Craft Fair Frenzy

The final two Marche Maroc's (Peace Corps sponsored craft fairs) took place over the past month and our coop attended both with much success.

The first was in late April and took place in Fes. I let Rabha know in advance that I wouldn't be riding the bus with her to Fes ( I normally accompany her to all the fairs) as I wanted to encourage her independence as much as possible. The grant for this fair provided transportation and hotel costs for two women from the coop, so she wasn't exactly traveling solo. The other lady that went with Rabha is also called Rabha. Rabha and Rabha both made it to Fes and I was there to greet them and show them the way to the hotel. 

Volunteer travel and hotel isn't covered by the grant and so to save a bit of money, I stayed in Sefrou at Jo's house. Sefrou is 30 mintues outside of Fes and only a 10 dirham cab ride away. In the past, I have always been at the fair in the morning to help set up our display, but seeing as the ladies will be doing this without me soon, I kept my presence to a minimum as I wanted to make sure they could do it with no hiccups, while I'm still here to help if there were any. They were fine and did an excellent job each day.

I was house cook in Sefrou...Shepherd's Pie for 8

Damage Done

Just a short hike from Sefrou 

Our sales were below average, but not too bad. More importantly, we secured a very exciting display are in Cafe Clock for the future. Jo organized this fair and managed to get the support of Mike, the owner of famed restaurant, Cafe Clock. Cafe Clock is in the Fes medina and is a must-go-to for tourists. It's listed in every guide book and on every travel website. Clever girl that Jo is, she managed to get Mike to donate a room in Cafe Clock for a showroom of samples of the craft fair products. This opened a few days before the fair and was manned by Peace Corps Volunteers who sold the samples and gave directions/marketing material to tourists who entered the restaurant. 

On the final day of the craft fair, I went by the showroom to collect the products we hadn't sold. My timing was lucky as Mike was in the showroom when I got there. After introducing myself, I asked if he would be interested in displaying a few of our carpets. Excitingly, he offered up an entire room in the restaurant for the coop to display its carpets. We agreed that he would sell them on commission and that I would create a storyboard about the women and their work in Tounfite. Seeing as we were headed to Rabat for the final fair, I asked if it would be okay for us to come back by after Rabat with our display. He agreed and that was that. 

Both Rabha's were very excited with the news and personally I was ecstatic :) This is exactly the collaboration we needed, an in-country sales outlet that Rabha can manage herself. 

Flyering for the fair Moroccan style...

Dinner in Fes

Our new messenger bags!

Ruth (who is a Brit too!) modeling our new bags

Rabha & Rabha 

Rabha at breakfast

Tariq (SBD program manager), Rabha, Yanyi & Jo (pcv fair organizers) 

Artisan Certificate Time

Crowded beach in Rabat

With big smiles, we headed on to the Rabat fair. I had Rabha travel alone to this fair, which was a step more complicated as I didn't greet her at the station. I told her to take a petit taxi to the hotel, which she did with no problems. Not all artisans are as capable as Rabha. In fact, I had to go to the bus station the next morning to pick up Marisa's ladies (Marisa was seeing her sisters off in Casablanca). They were so timid, they literally stepped of the bus and didn't know what to do next so they stayed put next to bus for an hour and a half while I searched the waiting area of the bus station, unable to find them! Shwiya b shwiya (Little by little).

This fair was a little different as it was held at the American Club. The American Club  is a US passport secure restaurant and garden area for Americans in Morocco. Most attendees were Embassy workers headed home for a visit and in the market for gifts. This was the best fair ever for us. We sold ALL of our stock! Incredible. 

Incredible, but with one small problem...no stock to bring to Cafe Clock on our way back! Mike was gracious and agreed to hold our display room and I've promised him a delivery in the beginning of June. He was just as pleased as we were that we sold all the stock, as it proves we will be good business for him in the future. 

The ladies are hard at work resupplying our stock and Rabha and I will be making a trip to Fes in the near future. I've already told her she will be doing all the talking (Mike is British, but his employees will translate for us) as this is her coop and her responsibility. I can tell she is nervous, but I will be there to work out any issues so it will be just fine, en challa (God-willing). 

Closing/Certificate Ceremony at the American Club

Ambassador Kaplan, his wife and our Country Director Peggy, with Marisa's artisan

Ambassador Kaplan, his wife and Rabha

Until next time,

Miriam x