This is it, Afro Garden is 1 year old today!
(Oh we're here huh!)
How can I explain to you that at the start, I had absolutely no idea what I was getting myself into!
Several times, I asked myself this famous existential question: "But who sent me 😭?!" (know that this question still torments me today). And yet I started, because I always had the ambition to give life to my illustrations while proposing a different concept.
Make yourself comfortable, prepare your best tea/coffee (or Nesquik, we don't judge anyone here) because my story deserves to be read!
January 2020: I find the name of my brand, but difficult to stand out when you discover on Google several variations of the Afro Garden name. I do not demotivate myself and assume that what I am going to propose is specific to myself. I draw up my business plan (presentation of the project, market study, etc.) and think about the design of the logo.
February 2020: I create my logo, I knew in advance what I wanted: something simple and minimalist. Once the visual is finished, a brainstorming is necessary between me and myself. This is how I started with the idea of launching a cocooning box, not very original for someone who wants to stand out, but I decided to stand out by using my illustration on all the products. There at least, I'm sure to imbue my identity and go on a project that looks like me!
March 2020: I have the idea! I also know what I want to put in this box (by the way thanks to Léa and Iman, without you I wouldn't have found the contents of my box ❤). The problem ? Find quality suppliers at affordable prices.
April 2020: I'm ordering product samples to get an overview of the quality and believe me, it hasn't been easy: between pixelated mugs, failed prints and orders not received, I can tell you that my wallet took a big hit!
May 2020: I had come halfway and yet my failings took over. I questioned myself, doubted my abilities and devalued my work. A break was necessary because it was impossible to be productive with all these negative thoughts that inhabited my brain.
June 2020: The expression "Ah, we're here eh!" really takes on its full meaning because for once: "I WAS REALLY THERE!", I regain my motivation, new ideas invade my mind and I am more productive than ever. I'm looking at social networks, thinking about an editorial calendar and how I'm going to inaugurate my brand, I've lost count of my working hours, I can't wait: to start the adventure to see what it reserve me.
July 2020: My box is ready (FINALLY!) and the idea comes to me to test my products, I decide to give some samples to close friends in order to have an outside opinion. On the whole, the feedback is rather positive and that motivates me for the future.
August 2020: Only 1 month left before the launch. I try to promote my brand by approaching black-owned influencers, by word of mouth and through social networks.
September 2020: This is it! I'm launching my brand (FINALLY!). Not having a website, I started the adventure on Instagram and the results were beyond my expectations: between the orders, the messages of encouragement and the people who relay my posts in their stories I am more than delighted and it boosts my self-confidence.
The months pass and the products expand. In addition to my Afro Cocooning box, I offer: my illustrations in print format, personalized mugs and candles with tropical scents. Over time, I understand that it's more and more complicated to sell on Instagram given my many products. That's when I decided to create my website for more facilities on orders and means of payment.
Today I feel that I can be proud of myself, because basically I felt incapable of undertaking anything. There are days when it's not easy, when I even want to stop everything because: no sales, no traffic on my site and the Instagram algorithm is sometimes wobbly, but generally I pull myself together fast enough.
Every day that passes, I try to improve my branding by offering unique (or at least stand-out) products, thinking about new marketing strategies and canvassing black-owned companies for collaborations that highlight honor Africa: a continent with a thousand and one facets that abound in hidden treasures and talents.
To conclude this chapter (because my story is far from over), I wanted to thank you :
- Thank you for your orders
- Thank you for your sharing on the networks
- Thank you for your messages of support
- Thank you for your feedback
Quite simply, thank you for existing ❤!
Without you I would never have made it.
