|
The dedication of our staff never ceases to
amaze me. I recently received a message from Sovannry,
the Shop Co-ordinator of our Siem Reap store.
She reported that she had sold over $300 worth of products the
day before. This was during the Khmer
New Year, where the shop is closed for staff to spend
time celebrating with their families. When I asked her
why the shop was not closed for the New Year, Sovannry
explained that she had put her mobile number on the front door
of the shop. The customers called and Sovannry rushed to
the shop to make the sale.
Sovannry is only 21 years old, but leads a
team of 4. The Siem Reap shop is our largest in terms of
square metreage. The shop takes up two floors of a
house. The staff are hard-working and very involved
in the business. One day two men came in and
stole the cash box. The girls couragesously ran after
them. The men were so surprised they returned the
money!
Sovannry herself admits "Our shop sells less
than the ones in Phnom Penh or Hà-Nôi, so we try harder".
She opens the shop at 8am every day and closes at 10pm,
7 days a week. Sovannry charms her customers,
including Roz, a lady from Perth, Australia. "When I
walked into the shop, I was really amazed with the colour and
quality of the quilts! After spending time with the girls and
listening to the stories of the benefits for the women and
their villages, I decided then and there that my children
would be getting a quilt for a Christmas present this year. On
the way back to the hotel and feeling very happy with my
purchases, I was overwhelmed when the idea came to me that I
might be able to promote the quilts in Australia. This is what
I had been looking for". Roz has since become a good friend
and has sold a large number of quilts in Perth.
Thanks to her excellent contacts,
Sovannry managed to have a full report published in Magic Patch (France). She convinced a Korean
hotel manager to buy a large quantity of quilts, but
avoids major discounts to keep the profits for the
villagers.
It is people like Sovannry that make Mekong
Plus what it is today and make me proud to be involved.
Bernard KERVYN, 24th April
/2010 | 
