Nyamera

Does anyone know of any nice reliable and cheap Kenyan suppliers of jewellery, woodcarvings or anything else I could sell?
I’ve been dealing with a company that I’m not entirely happy with. Almost a year ago I bought a big shipment of animal carvings, salad sets, expensive animal masks and things like that. The animals would have been really cheap without the expensive shipping. They were of the more rustic kind and most were really nice, but some were so wobbly and strange looking that I just can’t sell them. This summer I put in a new order. I wanted to try some cow horn jewellery and I also ordered some more animals and salad sets. I described what the animals should look like, but when I got them they looked worse than in the first shipment, except the hippos that always look nice. The cow horn jewellery was easier to sell than the wood and I soon ran out of sizes that could fit most women. About half of the bangles, cuffs and rings were REALLY big. On 16 September I put in a new order. Cow horn – NOT in the bigger sizes, and some other items. Time was a factor and that I said I could change the order if anything was not immediately available. I wanted to sell while I could still be outdoors at farmers´ markets etc and not inside malls in lower income areas. It was very hard to get any replies to my emails, but finally I was told that my order was being attended to. Weeks later I was told that they had run out of cow horn and that they were really busy with the tourist season. Not until 19 October – I’d say they just ignored me during the tourist season - did I get an invoice with horrendously expensive DHL shipping – earlier the very expensive shipping had been with the airlines, but it was not economical for a small shipment. Some key rings that I’d decided to try were twice as expensive as on the website – “the colours you wanted (Ethiopian and Kenyan flag) were in a larger and better design” – and I wanted to change them for some other items and fill up with some banana bark coaster that could be shipped in the same DHL price range, but I was told that the box was already packed and sent to the DHL office and that I could add another one for only a small number. I did not and I finally got the key rings for the original price. Now I have an air waybill and can see that the shipment was picked up by DHL on 26 October. Now it’s in Brussels. Very exciting! My number is 1059227750 if anyone is interested. I’ve also bought some jewellery from a fair trade company in Mombasa. They didn’t accept Visa, so I paid half through bank transfer and then I’ll pay the other half on shipment. To the Nairobi company I pay the whole sum with Visa. I made the payment on 5 October and I’ve had a hard time getting replies to my emails, but now I’ve been told that I’ll get a “comprehensive progress report” on Monday. The shipping is through postal package and not that expensive. I was hoping to sell a lot of jewellery and order more before Christmas, but it looks like there will not be enough time for that.

What I’m looking for is some quick, reliable woodcarvers co-operative with nice salad sets and knowledge about inexpensive shipping, some fair trade jewellery makers – or something that’s a better idea than this (almost anything would be better than selling curios). Does anyone know how to contact Kazuri in Nairobi? I only find Kazuri in the UK and USA and their prices are VERY high. Even if the wholesale price were as low as to make it possible to sell at the prices on the website (highly unlikely) it would be impossible to make people pay that kind of price (£29.99 for a necklace). Does anyone know if they are that expensive in Nairobi? I was on my way to Kazuri after visiting the Karen Blixen museum on my first trip, but the road through the wood looked scary (I wasn’t as brave as I am now) and I thought they might be closed on a Sunday.
Everyone I ask tell me that if they had a good business idea they’d use it themselves, but Fodorites are a generous bunch.
Asante sana.

LyndaS

Nyamera-
I have a friend in Nanyuki, I can contact him via email and see if he has any good ideas - I'm sure there are lots of carvers etc up that way! Back at you as soon as I hear back from him - my email by the way is
lyndadswain at telus dot net if you want to contact me direct on this.

My contact is actually in the gorilla trek and safari business, but maybe he knows someone up there in the carving business!

Nyamera

Lynda, on any other Internet forum I would have got rude replies to this post. I’ve sent you an email.

aby

Nyamera

Zanzibar Curio Shop is probably the cheapest of the serious Curio Shops.
(they r cheaper than the market unless u r an expert bargainer).
i know them for years, they ship overseas & can surely deal with your quantities
<font color="gray">
ZANZIBAR CURIO SHOP LTD Estd. 1936
We stretch our limits to give you the best
For exclusive: Batiks, Jewellery, Safari wear, Arab chests, Sisal baskets, Ebony carvings,
Wooden carvings, Soapstone carvings, Brass &amp; Cooperware, African semi precious stones.
Moi Avenue, Nairobi. Tel: 222704, 249452. P.O. Box 41306, Nairobi.

Fax: 3740141, 250621. Email: [email protected]
</font>

look at this list (it has some expensive sellers like &quot;African Heritage&quot; &amp; &quot;Utamaduni&quot but u can check the others
http://www.nationaudio.com/News/Dail...ent/curios.htm

Check out also this (Jewellery from other african country)
http://www.africaguide.com/shop/jewelry.htm

best of luck

aby

Nyamera

Thanks, Aby. Would you say that Zanzibar Shop are better than their competitors in the Hilton building?

Patty

A fully beaded necklace like the ones on the Kazuri UK website retail for 1300-1500 KES in Nairobi. Smaller necklaces with just a few beads on a nylon string (called Fantasy) cost 400 each. Earrings were around 200 a pair, key rings 300, and 200-250 for ceramic Christmas ornaments. The contact information is listed as:

Kazuri 2000 Ltd
P.O. Box 24276, Karen, 00502
Nairobi, Kenya
Tel: 884058/883500
Fax: 882501/891595
[email protected]

Good luck!

kerikeri

my living room post-safari looks as though i run an export business i do not BUT i do know some answers about kazuri.

i bought probably 8-10 kazuri items, most in kenya at the shop/factory (not scary). the prices at the shop were identical to the prices at the serena camp in amboseli where i first saw them.

i'm reading directly off the labels so prices in ksH:

necklaces: 1300-1600 for full beaded; less expensive rubber choker with a few beads: 900, a little more when the beads have gold flecks.

bracelets were about 450 ksh (the tags are gone because i wore them). these are wrap around with the gold flecked beads.

earrings- beads with gold flecks were approx $5 USD in uganda based on that exchange rate (9,000ugs in the fanciest hotel gift shop).

the web address on the jewlery label is www.kazuri.com.

i cannot find their phone number and don;t have my receipt handy. and none of the styles i bought are anything like those i found online.

the prices were comparable in uganda where i also saw lots of their stuff.

as for shipping- i shipped through the regular post office service in mombasa (ok the hotel did it for me) and it was about $200 USD for 12 kilos from mombasa to usa, if that is helpful. they were safe and reliable. dhl is actually less expensive than fedex, but fedex does have a presence in kenya.

good luck &amp; good night. if you need style numbers let me know....

kerikeri

aby

Nyamera

I don't think any shop at the Hilton arcade can be comparable...
i've been recommending Zanz for over 20 years &amp; many many people have verified they r the best bvargain, even compared to the stalls. (though i really don't care if tourists pay more money, as long as it goes to simpler wananchi on the street)

aby

sandi

From the website keri listed, you get to the UK operation. Thru a search, I managed to find a US distributor and the simplysafari link provided is for a Canadian distributor. It's quite obvious from the prices Patty and keri listed, the UK, US and CA both mark-up quite a bit!!! The CA prices appearing to be the highest.

I'd suggest you contact the &quot;info@&quot; provided and inquire about net prices and shipping to your location in the cold north... then mark-up as you feel the market will bear.

Of course, the shipping, if using FedEx or DHL will have to be included in the price you charge, and these can be stiff... but you can't chance your package being lost. Though the US$200 for 12Kilos that keri mentions does seem high (hey, if you want something bad enought and Kazuri items are in that category) you have to pay. I mention this only because, last year I had about 10Kilos to ship from ZNZ and DHL wanted a little over US$100, the PO about US$80. I carried my items (brochures) home with me.

These items are so beautiful, that on two visits I was so confused, left w/o having made a purchase. Can't do that again, especially since they have a shop in the same complex as my NBO office. This next trip is going to be &quot;buy buy buy&quot; - enough fussing, it's decision time.

Nyamera - good luck with these and let us know of your progress.

Nyamera

Thanks Patty, Kerikeri, Aby and Sandi. That’s good news about Kazuri. I should have bought jewellery from them months ago. Now there’s a risk it wouldn’t arrive before Christmas. If I buy anything now there’s also a risk I won't have any profit when I make up the balance for this year.

Kerikeri, I believe you when you say that Kazuri’s factory isn’t scary. It was the road I found scary – <b>on my first trip</b>. There was a sign and then an empty road through the forest. I couldn’t see the factory, it could be a long walk to find a closed shop and there were no people around at all – just the bad ones hiding in the bushes.

I’ll try to write about $$$, but I’m not exactly good at maths. The PO prices I got from the jewellery company in Mombasa was 36 euros for 5 kilos, 72 euros for 10 kilos, 108 euros for 15 kilos and 144 euros for 20 kilos. I’m being charged 38 euros for the shipping of a lot of jewellery at a good price and it’s just 15 % of the jewellery price – I just hope it doesn’t get lost. My first shipment was 137 kilos and the shop in Nairobi charged me $600 for the shipping with KLM (39% of the price for the goods). The second one was 45 kilos and the shipping with BA was $350 (65%). On the BA air waybill it says the shipping including “fuel surcharge, security charge, and due carrier” is $144 (on the KLM air waybill it just said, “as agreed”). When I asked the Nairobi shop about this I got a long list with other fees that they’d had to pay and then I was told that they had estimated $350, but the total for shipping came to $320, so they would give me a $30 credit when I ordered next time – and, as I reminded them, I got this credit this time. Now the shipping with DHL is $260 – a whopping 80% of the cost for the goods. I just want that cow horn jewellery right now because people have been asking for smaller sizes for months.
To set a price (including VAT) I take the price I’ve paid for each item + the shipping percentage + the 25 % VAT I have to pay, and then I add 100%. The salad sets are so cheap that this works even with the latest DHL shipping, I can’t really do it with the cow horn jewellery, definitely not with the masks from the first shipment and then there are some items that aren’t sellable at any price. If I had a lot of costumers, I think this business idea would work. My problem is that I’m definitely not a seller and I project my problem on the (almost) innocent suppliers. Anyway, I really want to change the Nairobi shop for a self-help co-operative. They say 5000 families get a decent income thanks to them, but I’m not convinced. I’ve decided to switch to jewellery, but maybe I should continue with salad sets as well. But, as I’ll never make a living this way I appreciate all business ideas – legal or illegal.

kimburu

Nyamera... I think a self-help co-operative is an excellent idea but I think you need to get your business on an even keel first. If you can do that, you will be in a better position to take an ethical stance (I know this is more than a hobby for you). And unsold inventory is really bad news for your business - have you tried to use them as part of &quot;buy two/three items get a free....&quot; promotions - those might be attractive for people doing Christmas shopping (they can tick one more present off the list)... it's amazing what help you've got so far - you should have asked earlier ;-)

cybor

I agree with Kimburu. A tangible is easier to market than an idea. Also how about testing the market first in different arenas such as flea markets, selling to retailers, on a website of your own or even ebay. Another thing to test market would be finding out which items are more desirable. My guess is that home decor items such as throw pillow covers,place mats, table cloths, salad sets or small chatchas would sell well versus masks which would only appeal to a smaller segment (I'm guessing that most people would be to conservative for masks) while most people can never have enough of those throw pillows. I noticed at the flea markets around here that the African jewelry didn't sell so well this year - not sure why. I love the stuff.
I don't think you have to be a good salesperson to sell but you do have to market properly and have good stuff. Possibly your motivation to get to Kenya will get you to put up the Topi online quality African wares site. Are you familiar with Pier 1?
Perhaps you can sell your overage on ebay.
I'm excited to see you expose all the world to your goods!
Sherry

cybor

one more thing - do you know what drop shipping is?

If you had a website, catalog business or took face to face orders, you could order and ship directly from your African supplier as there would be no need for this stuff to come to or from you. This would save huge amounts of shipping $$.

ShayTay

My sister and I operate a small business selling African imports. When I was in Nairobi last year, I went by Kazuri to see about purchasing from them on a wholesale basis. They discouraged it, saying that we would have to order at least 200 pieces and urged us to buy from their US wholesalers. There is more than one, I believe, depending on the area of the country you're in.

One place I found in Nairobi which had some nice items was Amani Ya Juu, which is a women's self help group that teaches the women how to sew. They have some really nice items. I brought back a few pieces in my suitcase and we've sold them all. They have a US contact, but they only provide a &quot;volunteer kit&quot;. You sell the items in the kit and give all the proceeds to the organization. Even though you wouldn't make anything on those sales, you could judge which items sell well and consider importing from their Nairobi location.

Patty

ShayTay,
Can you tell me where in Nairobi Amani Ya Juu is located?

Nyamera

Thanks Kimburu, Sherry and ShayTay. Where else would people be this helpful?
Re. website I just wonder how on earth anyone would find my website and why they would buy from me and not directly from Africa. There would be double shipping, unless I could do “drop shipping”(didn't know that word, thanks Sherry) - for which I would need a very well behaved supplier who don't ignore costumers during the tourist season. And I have no idea how to make a website, but I suppose that's something I could learn. :-? I'll try “Ebay” for some items.
I've got the impression that the best place for selling would be to put up a table in a big city centre mall, but to do that you have to pay a ridiculously high rent. Or behind the checkout at some of the biggest supermarkets, but they don't want anyone there.
Shaytay, that's bad news about Kazuri. There are people selling it in Sweden, but I don't know if there's a wholesaler. I wouldn't like to buy from one. Where do you and your sister find costumers? I found the Amani ya Juu website, but I'm a bit anti-textile as some of my kikois (the only textile I have) have got sun bleached.

Since you cut out the middleman, a self-help co-operative doesn't have to be more expensive and I prefer not being involved in too much exploitation. On the other hand, I get a bit irritated when people think I'm “helping Africa” (it has happened several times even without a fair trade label) and I say I'm helping the people at the place where I'm selling to get beautiful handmade salad sets, giraffe masks etc at a good price. I wouldn't be “helping Finland” if I was selling Finnish handicraft.

Kimburu, I'll try some “get a free …” promotions, but I can’t use the things that are impossible to sell because of defects. I’ll get a “bargain box” with “everything for x” (a very low price)”.

ShayTay

Nyamera, we haven't made many sales on the web, but usually have good luck at craft fairs and the like. We have a lot of textiles from Zambia which are colorful and everyone stops, looks and (hopefully) buys.

Patty, I'll try to describe Amani's location from the map on their brochure. I believe it's northwest of downtown. Go northwest on the Uhuru Hwy. to Museum Hill, then on to Chiromo St. towards Westlands. Turn left on Riverside Dr., then right (north) on Ring Road River Side. They are the 2nd gate on the right. Their phone no. is 254/20-4449071. Your guide may know their location, too. Their website is www.amaniafrica.org.

Patty

Thanks, ShayTay. I'll print that out and bring it with me.

atravelynn

I have no advice just want to wish you good luck and business njema. Keep us posted on how this goes.

Nyamera

Asante Lynn.
Yesterday DHL delivered my shipment. I had to pay more than the expected VAT because DHL had declared that I should pay duty and then, for some reason, my supplier had added the shipping to the different items, so that the invoice on the box didn’t show any shipping and DHL estimated a shipping cost adding it to the total. It looks like DHL is going to correct this though. Most of the cow horn bangles and rings were in reasonable sizes, but there were cracks on two hippos.
I’m still waiting for the comprehensive progress report that I should have got from the Mombasa jewellery makers on Monday. My “plan” was to sell a lot of jewellery and put in another order before Christmas.
This thread really should have the title “Nyamera’s Complaint of the Day”.

ShayTay, a lot of people stop, look and comment favourably on my things, but very few buy anything.