Unlike all the other years, this year we wanted to take AVAC Arts to a higher level than ever before. This year there were to be no reservations in trying to sale art. We restructured and re-branded the business. We redesigned the website and changed our company logo of 12 years as part of our rebirth.
We have been able to export to Germany, South Africa, United Kingdom and Spain. We are in the process of prospecting other export sales to Canada, Indonesia, Israel and United States with potential wholesale clients. We were able to get repeat orders from one of our first client this year; Michael from Germany. We are currently working on our second custom order project for a client in Canada and thank the Almighty God for allowing us to make so much difference in our Chitungwiza community.
In as far as financial targets, we did not meet our overtly ambitious financial target of selling artworks worth at least $100,000 online in our rebirth year. We were able to achieve 23% of our set financial target which was far much better a performance compared to previous years. At least 51 artists and households benefited financially from our endeavors this year. Our best seller was Richard Mupumha, one of the senior resident Chitungwiza Arts Centre artists. We were able to host on our website 91 artist profiles and promoted to sale works by more than 150 artists.
Due to our ailing Zimbabwean economy, there is a lot of poverty in Zimbabwe. High unemployment levels, poverty, drug abuse, crime, illiteracy and disease usually go hand in glove and such is the fate of most of the nationals. For Zimbabwe as a country to recover, there is need for foreign capital injection together with other policy, social, political and economic redresses. As a social enterprise, we are playng our part by facilitating international art trade and providing many households with a source of employment and income generation.
Looking forward, 2016 looks to be a very exciting and promising year. We are set to host over 100 new artists and aim to further diversify our product offering. Our sales target for 2016 is set at US$250,000.00 and we are hoping that this time over 100 artists will benefit from our endeavors. We are also looking into implementing our first ever off-line sales, advertising and marketing campaign with the help of our various international affiliates.
Merry Xmas from us and here is wishing you the reader a prosperous and fulfilling 2016.
Best Regards
Terrence T. Musiyiwa
A job well done. AVAC Arts had been quiet so some years. We are happy that you are back in action again.
You have been consistent team AVAC Arts. I knew you would get it right eventually
Thank you very much. We hope 2016 will be a much better and brighter year for us all. Merry Christmas and here is wishing you a prosperous new year!
Thank you very much for the complement and my apologies for th late response. We are learning and improving our system every day and only discovered today that we could actually reply to comments.