono link at their Annual General Meeting. It was touching to see so many people doing their bit to support those less fortunate than they are in a land so far away from them. http://www.guildford-uganda.com/. I was honoured to be part of this event as my late father did a lot of work in this district.
On Wednesday 14 May 2008 the ladies at Elmbridge Women in Business (EWIB)were introduced to our products and it was a pleasure note how well the products were received.
On the downside I had hoped to get a few products into Harrods and Chester zoo having got very good initial feedback, sadly this all fell through. This was disappointing news indeed.
There was a new development too at http://www.lethemhelpthemselves.com/ as a decision was reached to register the initiative as a Charity. Two members of EWIB offered their services for us to auction at the event in October.
Elsewhere I met up with the ladies at http://www.surreywomensenterprise.co.uk/ met up to review where we are with the upcoming Summer event. This was a useful meeting indeed as it transpired that other group members have had similar struggles to mine.
And finally I got hold of someone that is willing to take on my book project!
On Monday 12 May 2008, I joined the good folk at Guildford Mukono link at their Annual General Meeting. It was touching to see so many people doing their bit to support those less fortunate than they are in a land so far away from them. http://www.guildford-uganda.com/. I was honoured to be part of this event as my late father did a lot of work in this district.
On Wednesday 14 May 2008 the ladies at Elmbridge Women in Business (EWIB)were introduced to our products and it was a pleasure note how well the products were received.
On the downside I had hoped to get a few products into Harrods and Chester zoo having got very good initial feedback, sadly this all fell through. This was disappointing news indeed.
There was a new development too at http://www.lethemhelpthemselves.com/ as a decision was reached to register the initiative as a Charity. Two members of EWIB offered their services for us to auction at the event in October.
Elsewhere I met up with the ladies at http://www.surreywomensenterprise.co.uk/ met up to review where we are with the upcoming Summer event. This was a useful meeting indeed as it transpired that other group members have had similar struggles to mine.
And finally I got hold of someone that is willing to take on my book project!
Wednesday, 30 April 2008
Which is the right way?
I was a speaker on a panel called "How I got Started in business" at a Business exhibition in Guildford today.
The idea was to share our experiences of setting up new businesses from scratch, answer questions from the audience on the highs and lows of working for yourself as well as discuss things we would do differently if we were starting again.
Now back at my desk a question put to us by a member of the audience has remained in my mind. This lady is just starting out as a graphic designer and has done work, submitted it to clients only to be told that they will not buy her design after all.
This is awkward because the client gets to keep work that they have not paid for! On her part as someone new in business she is very keen to demonstrate the quality of her work as a way of getting new business in and is inclined to do the work and send it to the prospect/client!
She therefore wanted to know how to deal with such a situation. A fellow panellist is in the same line of work, his advise was ask for a deposit or payment upfront and as far showing off your work is concerned, simply use a portfolio. Sound advice I say!
I empathised with her, as I have to send off samples to retailers and some expect to keep them. I have had to learn to say upfront that I expect them to be returned should they decide not to place an order, and this has worked fine so far.
I also get invited to speak, mainly at local events to tell them about my work and the like. Although sometimes the people who invite me make a small donation towards my expenses, I never charge for these appearances as in my mind, they provide me with
•an opportunity to promote my business
•practice public speaking in a friendly environment, a daunting task at the best of times
•network with others and I often pick up new ideas and friends or even new customers
My Business Adviser thinks that I should charge as I am providing a service
What are your views on such matters?
The idea was to share our experiences of setting up new businesses from scratch, answer questions from the audience on the highs and lows of working for yourself as well as discuss things we would do differently if we were starting again.
Now back at my desk a question put to us by a member of the audience has remained in my mind. This lady is just starting out as a graphic designer and has done work, submitted it to clients only to be told that they will not buy her design after all.
This is awkward because the client gets to keep work that they have not paid for! On her part as someone new in business she is very keen to demonstrate the quality of her work as a way of getting new business in and is inclined to do the work and send it to the prospect/client!
She therefore wanted to know how to deal with such a situation. A fellow panellist is in the same line of work, his advise was ask for a deposit or payment upfront and as far showing off your work is concerned, simply use a portfolio. Sound advice I say!
I empathised with her, as I have to send off samples to retailers and some expect to keep them. I have had to learn to say upfront that I expect them to be returned should they decide not to place an order, and this has worked fine so far.
I also get invited to speak, mainly at local events to tell them about my work and the like. Although sometimes the people who invite me make a small donation towards my expenses, I never charge for these appearances as in my mind, they provide me with
•an opportunity to promote my business
•practice public speaking in a friendly environment, a daunting task at the best of times
•network with others and I often pick up new ideas and friends or even new customers
My Business Adviser thinks that I should charge as I am providing a service
What are your views on such matters?
Thursday, 17 April 2008
Let Them Help Themselves out of Poverty part 2
Things have moved on since Monday, in unexpected ways. Previously I had written to the Surrey Chamber of Commerce to enquire whether they would promote our event through their literature, website or other means or better still would they buy tickets to the event. I wasn't sure what to expect as this is not a Chamber event. I was therefore surprised to receive an email confirming that they were Happy to promote the event, however they were not sure they would be able to take up a table.
Nathalie continued to contact her friends and colleagues and on Tuesday I learned that one of them is fundraising for this project through various golf tournaments. on Tuesday I received further good news, a popular African Journal called the Promota confirmed that they were happy to run articles to promote the event for free!
The generosity of people is trully touching!
Nathalie continued to contact her friends and colleagues and on Tuesday I learned that one of them is fundraising for this project through various golf tournaments. on Tuesday I received further good news, a popular African Journal called the Promota confirmed that they were happy to run articles to promote the event for free!
The generosity of people is trully touching!
Monday, 14 April 2008
Did they really make up an entire travel guide series?
I took my first trip to Madagascar last year and met a woman from Switzerland called Gabriel. She wanted to find an art gallery in Tana but her guide book did not appear to offer proper directions to the place. I was using the Bradt guide, so I suggested that she borrows my copy. I told her that it had not let me down so far.I had managed to find both orphanages I had to visit easily and that if that place is not listed by Hillary Bradt then it does not exist.
Gabriel joked that this could be true as the author of her Lonely Planet guide book didn't appear to have ever set foot in Madagascar at all. When I caught up with her later that evening she informed me that indeed the gallery feautured in her guide book did not exist!
This morning BBC Radio 4 interviewed someone (came in half way through the point) who was saying that the series of Lonley Planet guide books are incorrect and indeed made and that the BBC owns a share in these guides???
Have you ever used a Lonely Planet guide book, if so what was your experience?
Gabriel joked that this could be true as the author of her Lonely Planet guide book didn't appear to have ever set foot in Madagascar at all. When I caught up with her later that evening she informed me that indeed the gallery feautured in her guide book did not exist!
This morning BBC Radio 4 interviewed someone (came in half way through the point) who was saying that the series of Lonley Planet guide books are incorrect and indeed made and that the BBC owns a share in these guides???
Have you ever used a Lonely Planet guide book, if so what was your experience?
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