On Trend
The street markets in Swaziland were similar to Zimbabwe, but the uses of raw materials were different. I decided to try something new, and after a few days of working I came up with an attractive range of seed and bead necklaces. I called them Swazi Beads. They were inexpensive, on trend and proved to be extremely popular.

Sold by the Thousand
The Swazi Beads were a slight departure from our current ranges but were seen as a welcome contrast to garden ornaments and sculpture. They were a good price and opened up a new demographic of customer. We sold them by the thousand. On my 3 or 4th trip to Swaziland I found a new seed appearing at the street markets. It was a highly attractive light brown mottled seed, which when arranged with the rich ambers and reds resulted in a fantastic autumnal necklace. Perfect for the coming season!We produced around 200 of these necklaces and added them to range, flew back to the UK and started to sell.

The Opposite of well…
When things are going too well it’s usually time to worry!
As Things always change.
And a change is not always as good as a holiday!
An the opposite of holiday is hell.
And the opposite of well is well …unwell, or BAD!
Or in our case, very VERY BAD!

On Monday 28 June 1993 the first of 173 incoming calls that morning went something like this:

Ring Ring…. Ring Ring…

Afrika Trading Good Morning!

Good Morning. May I speak with your Press Officer?

Yes, I guess that’s me – Garth Williams – how can I help you?

I’m calling from The Times.

Could you please explain your companies’ Strategy for National Recall of the toxic Ricinus Communis seed which we understand is contained in your Swazi Bead Necklace?

Please also could you provide us with a detail explanation of how you intended to container and then destroy the items, and then please fax a copy of your Eradication Policy Statement which will assure the general public that all the Swazi Bead necklaces are account for and are destroyed.

Huh! …umm can I get back to you on that…?

Nasty Niggles
Now no matter what you do or how you plan or prepare, there are always little issues, those tiny little problems, those nasty niggles which swell up and threaten
to swallow you whole!

But please whatever you do, DO – NOT – SWALLOW (part or whole of) the Castor Oil Seed. For the Castor Oil Seed, Ricinis Commini, contains Ricin – which is the strongest natural toxin know to man!

This fact, I discovered, that morning!

My Swazi Bead Necklaces – well about 200 of them were HIGHLY TOXIC!

Oh Hell! Oh Hell I need a Holiday!

Oxfam and Afrika Trading Recalls
Call after call after call came in!  Everyone had seen the BBC news clip about Oxfam selling castor oil seeds on necklaces. Everyone had seen the articles in the national press, and it took no time at all to make the link to my Swazi Beads necklaces.

I had to count my stock, record where, when and to whom the Swazi Beads were sold, contact the recipient, arrange collecting and return, prove safe storage of the offending seed, and then offer proof of destroying the toxic necklace.

And all this before the 7 o’clock news.

It’s amazing how efficient one can be, it’s amazing how calm one can be, and it’s absolutely amazing how, when it really matters Things do work out!

More than Double
Within 4 days, and after several dozen phone calls, some 546 beaded necklaces were returned to us, more than double our original stock. We have collected not only our Swazi Beads but quite a few of the Oxfam necklaces as well.

Once this was made known to our Customers and the Media, media interesting evaporated and Things returned to normal. Both customers (thank goodness) and my little company had survived the Swazi Beads.

I moved away rather rapidly from seed necklaces and back to Home Décor and Garden Ornaments, oh and onto the Death Watch Beatle – but that’s another story.

Garth Williams

Not accidental, not coincidental
One reason for garden accessories may be viagra we need to remind ourselves that we have contributed to the natural form of our gardens. That we need to demonstrate to all those that care to look, that we have some influence over the garden’s features. That the careful arrangement and positioning of said garden ornaments are not accidental, are not coincidental – but are a thoroughly thought out plan of intended outdoor garden decor!

Garden Gnome v Venus De Milo
Or, perhaps, it is just simply to remind us that metal art, statues or garden sculptures are just garden decorations which reflection our personalities in this our privately controlled natural setting. That your carefully selected Garden Gnome, with the blue jacket and red pointy hat -really signifies a tendency for visceral expression of your inner banality. While the half size replica Venus de Milo is a sweeping display of culture, taste and your condescension of any garden ornament which have no classical hereditary.

No matter… whatever floats your boat, puts you on cloud nine or tickles you pink  - maybe the question “Why the need for Garden Ornaments?” should simply be answered ‘’Why not!”

Symbols of Self Reward
After all – you have mowed the lawn, trimmed the hedge and weeded the path; why not give a garden gift to yourself? Why not select stylish garden decoration or tasteful garden sculpture and then arrange these ornaments – these sculpture – these very symbols of Self Reward into your garden … so that you can sit back and relax and enjoy what you have created.

Lie idle
So that you can lie idle and be ignorant of your neighbour’s sniggering and guffawing. Comfy in your sun lounger, demonstrating that you could care less – about the imperfect mowing, hasty trimming and lopsided attack on the weeds. Demonstrating that you care only for your unique garden ornament which you so carefully sited within the grounds of your garden.

Yes, it is a flamboyant and telling display – broadcasting to anyone that cares to notice, that ornamentation matters! Matters to you!

Garden Gift that keeps on giving
And  so after about two weeks, when the grass has re-grown , and the weeds have returned, you will acknowledge that your sculpture, your metal wall art or garden statue – need no further tendering, watering or weeding. Yes, your garden decor is the garden gift that keeps on giving while the hideous garden itself insidiously propagates and demands more and more of your time for pruning, strimming and trimming.

Why Garden Ornaments?  Why Not!

The First Step
I started Afrika Trading (later renamed Edge Company) in 1991 with my 2 cousins in the front room of my uncle’s house. Over a hot cup of tea in the coldest dark of winter the idea was to travel to the sun as much as possible, and then try to justify the trip by bring unusual Gift and Garden items back to the UK. We started with Zimbabwe as there is always lots of sunshine – and a strong tradition of art and craftwork.

Recycled Birds Discovered
After a few trips to Mbare and Chitungwiza and 3 shipments later we soon discovered that the iron bird sculptures were very popular. By using recycled oil drums, scrap metal and factory off cuts, I developed a striking collection of rusty wrought iron bird ornaments.

 

Expansion AND Contraction
After a short while and loads of interest in our wrought iron birds, even Alan Titchmarsh pointed them out BBC, our little business started to expand – and contract at the same time!We set up a workshop in Harare with 3 full time staff to oversee the production of wrought iron birds. While in the UK we moved into our first real warehouse in Hackbridge Surrey –so no more storing wrought iron birds in my uncle’s front room! We also brought racking, a pallet truck and hired 2 lads to do the packing.Maybe the pallet truck was a step too far, I can’t be sure – but it was around about this time one cousin left to go travelling and the other left to get married!

All Left Up To Me …
So it was all left up to me to design new items, co-ordinate the shipments, handle the birds and make the tea! Oh and then deal with Robert Mugabe, but more of that in my next post. I will try to make my posts as informative, interesting and topical as possible and hopefully amuse you along the way.

If you have any questions about our current range or ideas on products that you would like to see, call us on  01273 491 391 , send an email to garth@edgecompany.co.uk or simply leave your comment below this blog post and I will respond as quickly as I can.

Be sure to read the next Edge Company blog post: Zim Trials and Tribulations and a few Revelations!

Talk to you soon.

Garth Williams