“Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.”  However, we all know that old childish taunt is just not true! Adults, as well as children, thrive on positive feedback, and we at The Leakey Collection are no exception to that. We LOVE hearing from you. Don’t ever underestimate the power of your comments, suggestions and feedback of every kind! It is so valuable to us.

It is your continued support that makes balancing the responsibilities of running a business that can be reliant on the capricious nature of the economy, whims of fashion, Western schedules, and the traditional world of a nomadic culture in Africa. You have a big part of our continuous journey. We could not do what we do without you, our partner stores and retail buyers, so customer satisfaction is very important to us.

Recently, we’ve heard some wonderful comments from you that I was able to share with the Maasai artisans. I also shared with them, the story of one of our customers Jenny Kerchner, who found us in a museum and on a whim, decided she wanted to make a difference in her  own way by selling our Beads for Learning at a local Fair Trade event.  I also found out we share a passion for  wild equine (especially zebras). You would just adore Mr. Flop, Jenny!  Although he has a tendency to leave camp for a while without notice.

These gestures on your part have a HUGE impact on the entire TLC team – including your sales representatives who help you decide between “Juicy Lucy” and “Shuka,” the ladies who fulfill your orders, support staff, the Maasai artisans who make the most extraordinary jewelry and wood tabletop items, and of course, Philip and me.

With Thanksgiving just around the corner, it is the time to be grateful for many things. And YOU ALL are certainly in that category!

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving and I hope you will share your thoughts with us here or on our Facebook Page.

~Katy & Philip

Today Eva and I had a little discussion about her diet.

As you can see, I walked in and found her eating our fine wicker couch.

I scolded her, “No Eva…not the couch!!”  and this is the reaction I got.

Eva, a Kongoni (hartebeest), showed up in camp yesterday evening and literally moved right in.  She came into my office just now and began to eat paper and all sorts of things.  When she discovered the Zulugrass hanging on a T-stand she really  went to town.  She knocked over the display and then casually walked out as if she wasn’t to blame.

She is the most amazing animal we have ever known. It is as though she was raised from birth among people.   She is in here with me as I write this, a huge presence in my tent.   I call her and she follows me like a dog. If I walk away too quickly, she comes running after me to catch up.

I hope you will check back for more of Eva’s adventures at Camp Leakey.

Inspiration happens in our lives during the most unpredictable times. It happened to Jenny Kerchner when she  entered the Denver Museum  of Nature & Science last summer to see the Body Works Exhibit.  During her visit she combed through the store at the Museum when her eyes came across the beautiful display of  jewelry by The Leakey Collection. She was intrigued by the beautiful colors and the story behind the  jewelry.  She purchased a strand of  beautiful Zulugrass, went out to the car and started thinking about how cool this would be to bring Zulugrass to the Alternative Gift Fair which promotes “Gifts of the World that Give Back to the World”  at the Broadmoor Community Church in Colorado Springs.   She quickly ran  back into the Museum to buy more, and when she arrived back home, she went to the website to look for a contact. That is when she reached out to  Susan Barton, a sales team member of The Leakey Collection.  Susan loved  Jenny’s idea and collectively, they started the wheels in motion to make Jenny’s idea happen.

Jenny took her profits of $800  and donated them to the Beads for Learning program of  T.R.A.D.E., a non-profit organization founded by Katy and Philip Leakey, which provides funding for schools,  teacher’s salaries, women’s health initiatives, and work opportunities for women in East Africa. It was so successful that she wanted to do it again this year.

Inspired by Jenny, we asked her to share her experience with us, “What stood out to me most is how interested and fascinated people are with the beauty of the beads; their origin, ingredients and aura. One of my customers visiting the booth was admiring the jewelry. I told her the story and options as she shopped for a while. Then out of the blue she said I want you to build the same ensemble you are wearing.  I want that! (I had on eight 27” strands with a bead clasp holding them in the back so they were doubled to the front in purples/plums/Beads for Learning blended colors).

It amazes me every time I realize how intensely attracted people are to Zulugrass. You would think I would know this by now, yet over and over again it filters into an interaction with a customer,  and you can just feel this mesmerizing addiction building in them. It is such a rewarding product to sell.”

Besides being an inspiration to us, we also found out that Jenny has a love for wild equine (especially zebras) and a history of working around them. She is one of Mr. Flops! greatest fans and is always looking for updates from the bush about his latest adventures. Perhaps a guest post in the making?

As we approach the Thanksgiving holiday, we pause to reflect on our blessings and reasons for gratitude. You are one of those reasons! So we’d like to offer you a way to express your gratitude to someone in your life with a *free* Zulugrass strand.

For every order you place over $50 (excluding s&h) through November 28th at www.leakeycollection.com, we’ll send a free strand to your special someone with a PERSONALIZED note saying “I am so thankful that you are in my life!”  At check-out, make sure the box  Do you want to add a gift message? is checked. Then add your friend’s name and address in the box. We will send that person a Zulugrass strand beautifully packaged.

As author William A. Ward said, “Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it.” Now you can do both!

*Color of the Zulugrass strand will be chosen by The Leakey Collection