Sales and a Surprise

We had a last minute flurry trying to finish a number of samples of the new products for the 2^nd International Craft Fair, but ended up having too many products to display on our table.

We thought the flow of people was a little down on last years event, although we still made sales of over $100 over the 6 hr market, which was  a great improvement compared to the recent Independence Market in town.

I was able to meet with Nga Nguyen (a consultant from BESIK) who was in Dili to present the findings of a preliminary survey on women’s Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM). Last November Besik sent some staff out to 2 districts and interviewed some women.  The consultant wanted to meet with me and see Belekria’s products.  She also invited me to hear the report the following Monday at the Ministry of Health.

I also happened to have a stall next to me with a lady who is starting a small business doing dog training etc.  She had a chat with me about Belekria producing some “treat bags” for dog owners to hold treats while training.

Finally and perhaps most wonderfully, I was introduced to a lovely American woman who is leaving Timor in a few weeks.  She was explaining that she had $1200 which had been donated to support the commencement of a business, but the business in mind had not got off the ground, so she was hoping to find a worthwhile use for the money, and she asked if Belekria needed machines or some other infrastructure.  My eyes opened a little wider and I explained that as we had had so much work, our sweet home machines were being overworked and were starting to be unusable – over heating etc.  I also explained that I had been discussing the possibility of purchasing some industrial machines such as the tailors here use.

She was excited by the idea and encouraged me to find and buy some machines and she would hand over the donation! WOW!

So we are looking at purchasing 2-3 industrial machines and hopefully letting our sweet home style

machines take a break though we will still need them for fancy stitches like zig zag etc.

The Independence Remembrance 5 day market

The Dept of Tourism had been letting Belekria know that a market was being planned for the annual Independance day celebration.  They had assured Belekria they had a place reserved and would be notified later about when it would start etc.

Sooo one fine morning a couple of days after the public holiday, Belekria received another ph. call to say that it was starting that day!  Oops better get organised then hey?

Unfortunately it just happened to be when Samuel was away for a few days, and me being too scared to drive in the big city of Dili, poor Emmy and Nona were pretty embarrassed by their market stall on a small plastic coffee table…. So much for “PRESENTATION!”

I finally asked John from MAF if he could take our dining table in his ute and drop it around for them, so that improved the appearance a bit.   I was tryng not to be involved but was glad to visit them on the last day, and buy a few local products (as well as a cute black bunny for Israel).

Sadly the market wasn’t well advertised (actually not sure if was advertised at all) so even though Emmy and Nona turned up each day around 9am and stayed till after 10pm they came out of the 5 day market with a total of $53 income and $32 spent in transport etc. hmmmm.  Oh well, you win some you lose some.

Products for the International Craft Fair

Pam left me with some great ideas for new products.   Most of them designed to have embroidery.  So after she left I trialled the women who had attended her lessons and gave them some more lessons and assistance.  I then started to pay them per piece.  I drew the embroidery designs on the fabric and provided all the threads and needles.

I was really impressed with Laura's work and she kept stitching away each day for me.

I then called upon Sinta (the previous head sewer of Belekria who had to withdraw due to ill health and family issues) and she stitched the samples up very neatly, to produce these lovely bags.

 A simple shoulder bag with embroidered details.

A travel shoe bag, with appliqued/embroidered shoe designs.

Some travel tags. The other side has an acrylic window with a card for address details.