Press Releases...
Whenever Tiggly appears in the press we love to tell you about it, we've appeared in VN Times (Veterinary Nursing Times) and are hoping to soon appear in Cotswold Life!
VN Times, August 2007
VNS BRANCH OUT TO CREATE ETHICAL CRAFTS BUSINESS
VNs Pip Millard and Jessica Lorenzelli launched their range of “conservation crafts” at this year’s (very wet) Royal Show.
The pair decided to branch out from veterinary practice and created Tiggly Conservation Crafts, a company selling gifts and homewares made in an ethical way, with a conservation element that relates to people, animals and the environment.
Pip still works part-time in practice, dedicating the rest of her time to sourcing crafts to sell through their website, www.tiggly.com. They have started off by selling wirework and beaded gifts from Africa.
Jess told V/V Times: The Royal was, unfortunately, very wet but we met some great people interested in the ethos behind Tiggly. We believe word of mouth is going to be our greatest asset and we got our first online order not long after the show finished!”
Some of the wire and string used to make the items is taken from poachers’ snares that have been confiscated from Zambia’s national parks. As well as trying to reduce animal poaching, the girls aim to create a sustainable business market, local jobs and to develop an alternative skills programme for poachers. Pip told VN Times: “The ethos is to create attractive, sustainable products of high quality. The products are handmade and so no two will be the same.”
The company sources its crafts from two workers Ken and Tom, in Zambia. Pip continued: “Being an ethical business we think it is only right to know how much Tom and Ken are earning when making these pieces. Their average income varies between £80 and £150 per month. For Zambian workers this is a good salary at their level.”
The company also aims to minimise the environmental impact of its business, by using recycled and biodegradable packaging where possible.
They will be using the web for promotional ventures, thereby reducing the amount of paper used in sending out information and brochures.
As a special offer, Tiggly is offering VN Times readers free delivery on any website orders in August.
* Image reproduced by kind permission of the VN Times
