Babette: On a mission to promote fashion accessories in pearls made in Africa.

CAMEROON

Babette did not plan to pursue a career in the processing and production of pearl-based fashion accessories. On the contrary, she was well on her way with her degree in Human Resources Management to take up an executive position in a large company in Cameroon. Today, at the head of a brand of jewelry and customized sandals whose pieces are selling like hotcakes in Douala and Yaoundé. Babette sets out to conquer the international market by trying to sell her products in France and Gabon. Artiaf went to Douala, Cameroon to meet the boss of the brand "MINSSANGA O" whose pearl is the spearhead of her creations.

The entrepreneurial desire, Babette Céline ONAMBELE ATEDZOE wife FOUH has only been wearing it for a short time. Initially, this activity, which she began in 2009, was only a hobby intended to fill a good part of her free time. But after completing her professional training in Human Resources Management in 2013 and having made a brief stay in the world of employment, she realized that she would not be master of her time. This would be detrimental to the stability of his family. As a mother, her daily presence for the education of her children and the harmony of her family is more important to her than a conventional professional career. Therefore, very quickly and with the support of her husband to germinate the idea of entrepreneurship. To turn an activity that for many years had been a hobby, into an income-generating activity. Thanks to this, she could easily reconcile family life and professional life. This is how in 2015 the adventure began.

It is aware that its manufactures are not yet ready to face the competition. Being a perfectionist, in love with quality and self-taught, she spends many hours on the internet and magazines to refine her manufacturing techniques to improve the quality of her creations. This determination pays off because with each new release of its collections it is the effervescence around its articles with its loyal customers. Within a few hours all products are sold. Customers appreciate it and congratulatory messages are multiplying. Babette is stunned. She realizes the happiness she gives to her customers through the beauty of her creations and decides to devote herself entirely to it.

The young artisan in the transformation and valorization of pearl-based fashion items sees her orders and turnover climb. Yaoundé the capital is a service in which customers show the same enthusiasm as in Douala for each of its creations. This situation is an opportunity for Babette who opts for a diversification of her products. Her creations include: jewelry, ornaments, sandals, evening pouches, brooches and ceremonial hats to name a few. Whatever the product manufactured, the pearl and its variations (wood, glass, plastic, precious, semi-precious ...) remain the raw material with ultimately a strong emphasis on the personalization of its creations.

Babette has ambitions. In the short term, it plans to sell the products of the brand "MINSSANGA O" beyond the borders of Cameroon and to create a real economic activity generating employment around the sale of its items. In the medium term, it also dreams of creating a real SME specializing in the manufacture of pearl products. In the long term, it plans to knock on the door of the Anglo-Saxon market, particularly in countries such as Great Britain, Canada and the United States of America.

Curiously, part of his dreams is taking shape. Indeed, at the time of writing this article, orders are on their way to France and Gabon. This represents the first release of his brand internationally. In addition, the current order flow already far exceeds the production capacity of Babette alone. The need for manpower is acute.

However, life is not so rosy for the young artisan who is struggling to obtain quality accessories from her local suppliers. The best materials are sold abroad which requires a heavy investment to be able to go there. But Babette really needs it to add value to her creations.

To get around this difficulty, for example, she is forced to weave the clasps of her jewelry into pearls to ensure their longevity. This trick is necessary to strengthen its image with its customers. This means that, in the end, it is satisfied customers of Babette's know-how who are impatiently waiting for the new releases of the "MINSSANGA O" collections. A brand that is gradually making its way into the tortuous world of fierce competition in the handmade pearl fashion accessories sector.

Babette, to whom our editorial team wishes a wonderful birthday, is a mother of four.

Writing

Article published for the first time on Artiaf on December 7, 2017