Michael Norton is a fan of eShopAfrica.com!!!

Early this month Michael was in Ghana, despite his hectic schedule he made time to pay us a visit. It was a very humbling experience, meeting a man with such a rich CV, and vast business mind. Prior to seeing him, it is fair to say, I was intimidated. Mr. Norton’s personality seemed contrary to his intimidating resume, he was a simple man who spoke freely and eloquently.

He is truly a social activist

40 years supporting voluntary organisations, developing creative ideas for a better world, turning them into successful projects, and encouraging others to go out and change the world.

Thank you Michael for your support!!!

Philippe Lespinasse documentry about Ga coffins is out!!

At eShopAfrica office with me!!!

The French film maker Philippe Lespinasse was in Accra last year to film

a documentry about the Ga fantasy coffins of Ghana. He was very interested,among others, in the "Empire State building" coffin designed by Eric for Sarah Murray who is writing a book on the same issue. Read more about it in www.eshopafrica.com.
The film is out, we have just received our complimentry DVD.

In this picture we were visiting Eric, Philippe(orange batik shirt) and his crew.

It was a day!!

Dr W. Stephen Howard visits eShopAfrica

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Director of the African Studies Program at Ohio University, W. Stephen Howard is also director of the Institute for the African Child, which he founded to promote progressive development of children and their families across the African world. Dr Howard paid a curtsy visit to eShopAfrica during his short stay in Ghana. He commented on the efforts that eshopAfrica is making to help African artisans to expose their art and crafts globally.

eShopAfrica supplies Ohio University with personilized kente stoles for thier garduation .

Beads Artisan visiting eShopAfrica

Mr Israel Kumah owner of "Lizzy Beads" has visited eShopAfrica office in Accra. Israel and his wife Elizabeth have been brought up in beads business . The shop is in Somanya in the Eastern region of Ghana where beautiful recycled beads are made.

Mr Kumah works with all types of recycled beads,powdered as wel as painted.

He thanked eShopAfrica for their support to artisans.

"Lizzy beads "you are warmly welcomed to be part of the great family of eShopAfrica.com

Peace Corps partnership

Today we met with Dave McNally, an Associate Director with the Peace Corps, and John Park, a Peace Corps volunteer located near Kumasi. We discussed different areas where we could work together in partnership. We particularly talked with John Park about working with some of the Kente weavers located in his village. We also set up a meeting later in November to meet with some of the local artisans and cement this new relationship.

What's it like to work for eShopAfrica?

Deborah Jones, a UK post graduate volunteered to work for eShopAfrica during the summer of 2004. Although she is still continuing her studies she wanted to know what it was like to work for an African fair trade arts and crafts business. We were very happy to have her! As well as helping out in the office she helped survey our artisans on what their goals and aspirations are.

As an outsider coming from the UK she was full of ideas and initiated a bead marketing campaign for UK beadshops. She also had some good ideas to make the website better.

Deborah is now continuing her studies at the School of African and Oriental Studies in London and we wish her all success and hope that she'll come and visit us in Ghana again soon.

This is what she said about us:

"Working for eShopAfrica in Ghana taught me that whilst running a business in Africa is challenging, it is also immensely rewarding.

Part of the work I did out there was to interview the artisans about their plans and ambitions. Before I went, I thought the company had set itself a big challenge in helping these people earn a good living from selling their products, but I was not prepared for how enterprising and resourceful these men and women were. I was really impessed by their plans to speed up production and break into new markets.

The challenge they faced on a day to day basis; competition from others selling similar goods, the difficulty of getting hold of raw materials and the pace of life in Ghana, which means everything takes a long time, were akin to the challenges eShopAfrica faces. I really liked the fact there was no conflict of interest between the artisans who were all trying to develop their businesses, and the company that buys from them. They are all small concerns, but they can, and are, helping each other."