Since our last journal in February, we have been so busy behind the scenes! From launching our SS23 New Collections to processing two container deliveries and fulfilling orders of 4,629 baskets...and that is just in the last three months.
We won't deny, things are pretty tough out there in retail, understandably so with the cost of living crisis which we are seeing impact both our stockists and customers here in the UK and Europe. Our team has been working so incredibly hard, we are a small business with just five of us based in the UK office and three in Kenya. Between us all, we manage the whole business operations from designing to sampling and paying the weavers to liaising with shipping companies.
We hand-count every basket in the UK warehouse, source and style all our photoshoots, list all our products online, and make all our own website changes in-house. Both the marketing and all of the wholesale admin are also managed from our little office in Chipping Norton.
It's a lot....but we are still here with a passion for what we do and we are so very grateful and thankful for every single one of you who also believes in us.
Since returning from our trade show in Paris mid-Jan it has been all GO! The UK team received two containers: one from Ghana in February and one from Kenya in March. A total of 11,649 baskets. They both needed unpacking and some baskets prepped for wholesale pre-orders. Holly and Katie sourced, styled and shot our SS23 campaigns in the space of two weeks with our lovely new photographer Abbie. We finally launched the new collections in mid-April (more below if you've not yet seen them!).
The past three months have seen us send out 793 orders from our UK warehouse, a total of 4,629 baskets!
It finally felt like things calmed down the past week or so but we then realised we needed to move out of our 'overflow' warehouse by the end of May (biz rates are too high and so it is a cost we can no longer afford). Anna, Katie, George and Leilah worked so hard moving, packing, and unpacking baskets from one warehouse to another! We did manage to get out for a beautiful sunny walk last week, a circular route from Salford taking in the views from the Rollright Stones. Katie (pictured top right) took the opportunity to photograph our new palm beach bag amongst the yellow fields!
New Summer Bag Collection
Watermelon Escape
We've teamed up with British Designer Hannah Harrison for a bespoke bag collection launching this week! You may recall our SS22 collection which featured hand-embroidered eyes motif and a colourful rainbow tote. This year, expect to see a joyful explosion of colour in vivid pinks, psychedelic tie-dye, and embroidered leopard print. The collaboration is not just between us and the designer but the work of many pairs of skilful hands and creative minds. From rural Kenyan basket weavers to one single embroidery artist, a group of exceptional leatherworkers and a brazier (brass worker) in Nairobi, Marvin the photographer, the models and stylist.
If you've not yet seen our new collections please do take a look! We've launched a stunning new tableware collection featuring trim colour block placemats, coasters, and bread baskets.
We also have many new basket designs for making your home organised. Our sisal baskets have so many uses, from storing toiletries, toys, toilet rolls and of course, stylish planters. The GROW collection features swathes of soft pastels reminiscent of flourishing Spring and Summer gardens alongside CREATE which captures bold checks, pinstripes, brave colour block combos and Y2K-inspired tie dye medleys. RELEASE exudes a maximalist style and clashing of colours for a feeling of modern design mixed with vintage character.
Click here for the New Collections
