Tangerine Tango is the color of 2012, according to the Pantone Color Institute, and it is one of our favorites. A spirited reddish orange, you can feel the the energy it radiates and we have included it in our collection for 2012. Featured on “The Thread” Tangerine Tango is one of those fun colors you just might want to add to your Collection of Zulugrass!

Kristen is the mom of four children within four years via birth and adoption, and has been  a mommy blogger  at Rage Against the Minivan  since 2004.

Kristen is a Marriage and Family Therapist, a freelance writer, and a musical theater geek.  She is the managing editor of ShePosts, an online news magazine for women in social media, as well as the editor of Mama Manifesto, a collaborative parenting blog.    She is also a columnist at ConversantLife, an online community dedicated to faith and culture, and at the OC Register where she writes a parenting advice column.

Her savvy Gift Guide List for 2011 focuses on Gifts that Give Back. We were excited that she asked us to participate.

“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

susquehannaStyle magazine featured one of our  wonderful partners, Kimmans Gifts  and their products for the holidays. Featured in the section of eco-friendly finds is our beautiful Zulugrass.

You can always find a beautiful array of Zulugrass in their store complimented by their wonderful  personalized service.

It is amazing how diverse and wonderful our customer base is. One would expect to find Zulugrass at eco-friendly stores, those that advocate fair trade, and at select gift stores across the U.S., but you might be surprised about this month’s featured shop. Outdoor Experience , in Sandpoint Idaho, is an extraordinary place to find everything you need for an active, outdoor lifestyle. In addition to kayaks and hiking gear, Zulugrass single strands have been one of their staples for the past 5 years. Last month, thanks to the efforts of Outdoor Experience, The Leakey Collection sponsored the Scenic Half Marathon. This opportunity gave me the chance to catch up with Kevin Nye, one of the store’s owners.

Zulukris: Tell me about your store.

Kevin:  We are celebrating our 25th anniversary this year. Our product mix is diverse with approximately 50% of our inventory in sportswear/outerwear and the other 50% in hard goods like cycling, kayaking, backpacking and cross country skis.

Zulukris: Congratulations on your 25 years!! You obviously have found the secret for success and we’re glad it includes The Leakey Collection.  You have been carrying Zulugrass for over five years now.  What was it initially that attracted you to the product?

Kevin: The colors!  We were looking for  simple new accessory items to add to our product mix that generally fit in with the active lifestyle pieces we sell.  Zulugrass has proven to be a consistently good seller for us.

Zulukris: What do you attribute to its success?

Kevin: A consistent inventory and a well stocked display of 200-300 pieces.  It sells well to all age groups, it’s reasonably priced, and our customers always come back for more.

Zulukris:    You were very involved in the Scenic Half Marathon    which used Zulugrass for the winners.  Tell us a little more about the race  and the response to the prizes.

Kevin: What made Zulugrass so perfect for the race is that over 75% of the participants are women. It seemed, and proved to be, a great fit for the event.

Scenic Half Marthon winner & coach

We want to thank Kevin and Marc  for making a difference in their  community by supporting healthy events.  Even though they didn’t know that October is Fair Trade Month, they are endorsing the guidelines of fair trade every day through their support of The Leakey Collection. Thank you Outdoor Experience!

One of our partners is promoting Fair Trade and will be holding a spectacular event Saturday, October 15th, and we love to spread the good work that our partners do.

Compleat Gourmet & Gifts has been around for 27 years.  Joan and Barb most recently passed the ownership and baton to Connie Stevenson, who introduced  Rwanda baskets to sell in their stores.  Connie believes that we can all “Shop To Make A Difference” by supporting USA made and global fair trade products. We agree!

October is Fair Trade Month, and the store will hold  their Fair Trade Event Saturday, October 15th.  Connie will be introducing a wide array of products from around the world including our beautiful Zulugrass.

Compleat Gourmet & Gifts Location

7592 S. University Blvd.

Centennial, CO • 303-290-9222