inspired products and services
Business Name and what it does.
Africa is like music that beats in the wind. Once you’ve been there, you can feel her rhythm in
your blood. It is a continent like no other, with breathtaking nature scenes, haunting sounds,
and dazzling colors. History is truly alive here, and ancient wisdom lives on in artifacts, jewelry,
and stories. Close your eyes, and you can see the proud warriors and hear the women singing
by the river.
AFRICANAFEEL.COM is website platform in which we produce and offer genuine African-
inspired products and services, we are not only an online store with exclusive clothing and
accessories inspired by Africa's indigenous cultures. The important thing for us is to promote
the visibility of the Afro world, weaving networks and facilitating collaboration. We organize
fairs and musical events inspired by Afro culture. We want everyone to enjoy the wonders of
the Afro world and give a positive approach to African culture.
The business began in 2020 and operates from an office in Spain, but produce most of our
products in Ghana and work with other afro communities in Spain, Guinea Equatorial and
Nigeria.
We generate work and fair trade, free of child exploitation and respectful of nature.
The brand serves as a vehicle to communicate Africa to the world. We take pride in our African
identity, portrayed through our unique designs.
Our distinctive designs and African-touch collections highlight the creativity of fashion talents
that abound on the continent.
AFRICANAFEEL.COM brings lasting income to people and communities in Africa in two ways:
We make African creations easier to get. This creates real change with a sustainable income
for of small business people in Africa.
This is what drives our company. Our purchases help to accomplish some tremendous and
lasting good for many people in Africa. It's not just money, we have personal long-term
relationships with many adults who help the children and others.
Founder's/Owner's story and what motivated them to start the business
Victor Araguas is founder and CEO of AFRICANAFEEL.COM. Born in Equatorial Guinea and
raised in Spain, this small businessman wanted to make something different, he not only wants
to make some money, he wanted to make something good for the world, a social
commitment, give visibility to black people and freeing them from race stereotypes.
Victor is passionate about preserving the cultural heritage of Africa. AFRICANAFEEL.COM is a
for-profit social enterprise aiming to bring authentic African designs to the world.
Throughout history the world has been trained to hate and fear black skin of all shades thus
creating shame throughout our black communities for many generations.
Victor is focusing on bringing pride back to the black community. He want to encourage all
people to celebrate our cultural differences while highlighting the beauty of blackness and the
power of melanin.
Victor is black and proud!
The challenges the business/market is facing
We are different because we produce in Africa, most companies produce in Asia.
Produce in Africa, make sure that our people get a good salary, make sure that all our staff
work in safe environments and that their talents are nurtured is not always easy.
The fabric sourcing process is very important too, as we need to make sure they truly fit our
vision of creating unique contemporary clothing that speaks to our customers without
compromising on quality. Each piece is designed and crafted with love and we think it shows in
our products. This is not about fast fashion, it's about making pieces that you can truly
treasure.
We are still learning about the market for African goods, and connecting with the people in
Africa who make the products. Now we are not only selling to the last customer, most of our
sales came from store owners and other wholesale customers.
We still need to react many African inspired stores in the world to meet customers. We also
want to show products to trade shows. This will help to build a customer base; and a small
community of African product businesses.
African inspired businesses are special, and have a lot of unique challenges and opportunities.
We will soon know some of the best ways to sell African inspired products to the world. People
in Africa are helped the most whenever you or someone else buy more of what we make.
One of our long-term visions is to bring positive change to Africa’s industry.
AFRICANAFEEL.COM is building partnerships with African-owned fabric and garment
manufacturers to develop exclusive prints and clothing. Our goal is to have a real and lasting
influence back home by producing primarily in Africa.
OUR CORE VALUES
• Customer Centered.
• Commitment to constant growth and development.
• Cultivate a positive mindset.
• Create value within the community.
The opportunities the business/market is facing
Nowadays most people want quality and handmade products, they love to buy from
companies that are ethical, free of exploitation and respectful of nature.
People don't mind paying more money if they see something authentic. Sourcing and
producing in Africa is just authentic and our customers love it.
We create jobs in Africa every day. It's important for us to put money back into the continent
that made us what we are today.
It is was not easy for Afro Spanish to find financing to start a business, anyway businesses
owned by Afro Spanish grow every day and the interest in supporting Black-owned businesses
is growing too. As encouraging as the current wave of support is, it must contend with the
cruel reality that Black-owned businesses in Spain have long lacked access to large amounts of
capital.
Consequently, it is difficult for Black businesses to hire employees in important sectors, such as
marketing, consumer relations, and business development, and many owners must use
personal wealth or income to fund their businesses. Although Black businesses have become
increasingly successful, they still confront longstanding financial inequality in Spain.
Advice to others about business
There’s no road map when it comes to entrepreneurship. We didn't have the answers when
they started AFRICANAFEEL.COM. We were forced to figure it out.
My advice to aspiring or starting a busines is to focus on long-term value creation and never
lose sight of the "why." Entrepreneurship can be a long, lonely, and arduous journey, so make
sure what you are working on will stand the test of time. Avoid jumping on trends just because
they are popular and focus on ventures with tangible long-term benefits.
There is no perfect time to start a business. Whether a crisis is caused by tough economic
times or caused by a pandemic (we started in 2020), new needs arise that could be short-term
or enduring. To be more precise, many of the same needs remain, but they need to be met
differently. Ultimately, it depends on the business. The pandemic has had a significant impact
on all aspects of life, but pandemics eventually go away. As long as you are creating products
that address consumers' immediate needs during that time, you can set up a successful
business.
Trust your instincts, you will always have naysayers, but most times, they are your teachers.
When your intention is clear on “why you are doing what you do”, your “how” will manifest.
Ensure you are part of good networks and share your story and ideas all the time. Stay
authentic, and if you can see your vision and you are consistent in action, something has to
shift.
Black businessmen have to work twice as hard to succeed. They should expect certain
difficulties to crop up merely due to the fact that they are black. In such situations the best
thing to do is to remain resolute, focused, ethical and preserve your integrity. It is also very
important to network and get to know people – the right people with the potential to help
your business either as customers, suppliers or associates. Keep a sober head and remain
Focused.
Do something you love, do not do it for money. If you work every day and enjoy it, the money
will come. It is not easy and it may take longer that you think. Just enjoy the journey.
It would be great if you could include images of the founder and the business. Please compress
them as much as possible. Videos are also welcome.
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