Ol Pejeta
Supporting the Ol Pejeta Conservancy in Kenya to develop a range of branded merchandise
Background
The Ol Pejeta Conservancy is a ground-breaking wildlife conservancy of international repute in northern Kenya. It is home to the last 2 remaining northern white rhinos left on planet earth, and hosts the largest single population of the endangered black rhino in East and Central Africa. Ol Pejeta derives most of the money it needs to pay for the high fixed costs of conservation through tourism, with retail of branded merchandise forming an increasingly important part of its revenue generating activities.
The Opportunity
During 2017, Ol Pejeta engaged a contractor by the name of Rock and Stones Limited to assist with the development of a range of branded clothing for sale to visitors to the Conservancy. Recognising the lack of quality for this type of product within the local Kenya marketplace, Rock and Stones formed an association with Banana Moon to create a variety of high quality branded clothing offerings that could be exported cost effectively to Kenya. These literally flew off the shelves, increasing retail incomes to Ol Pejeta by over 300% in the space of 2 years.
The Solution
Banana Moon have been exceptionally helpful in the creation of a range of branded clothing, assisting Rock and Stones to provide Ol Pejeta with styles, colours and materials that until that time had not been available in Kenya, and which could be exported to Kenya at a price that enabled the conservancy to make reasonable margins to support its conservation work.
The Banana Moon experience
“The entire Banana Moon experience has been brilliant. Their staff are incredibly helpful and full of ideas and suggestions - nothing seems to be too much trouble for them. We now hope that our affiliation can be put to good use across the entire conservation sector of Kenya, assisting conservancies and National Parks alike to raise money for conservation through an excellent retail offering. In particular, we now hope to work with Banana Moon to support the 22 member conservancies of the Laikipia region of Kenya - home to over 50% of the remaining rhinos in Kenya - to develop their own ranges of branded merchandise. We will also be working together to support the Laikipia Conservancies Association to develop and create a "Friends of Laikipia" membership scheme, with the aim of being able to reward new members from all over the globe with eco-friendly branded merchandise through Banana Moon.
Sarah Vigne, MD Rock and Stones Limited
