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Turning a piece of fabric into a sellable product is a surprisingly quick process at Ndara when you consider the many steps involved. Some are obvious, while others, as so often in the context of Central Africa, are overlooked. Over the years, we have fine-tuned our systems with a strong focus on new product development, and maintaining an existing inventory of customer favorites.

One step at a time, here's how we do it:

1) Sourcing Materials

• Review our stock of repurposed fabrics and replenish if needed. We repurpose fabric from old prototypes, unsold items in the boutique, and unused home goods such as tablecloths. 
• Visit one of our trusted female merchants to stock up on page.
• Choose fabrics that inspire new product ideas or complement our existing range – be it clothing, stuffed animals, accessories or home goods.

2) Matching Fabrics to Product Categories

• Review every new fabric with the artisans and match it to a product category.
• Taking into account color, design, and pattern size, the discussion begins: What could work well as a dress? Is this fabric a handbag or jacket? Should we use this fabric for a stuffed animal or for a pouch?

Every product discussion encourages our artisans to think from the perspective of Ndara’s primarily international customers, who have different frames of reference and tastes. While our artisans naturally gravitate toward mixing bold patterns and vivid color combinations as popular in Central Africa, our customers comparatively tend to favor more muted and color-coordinated designs. Fabric by fabric, the artisans are learning to think from their clients’ perspectives, allowing them to create more marketable products and increase their earnings.

• Organize each fabric by product category and sort it in its respective place in the store room.

3) Developing a Prototype 

Discuss the product concept with the artisan responsible for developing the product that week.

For a new product: Walk through the reasoning behind selling this item – who is it for, how does it function and why would it be a valuable addition to the inventory?

Here, we get into the detail, taking into consideration:

• Cut: What silhouette works well for a variety of body types? How can we cut the pattern to maximize fabric yield?
• Construction: How can we make this garment easily adjustable with minimal fasteners? Does this new pouch size fill a gap in demand?
• Aesthetic appeal: Based on customer feedback and sales trends. As customary in many regions of Africa, our artisans do not work with patterns – it’s all skill and creativity. Prototypes of new products are created completely freehand , while products in the existing inventory are remade using samples from the boutique.

4) Adjusting and Finalizing the Product

• For new products: Once the first prototype is completed, the artisan shows it to the group and they discuss what could be improved in a next round based on function, fit and aesthetic appeal.
• Make adjustments – this can take another two to three iterations.
• Send the product for a final inspection by the staff member responsible for quality control.
• Once approved, the product is in line to be added to the boutique’s inventory. Depending on timing - new products are added monthly - this can take from a few days for existing inventory to a few weeks for new products.

5) Deciding on a Price and Updating the Inventory 

• For new products, artisans calculate the costs of materials (fabric used, threads, logo, etc.), hours spent, as well as the complexity involved to make the product.
• Discuss the suggested price with all other artisans. Landing on a final price is a question of trial and error, taking into account similar products as well as customers’ willingness to pay. For instance, our small stuffed animals take longer to produce than larger ones, yet we choose not to price them higher. Instead, we accept the lower margins due to their high demand.
• Artisans learn the French name of the product, so that they can write it out on an invoice and in the inventory. They also memorize phrases to describe the item, e.g.: “This trivet is used to place under hot pots and pans.” Our regular French lessons at Ndara are starting to show effect, empowering our artisans to express themselves in a new language and connect with customers!
• Add the product to the hand-written inventory of all products.

This process is essential in strengthening the artisans’ financial planning skills and foster independence. It also presents a significant challenge, as these skills are not necessarily taught in Central African schools and are completely new to our artisans . To bridge the gap, we have organized numerous training sessions at Ndara - both past and ongoing - focusing on arithmetic and basic financial planning. Seeing the artisans make progress is incredibly rewarding, not only does these skills make the management of our Ndara boutique possible, it also impacts the artisans personal lives as they bring these skills into their own homes. Most Ndara artisans have started small businesses with the income they have made from Ndara, and they use these skills to make their own businesses work.

6) Perfecting Store Placement 

• Display the item attractively in the boutique: Where will it be visible? How does it fit in with the background and surrounding products?
• Consider the environment: Does it need to be placed on a table? Is it easily accessible? Should we add a written explanation or a prop to illustrate the product’s use?

Like most Central Africans, Ndara artisans purchase goods in settings far removed from a boutique. With limited exposure to product placement in their daily lives and online – only three of the thirteen artisans own a smartphone – the concept of strategically displaying items using rules of symmetry and contrast is simply unfamiliar to them. Needless to say, this is a learned skill that requires daily training!

7) Spreading the Word Through Marketing and Social Media 

• Take photos for the website and social media to showcase products.
• Share product stories and updates with our audience online.
• Learn to communicate visually and narratively for different platforms.

Marketing at Ndara is not a separate department - it’s part of the artisans’ learning journey. At first, the connection between photography and sales wasn’t obvious. But that changed the day customers walked into the boutique holding screenshots of our products. It was a moment of realization: what we post matters.

Since then, photography has become a key part of our process. We’ve designated a shared smartphone just for this purpose, and our team is learning not just how to take photos, but how to think about composition, lighting, and storytelling. But this is harder than it sounds. For example, culturally in the Central African Republic, people are expected to look serious and composed in photos. Smiling for the camera - especially in a posed photo - can be seen as childish or even disrespectful.

That doesn’t align with the expectations of our international customer base, who often respond more to warm, joyful imagery. It has taken time, trust, and many conversations for our team to begin adapting to these different visual norms. Learning to model products in a way that feels authentic but also appeals to our audience is still a work in progress - and a big step out of the comfort zone for many. This process builds more than just marketing skills. It fosters confidence, cultural awareness, and a better understanding of who we’re speaking to beyond our boutique walls.

Behind each new product at Ndara lies a layered process of skill-building, creativity, and collaboration. But more than that, it’s a journey of empowerment. As our artisans learn to match patterns, calculate costs, and tell the story behind what they make, they are not just producing goods - they are shaping their own futures. Every product sold helps strengthen their independence, supports their families, and sparks the growth of small businesses across our community. For us, the final stitch is never just the end of a product - it’s the beginning of something bigger.