Bec and Fiona established their flourishing homewares business ‘Sandalwood’ ten years ago. Their joint love of travelling and passion for homewares inspired them to take the leap and introduce their passion to Braidwood. The excitement surrounding their travels, as well as finding new and unique stock to bring home are the main driving forces that keep them persevering through their business venture.
Sandalwood Homewares is a shop full of unique pieces from all over the globe. Bec and Fiona make regular expeditions to Southeast Asia, India, and Morocco, working with locals and forming personal connections with the artisans. Sharing a great love for travel, they are continually inspired by the colors, flavors, and styles of different cultures. This gives the store a unique touch, as you can purchase artisanal products that are not likely to be found anywhere else in the Region. The ladies describe that their mission is to be sure that they are sourcing ethically made products and supporting community enterprises wherever they go. They also commit to building long term relationships with the families that they encounter and connect with on their travels.
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Favourite Countries and Specialty Items Found There
Fiona and Bec have countless favourite countries, so it is very difficult to pick just one. If they were to choose, however, they would have to say Bali, as this was their first destination, so it holds a strong place in their hearts. The people are generous, friendly, and always so easy to do business with. Morocco is the latest destination that they have travelled to and a favorite for them as well. Some unique items that they found in Morocco included the very special Moroccan ceramics which they have brought back with them to stock in the store. They will also be taking a trip back to India soon, which will include an exciting ‘shop-over’ in Vietnam.
Importance of Working with small Families and Individual Artisans
Fiona and Bec take great pride in working with small families and individual artisans when sourcing their pieces. This is a very important underpinning value of theirs and they can appreciate how important support from others can be when running a small business. “We pride ourselves on our long-term relationships that we have with our suppliers, and I don’t think you make those connections with large companies”. This is one of many aspects that separates Sandalwood from other similar establishments in the region and you can be sure to find a unique and special piece for your home each time you shop in their store. Bec believes that they have brought a new and exciting product to their community, providing visitors with another reason to stop and shop in Braidwood.
Fiona and Bec would advise anyone starting a business in this current economic climate to really do their homework! The duo attribute a large part of their success to the passion that they have for their products and emphasise that “it is very important to stay willing to do the hard miles in-between the not so fun times.”
Store Item Recommendations
This season, the ladies recommend their Moroccan textiles as some must-see products. They also have beautiful hand-woven woolen blankets from the Atlas Mountains, which are perfect for those cooler days and an exquisite range of uniquely crafted Moroccan rugs.
What’s Next for Sandalwood?
An exciting upcoming venture is currently in the works for Sandalwood. This will involve small group tours to the wonderful countries that Bec and Fiona love to visit. Bec explains that the idea was inspired by being asked over many years if they were going to take tour groups to the countries that they visit. The ladies now feel that the time is right to invite small groups to experience ‘shopping like a local’. For many people, especially women, who have always wanted to visit India as an example but find it daunting to go alone, they can be provided with a safe and very adventurous trip where all the guess work is taken out. If you have always wanted to visit a unique country such as Morocco, India or Bali, then this may be the perfect travel arrangement for you! Make sure to pop into their store on your next trip to Braidwood and have a chat with the lovely Bec and Fiona while you shop their wonderful artisanal products.
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