- Title: West Bank leather business boosts local job market
- Date: 3rd July 2017
- Summary: DURA, WEST BANK (JULY 2, 2017) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF FOUNDERS OR 'JELLD' LEATHER GOODS BUSINESS CUTTING LEATHER PIECES VARIOUS OF CO-FOUNDER OF JELLD, ASHRAF ZATARI, SEWING LEATHER PIECES (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) CO-FOUNDER OF JELLD, ASHRAF ZATARI, SAYING: "We started by trying to make our products for our own needs such as wallets from leather pieces that we had, and from there we slowly developed." BADGE WITH JELLD LOGO VARIOUS OF FOUNDERS MAKING LEATHER GOODS (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) CO-FOUNDER OF JELLD, ASHRAF ZATARI, SAYING: "When we studied the market, we thought that our target customers would be tourists, but what was surprising and really nice was that we became popular with locals. Thank God, people appreciate the product, a product that is locally made - whether it is the material used or the workers who are Palestinians. People are embracing the product." VARIOUS OF FOUNDERS AND JELLD EMPLOYEES MAKING LEATHER GOODS (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) CO-FOUNDER OF JELLD, ASHRAF ZATARI, SAYING: "Currently we have selling points in Jerusalem at Sunbula and we also sell in Ramallah, in Bethlehem, in Hebron and we have recently reached Jordan. We are slowly aiming to have our product being sold in all of the West Bank, reaching Jordan and to be able to export to international markets." VARIOUS OF WORKER AT JELLD, SARAH AMER, SEWING LEATHER GOODS (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) WORKER AT JELLD, SARAH AMER, SAYING: "The business helps families, a woman can produce something during her free time and that is good to do, and hopefully it would develop more. Some people cannot work at factories, and not everyone works. I am 65 years old, I cannot go to a factory to work, I cannot buy and sell products. However, a job like this at home is great and hopefully it will develop more." RAMALLAH, WEST BANK (JULY 1, 2017) (REUTERS) SHOPPERS AT BAZAAR VIEWING LEATHER PRODUCTS 'JELLD' WALLETS ON DISPLAY SHOPPERS AT MARKET LEATHER BAGS ON DISPLAY HANGING ON A TREE VARIOUS OF SHOPPER, SUFIAN NAMMARI, AND ANOTHER SHOPPER VIEWING DISPLAY OF GOODS (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) SHOPPER, SUFIAN NAMMARI, SAYING: "It is obvious that the products are handmade and that they are Palestinian. From its name, 'Jelld' project, which means that many people have worked on it, and that it is an opportunity for young people to produce and create new concepts." LEATHER BAG ON DISPLAY SHOPPER AT BAZAAR
- Embargoed: 17th July 2017 13:02
- Keywords: Palestinians rising unemployment West Bank business graduates leather business
- Location: DURA AND RAMALLAH, WEST BANK
- City: DURA AND RAMALLAH, WEST BANK
- Country: Palestinian Territories
- Topics: Society/Social Issues
- Reuters ID: LVA0016O5VYAD
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Four Palestinian business graduates recently set up their own company handcrafting leather bags, wallets and accessories.
Their aim was to make good quality leather accessories, using local materials and employing local workers in the West Bank.
Now, almost a year later, their business 'Jelld' is going strong, selling across the region.
The founders said their aim was to employ locals who found it difficult to work - such as women with family commitments, students and those with disabilities.
Co-founder Ashraf Zatari explained that their employees, who help sew and make the leather goods, are able to work from home and at times convenient to them.
And he said their products have proved popular with locals, who are keen to purchase handmade Palestinian accessories.
"When we studied the market, we thought that our target customers would be tourists, but what was surprising and really nice was that we became popular with locals. Thank God, people appreciate the product, a product that is locally made - whether it is the material used or the workers who are Palestinians. People are embracing the product," Zatari said, from their leather workshop in the West Bank city of Ramallah.
Jelld products are currently on sale around the West Bank and also in neighbouring Jordan. Products have also been sold on a smaller scale in Dubai, Germany, France and the United States.
When they started, the company employed two women and one student. They have now grown to fifteen employees.
Sixty-five-year-old Sarah Amer, who works from home for Jelld, said it was the perfect job for someone in her position.
"The business helps families, a woman can produce something during her free time and that is good to do, and hopefully it would develop more. Some people cannot work at factories, and not everyone works. I am 65 years old, I cannot go to a factory to work, I cannot buy and sell products. However, a job like this at home is great and hopefully it will develop more," she said.
Aside from selling in shops, the owners of Jelld regularly set up stalls at local markets, which they find is a great way to meet their customers and receive feedback.
At a bazaar in the town of Dura in the southern West Bank, shoppers were able to peruse Jelld's latest collection, as well as meet the owners and find out more about their products.
"It is obvious that the products are handmade and that they are Palestinian. From its name, 'Jelld' project, which means that many people have worked on it, and that it is an opportunity for young people to produce and create new concepts," said one shopper, Sufian Nammari.
Jelld's accessories sell from 25 shekels (7 USD) for smaller items such as card holders and reach 250 Shekels (71 USD) for larger items such as backpacks. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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