**we didn’t have a warehouse, a shipping partner, or a clue what we were doing. But we went anyway.

After we returned from our first trip to Morocco in September of 2022, we booked our first buying for November -  with big dreams and… not much else. No official business name yet. No official supplier contacts. Just a good feeling that we were meant to bring these handmade pieces to more people and a belief that we’d figure it out as we went like we usually do.

What actually happened? A lot of wandering. A lot of second guessing. Some awkward moments. Some magic ones, too. That trip taught us more than any business book ever could. 

We Landed With a List. It Was Useless.

We showed up in Marrakech thinking we’d check out the markets, maybe meet a few vendors, and somehow “find our supplier.” What we didn’t realize is that in Morocco, real artisan connections don’t happen in the souks — they happen through relationships. Quality time. Introductions. Shared mint tea. 

We had to slow down, listen more, and honestly be comfortable looking clueless.

What We Fell in Love With

I was drawn to a specific kind of beauty — the slightly uneven lines of hand-carved tables, the earthy greens of Tamegroute pottery, the textures in hand woven rugs that are completely one of a kind and specific to the weaver.

We started asking questions. Visiting with more people. One lead turned into another and  eventually, we found our first few artisans — not through Google, but through conversations and showing genuine interest in their craft. 

And Then Everything Got Real

Paying a massive invoice? Kind of made me want to cry (with excitement and fear). Container Shipping? A foreign concept. Language barrier? Real. Suddenly we were Googling customs brokers from our riad with spotty Wi-Fi trying to find out what our next steps would be. I stuffed a handful of small items that I couldn't leave without and then we waited.. for 4 whole months.

We were completely winging it. And yet… it worked out. 

What We Learned

• Artisans aren’t vendors. They’re artists who are making things to order. This takes time. You build trust slowly.

• The market isn’t the same as the workshop. To find the good stuff, go beyond the obvious.

• You don’t need to have it all figured out to take the first step. You just need to be willing to learn, mess up, and keep going.

We came home from that trip with a few vintage wood pieces, some small scale textiles, a lantern, my favorite iron weaving combs — and full of momentum. It was maybe a little reckless, but it was really happening!

Next time, I’ll talk more about actually working with amazing people in Morocco and our experience along the way.

Until then — thanks for following along. If you’ve ever dreamed of starting something but felt overwhelmed by where to begin… this is your sign to take the first (messy) step.