This summer we are undergoing a significant transition. I am leaving Burkina Faso and moving back to London, where I will carry on the business and work on finding retailers for SAHEL Design products in Europe and around the world.
Here in Ouagadougou the business has been going well and sales of bags have rocketed. We now have four local stockists and a day rarely goes by without another commission. The purpose of SAHEL Design has always been to benefit the local community, and so it is fitting to pass the thriving local business into the hands of Jacques Kabore, the leatherworker who now makes most of our bags.
In preparation for my departure, we had our first SAHEL Design event last Friday evening at local gallery, cocktail and tapas bar, Villa Kaya. The purpose was to introuduce Jacques to the expat community, and the event was kindly sponsored by the Ouagadougou Expat Association. There was a sale on existing stock (which sold out) and Jacques was there taking orders on existing styles as well as his new collection. More on his collection next week. It was a great success and we are looking forward to the next stage of our business growth.
We also did a short presentation with a video montage showing what we’re about. Here it is.