Ida Horner, Ethnic Supplies
Ethnic Supplies is the brainchild of Ugandan born Ida Horner. Having visited the South West part of her native Uganda in December 2006, Ida witnessed poverty which prompted her to quit her job as a Housing Manager for a London council to set up Ethnic Supplies Ltd., a social enterprise specialising in African handicrafts, textiles, art and crafts from East Africa.
Ida’s commitment to improving the welfare of working women in East Africa has led her to source suppliers with a commitment to fair trade and ethical production. ‘By ensuring that the money goes directly to the producers, I can measure the social and economic outcome of my efforts,’ says Ida.
As a first-time entrepreneur, Ida sought local advice from Business Link, not only accessing the online services but also attending her local centre in Surrey for face-to-face advice. She says, ‘I was so impressed with the Business Link adviser’s ability to articulate the many ideas that I had and I still rely on their ongoing support. I would recommend the service to any woman who needs a push in the right direction to start up on her own.’
Ida’s whole business plan rests on international trade and she relishes dealing with women who would otherwise never have the opportunity to sell their products internationally. ‘My advice to others looking to set up international businesses is to network as much as possible with people from the country where you intend to trade. Most countries have High Commissions and Ambassadors in the UK, which can provide an invaluable source of information.’ Ida would know: it was through her contact with the Madagascan Ambassador that she was able to put together an exhibition about the work of the Malagasy women artisans at the Royal Geographical Society in London in 2007.
