Gone Rural increases sales by 15%

OVER the past two years, Gone Rural sales have increased by over 15% per annum. Managing Director Philippa Reiss-Thorne says the social enterprise has over the years tripled the wages of the women who work with it. Gone Rural works with 740 women from 13 different communities throughout Swaziland,

marketing and selling their Fair Trade products all over the world and to top fashion designers and stores.
“At Gone Rural, we have the Western values of Fair Trade. We support each other and that is how we are really going to grow and develop,” said Reiss-Thorne.
“I have been managing director of the business since 2007 and during that time, we have tripled the income of the rural women and increased our sales by over 15% per year. Product development is critical to our business.
“Everything is connected. The women and their families have a beautiful culture and we hope that we can preserve that part of their culture and also continue to grow, develop and improve the parts of their lives that will contribute towards their sustainability.”
She said next year, Gone Rural plans to further improve the women’s income and also focus on its social programmes, which include a mobile clinic, a water programme being implemented in one of the communities and a literacy programme the company wants to expand.

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