{UAH} Selling Ugandan Handicrafts in America

Trade and Investment Forum

Friday August 29, 2014 – 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM

26^th Annual Convention of the Ugandan North American Association

Hyatt Regency Hotel, La Jolla (San Diego), CA

Selling Ugandan Handicrafts in America

Let no one ever say that selling Ugandan handicrafts in America is easy.  Indeed, the same can be said for handicrafts from scores of foreign countries.  However, there are those that through either simple persistence, sheer luck or the development of truly unique products have somehow managed to gain a foothold and whose handicrafts can be found in small to major retailers throughout the US.

A walk through any Pier One store is like a stroll through an upscale bazaar in Bombay or other exotic locale in Asia or Far East.  Carvings from Kenya are a regular feature at Cost Plus and Macy's carries baskets made in Rwanda.

So why not handicrafts from Uganda?

A couple or so years ago, representatives from Uganda attended a trade show in Italy where they displayed local handicraft products alongside many other products.  A lady came to their pavilion booth and was so attracted to some of the handicrafts that she wanted to place an order for an assortment of products to make Ugandan Christmas basket for her stores in Italy.  Her request - the delivery of over 200,000 unit pieces of precisely the same make, look and quality as the ones she was looking at in the booth within 1 month.  An order valued at over 500,000 Euros of which she was prepared to pay half in advance.  The deal was never consummated because of an inadequate and under-developed product source in Uganda.

Over the many trips I have made to Uganda, I have always spent many pleasant hours strolling and buying handicrafts in the various local markets.  Right off the bat, this year I noticed a significant increase in the number of handicraft outlets around Kampala.  This was good because it brought about more competition for my few dollars and I think I got some very good deals.  However, I also noticed some changes in the products on offer - in some cases for better, in others for worse.  What I found particularly interesting was a scarcity of good baskets from the Tooro regions of Western Uganda.  When I enquired as to why, I was surprised to learn that European expatriates who were working in the nearby oil fields were buying the best baskets directly from the weavers in Fort Portal and exporting them to Europe.

But I digress.

With very few exceptions, Ugandan handicrafts are all individual and unique products.  Even where the most basic materials are used, it is very difficult to find two products that are exactly the same in size and quality.  A woman (and it is mainly women who weave these baskets) who makes a beautiful basket of a particular design today, will be very hard pressed to duplicate it tomorrow, let alone make 5 more.  So while this presents a challenge for those looking for mass production, it also creates opportunities for those who deal in unique products. 

Another interesting fact I discovered was the intense pride that people from different parts of Uganda have in the products that are typical of their regions.  Unlike what I would have expected, weavers in Buganda were happy to create products that are quintessentially associated with Buganda and not copy or reproduce products from say Acholi or Tooro.  This probably has something to do with the training it takes to make products from these areas, but I think it is also a reflection of the materials locally available in each region.

I found some very nice cow horn candle holders – made in Kenya, but using Ugandan raw materials.  Fortunately, the equally beautiful cow horn coasters were all locally made.  Indeed, there were some very nice design variations to what I last saw 2 years ago.

I visited a once-a-week handicrafts market on a Friday afternoon in Nsambya and was delighted to see and meet many artisans who made the very products they were selling.  In some cases, the artisans were engaged in making the very products right there and then.  Here I found several more beautiful and unique products and was even able to order some baskets with specific custom changes from one of the artisans.

I think that Ugandan handicrafts are both beautiful and unique.  And I also think that they could attract buyers here in the US. 

Join us for a discussion on marketing Ugandan handicrafts in America during the Trade and Investments Forum at the upcoming 26^th Annual Convention of the Ugandan North American Association in San Diego.

Registration:      UNAA Member                -              Actual Forum is Free - Lunch is $30.00

                                Non-Member    -              $50.00 (includes hosted lunch)

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