Gold Coast Mum Helps An Entire Community Through Fair Trade Art Sales

This week we interviewed Yael Maree, an inspiring Gold Coast mum who supports an entire Tanzanian community through her fair trade art sales here in Australia.

Tell us a little about the person behind the business?

I am an almost 34 year old mother to two incredible kids, Ella and Jimmy, and married to one fantastic man, who supports me in all my crazy and other just ordinary ideas. We have been married for 3 years but had dated for just over 10 years before we made it “official.”

I am Israeli by birth and have been very lucky to travel most of the world in my 20s. I have lived in Israel, Nigeria, South Africa, UK, Thailand and now Australia.

And now a little about the business itself?

Kili Tingatinga Art is a family run business, and by family I mean me, my kids screaming in the background and my husband sighing every time I ask to spend more money. We import and sell Tingatinga Art from Dar Es Salaam in Tanzania and our hope is not only to introduce and showcase this art-form in Australia and the world, but to be able to tell the stories of the art form and the amazing artists creating it, as well as help communities get food on their table and help create sustainability in a region which is struggling with poverty. The latter we do by being a fair trade company ensuring all monies go directly into the hands of the artists. Tingatinga art is incredibly vivid and colourful by nature, making it ideal for children, but the many varying styles can be displayed as art in the main living area as well.

How did you come up with your business name?

Tingatinga art originated in Dar Es Salaam and it’s main theme is animals from the region as well as village life. The Kilimanjaro, which is a prominent feature in the region is painted in 90% of the paintings hence KILI. Tingatinga is the art form and the name of it’s creator and finally well… it’s art.

What made you want to begin a work at home business and how did you get started?

Our family relocated to the Gold Coast during my second pregnancy and I couldn’t find work anywhere. As soon as people saw the bump I was unemployable to them, as they knew they would have to replace me. I have had Tingatinga paintings in my home for years, and it is that passion for art and the comments from visitors and friends about the art that really inspired me to create this small business while simultaneously helping a community. My children as well as my friends’  children were always drawn to the animal content and intensely vivid colors of the painting and that was the second source of inspiration.

Kili Tingatinga Art was born with an ideal to spread joy through art to children across Australia and to showcase incredible unheard-of talent. The biggest challenge was to meet a contact that could speak English well enough to translate what we wanted. As one of our offers are commissioned works designed to clients’  liking it was essential we find the right person for the job! Also, as Internet and communication systems do not always function properly, it was a real challenge to keep the lines of communication open. After that it was a case of sink or swim. We bought some stock, got onto Facebook, and the rest as they say is history.

What inspires you to keep your business going?

I love what i do. I love it because I know that my product is incredible and that each time I sell one I am helping an entire community! If that doesn’t get me out of bed in the morning, my kids bouncing on it certainly will.

Do you have a current best-selling product or service? If yes, tell us about it.

Each painting is individual and unique as are the individuals the art appeals to. Art is a visual thing and what one person loves another may not. So our commissioned works tend to sell better as people can request content, theme and colours. We then match their request to the best painter for the job and we hope that our customer is satisfied.

How do you advertise your business and what methods have proven more successful?

We are a web based company and so we are mainly on Pinterest and Facebook. We run give-a-ways and try to engage our likers as much as we can. Sadly we do not have much of an advertising budget but we are working on it.

How do you juggle your family and your work at home business? Any tips for other WAHPs?

My kids come first. They have to, and most days when they are screaming and trying to kill each other, you realize that they have to come first.

I get most of my work done on the days that the kids are in daycare. My business is important to me and I want to see it succeed and grow more than anything, but my kids will only be babies once, and they will become teenagers that want nothing to do with me. My business will still be around and I’ll be able to answer emails all day.

And finally, what advice would you give to anyone wanting to start a home based business?

Just breathe. Nothing happens over night. Be patient, make good friends with everyone and create long lasting relationships.

Connect with Yael:

Name: Yael Maree

Business: Kili Tingatinga Art

Website:  http://kilitingatinga.com.au/

Facebook:

Location: Gold Coast, Australia