Emoke Abraham - HOCC EN

What are your products, and how did you get into this sector?

Actually, I became an interior designer because interior design and design have always been very important to me. I stayed at home with my children when they were born, but I felt the need to do something, so I learned to crochet alongside them. I also attempted to strengthen and master the craft of crochet in order to create objects for home interiors, such as poufs, baskets, and large containers.

At first, only people I knew noticed what I was doing, and they liked it, but I had no intention of selling it. Then there was a need and a demand. Everyone enjoyed it, which convinced me that it was worthwhile to pursue it as a career rather than a hobby. That's how it grew, and after a lot of trial and error, I discovered that bags sell better, possibly due to the female spirit, and that's what people prefer to spend their money on.

I experimented a lot with materials to see what I liked and what I could crochet into shapes that popped into my head. I was delighted to discover recycled yarn; it makes me feel good to know that I'm not polluting the environment with yet another material. I began by working with T-shirt yarn, which is made by cutting up leftover textile industry materials and spinning them into yarn. I'm now using braided yarn, which is also made from recycled materials but is rewoven into a single yarn. The good news is that a Hungarian manufacturer now produces this.

You said that your acquaintances and friends bought it first. When you realized you could sell it to others, what did you do to introduce yourself to them?

I first created a Facebook page for myself and uploaded the photos there. What surprised me the most was that I was approached by a girl who had previously opened a small shop selling products made specifically by Hungarian designers in the spirit of sustainability. Everyone is producing something made from recycled or ethical materials, which she is putting together to sell in a physical shop. When he approached me, I felt justified in continuing to do it. That was the impetus I needed.

Do you believe that the fact that you primarily use recycled materials matters to customers?

Yes, there is a segment of people who are now very conscious of that, or who are striving to keep the future of the Earth in mind.

What was the most difficult task you had to deal with when you first started in the online world? Taking professional photos, developing a brand identity, or dealing with some other technical issue?

Normally, I do my own photography, but there have been times when I have hired a professional photographer to do a series for me. However, because everything has financial consequences, you must always consider what you can afford. I also believe that because I understand the subjects better, I can photograph myself better. But it's possible that I just haven't found a partner who can assist me with that. What I find difficult is creating content. I must always have something new to post in order to draw attention to the fact that I am still here.

What might be the next move that, in your opinion, would advance both your professional standing and the volume of product sales?

For a long time, I've wanted to open my own web shop, or at the very least, have a presence on a platform where my products are sold. For example, to be featured on the Hungarian meska.hu or etsy.hu websites. That's my big plan, but I'm not sure if I'll be found there and orders will start coming in. But I'd definitely like to give it a shot. By the way, the shop I went into is still open; during the pandemic, they set up a website. After all, people can get my bags from them. However, I believe that creating my own website is something that should absolutely be done.

You mentioned that during the pandemic they started selling in a brick and mortar location before moving online. Has it really affected sales in any way?

I'm not sure if what they sell is sold online or in-store, but I know they had a difficult two years to get through. Even though there were opportunities, I don't believe there were as many orders coming in online during that time period. It never really took off. They rely heavily on tourists; 50% of their customers are tourists who may be more willing to spend money; if they're in Hungary, they'll buy some souvenirs. But there was no way to do that for the next two years.

If you could grant one wish, what would it be regarding tools, processes, or anything else that could make your job simpler or better?

That's the way it is! I also visit one or two foreign websites. South Koreans, for example, are huge crochet fans. There are some very nice vegan leather straps there. They are available in a few places in Hungary, but they are not fully prepared. You must clip them and cut them to size yourself. As far as I can tell, its components are not entirely vegan. However, it would be ideal if something similar was available in Hungary.

Translations

1

Deutsch

Eigentlich bin ich Innenarchitektin geworden, so dass mir Design im Allgemeinen schon immer sehr am Herzen lag. Als meine Kinder geboren wurden, blieb ich mit ihnen zu Hause, aber ich hatte das Gefühl, etwas tun zu müssen, also lernte ich neben den Kindern häkeln.

2

Italiano

In realtà, ho finito per diventare una designer d'interni, quindi il design in generale è sempre stato molto vicino a me. Quando sono nati i miei figli, sono rimasta a casa con loro, ma sentivo il bisogno di fare qualcosa, così ho imparato a lavorare all'uncinetto insieme ai bambini.

3

Hungarian

Valójában én enteriőr tervezőként végeztem, a belsőépítészet és a design mindig nagyon közel állt hozzám. Amikor megszülettek a gyermekeim, otthon maradtam velük, de azt éreztem, hogy mindenképpen kell valamit csinálnom, így a gyerekek mellett megtanultam horgolni.

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The conversation's audio recording (HU) is also available by clicking here.