By Julius Mugaga Tukacungurwa/Umoja Standard.
Kampala, Uganda: In a heartwarming tale of resilience and determination, a Ugandan entrepreneur has successfully established a thriving beadwork business, Sagati creations, despite the devastating impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on women’s livelihoods between 2020 and 2021.
During an exclusive interview with Umoja Standard News Agency, Joyce Gimbo, the CEO of Sagati Creatives and Designs speaker narrated the inspiring story of how her business idea was born in 2020 COVID-19 lockdown.
With a passion for African-inspired products, she embarked on a journey to create unique beadwork pieces, only to face numerous challenges in appealing to local markets favoring traditional products.
The pandemic had a severe impact on employment, leaving many women in financial difficulties.
Gimbo expressed concern for those who lost their jobs, particularly in cleaning and other key roles, and their desperate need for financial support.
Undeterred, Gimbo pursued training in bag-making, inspired by a designer in Ghana. Despite facing frustration and self-doubt during the learning process, she committed to continuing her craft dream.
“The journey of bag-making has not been without its challenges. She highlighted the difficulties women who she had recruited faced in learning the craft, with many leaving due to the time commitment required. However, i remain committed to progress, with only two out of five initial trainees remaining.” Gimbo stressed.
Asked about her design process, she emphasized the importance of selecting quality beads, learning from customer dissatisfaction with poor-quality materials. “I utilize YouTube to stay updated with trends in product design, particularly in the context of Ghanaians dealing with bags.” She revealed.
On social media usage for marketing, Gimbo expressed that despite minimal engagement on her Instagram account, she has successfully acquired two clients this year, one in London and one in Kenya, with a recent order of 37 bags.
She however notes that staying updated online is crucial to keeping up with trends, stating that without this, one might end up selling outdated products.
Asked how she keeps her clients satisfied, Gimbo, highlighted the importance of meeting order timelines as the core thing that has enabled her to maintain customer trust.
On the other hand, she expressed that, remote work has presented challenges, including perceptions of poor quality products and difficulties in managing productivity and quality. Financial constraints and pricing strategies also remain significant concerns.
Sagati Creatives and Designs story is a testament to the power of determination and resilience in the face of adversity. Despite numerous challenges, Joyce Gimbo remains committed to improving her craft and overcoming obstacles, inspiring others to do the same.
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