Eugenie’s extensive experience bridging the informal development sector and the formal sector has equipped her with multiple skills, and opportunities to share her knowledge. Focussing on interventions which have a positive impact on bottom line, quality of product, productivity and confidence in the marketplace; Eugenie is able to help create business plans for organisations within the creative industries, advise on marketing and branding for the creative industries, provided training for trade show readiness and participation, develop brands and brand strategies for producer groups and individuals, and devise and implement turn around interventions for enterprises.

piece has a number of regular return customers for whom products are customised both for normal day wear as well as weddings, high profile events and special occasions.

piece was the runner up in the Talk Radio 702 Small Business Competition (2013) and was one of ten businesses featured on Nedbank It’s My Biz television programme. The team was featured by Fashion TV in a programme focussed on the work they do and their involvement in communities; and in ‘World on a String – the movie’ Part 2, documented by US filmmaker Diane Friedburg.

Eugenie has:

• been invited by the Corporate Council on Africa to address the AGOA conference at the African Museum at the Smithsonian in Washington DC (2003);

• consulted on projects for organisations such as:

  • the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, in Botswana and South Africa;
  • Technoserve in Swaziland on a number of their craft businesses;
  • Khumbulani Craft;
  • Design Indaba Expo;
  • a World Bank project in Lesotho, as a jewellery/accessory designer (J.Crew USA stocked one of the resulting products);
  • Vital Voices, for artisans from African countries, in Swaziland (2008)
  • SEDA (Small enterprise development association);

• and provided mentoring and training on product development and in business skills at: 

  • Gantsi Craft (Botswana);
  • Tintsaba (Swaziland);
  • San Arts and Crafts (Botswana);
  • Phumani Paper (South Africa);
  • Human Loom Enterprises (South Africa);
  • as well as through services such as:
    • facilitating jewellery design intervention with four emerging enterprises in collaboration with Siyasizisa Trust;
    • product testing for CSIR (Council for Scientific and Industrial Research) on poverty alleviation products.

• developed strong international relationships through projects such as:

  • the development of special products for the Disney Lion King 10th Anniversary Celebrations in New York;
  • the development of products for a US importer/wholesaler for over a decade, also serving as their point person in South Africa taking care of orders, consolidation of orders and shipping, and sampling of new ranges;
  • accompanying producers to the Handcrafting for Hope exhibition and exchange, facilitated by the Indian Government as part of the India/Africa summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (2011);
  • participation in a craft exchange to Delhi, India (2012) with 18 people from 5 African countries, accompanied by 2 South African crafters;
  • consulting to a US trend consultant who works with design with emerging groups, analysing the trends in both the local and US markets;
  • Completing the Market Readiness Training Programme at the New York Gift Fair presented by Aid to Artisans
  • servicing a number of International customers who carry ranges which she has curated;
  • participation in Vital Voices (Project of Hilary Clinton) training programme for Artisans from African countries in Swaziland (2008), providing business and product input.