The Good, The Bad...Anxiety!

Looking Back on 2018

As 2018 draws to a close, I want to share with you a bit about the successes and struggles of the past year. 2018 has been a whirlwind. There were many lessons learned, and I'm looking forward to using those lessons to make the next year even better.

In December of 2017, I said goodbye to my full-time job and embarked on a new journey. It was both exciting and terrifying to walk out of my office of two years knowing that my future was uncertain. I would no longer have a steady paycheck, and I knew there was a lot of hard work ahead and no guaranteed success.

Looking back, it was absolutely the right decision.

One of our many events this year.

The year started out well. I worked on getting the website set up and more user-friendly, I built the online store, and I created new product tags and business cards. I researched events in the local area, and began applying to be a vendor. This year we participated in more than 20 events, including several pop up shops and home parties. This is a huge change from the three or four events in 2017. It has been a wonderful experience getting to make new friends at various events, and to share the stories of artisans in East Africa with people in the US.

Fortunate and I after signing our contract in September.

This year has not been without struggles. Figuring out the production time for specific orders was the biggest issue of 2018. From incorrect products, to delayed shipping, it was difficult to build relationships with US vendors because of delays in Uganda. By summer I was seriously questioning whether or not to close the business for good. Instead, I started thinking of what needed to change. When I visited Uganda in September, I was able to hire a contract employee (named Fortunate) who has helped get everything back on track. I can honestly say that without Fortunate, I would not have been able to keep Margaret & Emma going.

The trip to East Africa in August and September brought many positive changes to the business. While in Rwanda I met a young woman, Jeannette, who makes beautiful fashion pieces. We started a partnership with her business, Inzira Dreamz Network. We are currently selling handbags from Jeannette’s business, and are planning to add hand-beaded sandals next year.

Meeting with the Nfasha Women's Group

In Uganda, the first order of business was meeting with the organization we’d been partnered with for the last 4 years. It was a difficult conversation to have, but it was needed. We were able to talk through the problems and discuss options for the future. I made the decision to continue working with their groups, but to have my own representative rather than relying on their organization. For the first time in four years, I was in charge of all aspects of Margaret & Emma. After we had figured out the plan going forward, we met with two of the women’s groups. We interviewed and photographed the artisans, purchased products from each group member, and contributed to the group savings fund. Since September Fortunate has been working on new connections that will hopefully expand to new women’s groups.

I am incredibly grateful for everything that has happened in the last year. The good and the bad have been great learning experiences, and I’m excited to see what the next year brings.

We have high hopes for 2019. In the US, I am working to build new relationships with vendors in order to start growing our work in East Africa. Fortunate has made many new connections, and is working to find new products to add to our collection.

I want to personally thank every single one of you who have supported Margaret & Emma in every way – from purchases, to sharing business cards, to following our social media or subscribing to our newsletter. All of this has helped us continue our work with women in East Africa. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!!!!

Happy New Year!

Rachel Simms

Founder