Let's revisit the opportunities to market Bawa la Tumaini's products in bulk - whether it's through B2B portals, international organization co-operatives, or other similar bulk-purchase opportunities.

Does anyone have any to recommend? So far, sites mentioned are:
- www.adupo.com, from Alison
- Oxfam GB, from Baginda
- Global Partners, from Baginda
- How aout any other Fairtrade organizations?

Can someone help compile a list of such bulk-purchase opportunities that Bawa la Tumaini can market its products through?

Thanks :)

Hi Patsian,

I know that you currently have loads to read and catch up on with all the steps but as the discussions went (in regards to FB group page), Anne has decided to focus on just an awareness group page of Mukuru Kwa Njenga @ Nabuur to attract more volunteers.

Initially, I set it up to focus on the Bawa La Tumaini and the products. Hence, I posted on this marketing section but having it as an awareness page looks good too. :)

I don't mind maintaining the site. Just let me know what to do and I'll be right on it as I live in Facebook. Ha! Ha! ;)

I have just given you the admin rights to the page. Do feel free to ammend and maintain the page in any way you would like to. :)

It's nice to know that you're from Singapore. I live in KL but my mother's from Johore Bahru and I fly with SQ all the time. So, I'm basically in Singapore most times of the year.

As for the bulk purchases - Mary had shared a list of organisations and many other useful information for the village that I facilitate (Kalna) and with her permission, I have compiled a list of organisations that might be useful for Mukuru Kwa Njenga in the first task of Step 1.

Warm Regards,

Az'farr

Dear Patsian!

Really nice to have you with us and thanks for the very important input. To answer your questions: To be able to start selling through Deviantart, I need the pictures that show off the products and also a bit of information should accompany each picture, e.g. material used to make the specific product, dimensions etc. Then I will upload the pictures along with the information and people can start buying. Anytime you send me the pictures, I will upload them immediately. I am available 100% to maintain the site, no problem at all, I enjoy doing it. So, I am looking forward to the pictures and the first sale through the site! Please let me know if you have more questions.

Kind regards,

Maria

Hi Patsian,

Wah! looks like we had not thought through the site's payments.For now Bawa La Tumaini will not be in a position to take care of the site's payment because of its cash flow situation right at the moment.

Hi Anne! Sorry for being silent for a few days - I just finished a big project to do with Afghan reconstruction so now I can breathe :)

Could I clarify if your above comment relates to Etsy, or Deviantart? Or both? We can have a chat offline if you'd like to clarify the cash flow structures with me.

OTHER NEIGHBOURS: Does anyone have any other direct online marketing sites that they can recommend, which preferably will not require any kind of posting or listing fees up front?

Thanks
Patsian

Hello: Just checking back on this thread.

1) Dear Azz'far, how are you doing with the categorization of the various possible collaborative organizations?

2) NEIGHBOURS: after successfully identifying which partner organizations to go to, we may want to consider sending them an introduction letter about bawa la tumaini, as well as a request for collaborative marketing. In preparation for that communication, please take a look at the marketing letter previously prepared by Anne and provide your comments, it is also attached as a RESOURCE. Please also take a look at the updated website http://www.bawalatumaini.com and please provide your comments.

Thanks everyone - catch up here soon :)

Bawa La Tumaini introduction letter.doc

www.ebay.com (all other trading sides which come to mind are national (dutch) websites for trading (first- and secondhand) goods: www.marktplaats.nl, www.speurders.nl, www.marktplaza.nl )

Have you thought of designing a website for the products? I haven't read anything about an own website yet (or maybe I missed it...). I could help with designing an own website of you like... And what about trying to sell the products by contacting for example organisations like www.unicefwereldwinkel.nl And what about the idea of trying to find contacts that are active in churches and that can help with selling products for the women.

Best wishes, Esther

Hi Esther,

We are currently selling the products through www.bawalatumaini.com,kindly go through it and let me have your thoughts.We are always looking for ways of improving the website.

With the help of the neighbours we are compiling a list of potential customers and possible donors.Do you want to help with searching more contacts? Do you have also have church contacts that could buy the products?

Cheers,
Anne

Hi Eunice,

Greetings for the new Year!!!!!!

How are you doing? Did manage to contact some clients for us in the USA? We look forward to hearing from you.

Cheers,

Anne

As all can see I am new to this and had not read previous threads. I've just gone through this one for the first time and can see there has been a spurt of activity over the past four months. I just happened on the scene as the result of US Peace Corps connections. I found Nic Dominguez, who recently began a volunteer tour in Business Development in Kenya. He has unbelievable energy, focus and skillsets. As time progresses he will probably focus on a few projects, but I'd like to suggest Anne contact him through the Peace Corps office or online because I can see great potential in their collaborating on common endeavors. There may be other "Nics" out there, already serving in Kenyan villages. If so, they should probably get together on a veranda at the Jacaranda and start stirring up a storm.

As I read through the posts on this subject, ideas came to mind.

The first idea are periodic Nairobi get-togethers to thrash out each others' ideas. Each get-together might include a few doers and shakers from womens' organizations and academia, such as Profs at Univ of Nairobi's Business School who are specialized in entrepreneurship. Bring them into the mix for their expertise and connections.

The second idea: apply for a grant(s) (Patsian and others would know where) to bring in a continuous stream of craft artisan/designers from Europe, the States, Japan, etc to work for short spurts of time with womens' groups to generate products which will meaningfully add to "products to market" on web sites such as Etsy and Anne's Bawa La Tumaini. Kiondo weavers, for instance, would be left with samples created in collaboration with visiting "weaver" or "handbag" artisan/designers which will appeal to marketplaces where the visiting designers come from. Kiondo weavers themselves have no direct exposure to those markets (and have limited ability to interpret fashion concepts in "Elle", for instance), but they most certainly have the ability to "pick up" new concepts introduced to them, and know what local materials are readily available to incorporate in product samples. The artisan/designers themselves will see potentials in those materials, and a whole synergy develops. What do you think? Please generate and post practical ideas for implementation along these two lines.

--
Mike Gannett

Dear Neighbours ,

We are happy to be featured in the Standard newspaper in Kenya.We are under celebrating women of every profession.

See the links before.

http://www.eastandard.net/women/
http://www.eastandard.net/women/InsidePage.php?id=1144011551&cid=450&

Have a beautiful day,

Rgds,
Anne

Hi Neighbours,

I believe that you are all well...I have been a little busy and taking care of a lot of changes in both my personal life and of course Bawa La Tumaini has had growth and especially in the area of jewelery. Its amazing, we have more producers on the ground for jewelery and we truly need a market for these products.Plans are underway of improving the Bawa La Tumaini website and we have had some interesting ideas with my facilitator. I will keep you posted on all the developments.

If you know of any shops or clients that will be keen on purchasing our jewelery products do let us know.Check out our website www.bawalatumaini.com

In the meantime we are not yet selling the products online but you can always place an order, then the products will be send to your destination.

Thank you for your support in helping improve lives of the marginalized producers living in Kenya

Hi All,

Greetings from Kenya!

As earlier mentioned, we have been a little quiet for the last few months.Am glad to let you know that we have been able to sell some Jewelery in Europe and we are looking forward to getting more clients.We have more women producers,so this means that our capacity to produce has increased.Our main focus at the moment is product development and Market.We have Mukuru Kwa Njenga products displayed in www.bawalatumaini.com

Any help will go along way.

With kind regards,

Anne

Hi All,

Greetings for 2010.This is to inform all our friends and partners that we have seen growth in the producer products sold through www.bawalatumaini.com, and in this new year we are looking forward to been more active in Marketing,product development and design.We are open to your support and help.

At the end of the day,we want to make sure that the women that are in our village get to the point of self sustainability through trade.

Wishing you a happy 2010 and thank you for making a difference in the world.

Cheers,
Anne