Expedition Subsahara on 'Shark Tank': What is the cost, who is the founder and how to bring Senegalese craftsmanship home
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: The Sharks have returned to capture new entrepreneurs and their products. The owner of Expedition Subsahara, Sofi Seck, will showcase her selection of handcrafted, vivid home decor on the ABC reality show on October 14.
The show 'Shark Tank,' in which entrepreneurs present their innovations to a panel of celebrity investors, continues to fascinate us fourteen seasons and hundreds of products later. However, that doesn't necessarily mean the products are genuinely good. Some are too inventive or err on the side of gimmicky. Does the founder of Expedition Subsahara possess the skills necessary to negotiate with the Sharks?
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What is Expedition Subsahara?
Expedition Subsahara is a home decor business that emphasizes handcrafted African art from Senegal. It sells a variety of handcrafted items associated with the culture of Senegal, including handmade baskets, home decorations, and kitchenware. All of their items are brightly colored and uniquely designed. They are perfect for adding a stunning design to your decor. All of their handcrafted items are produced from natural materials, such as recycled plastic, grass, and multicolored fiber, and can be washed with water if they become soiled. They have a tiny workforce that creates these baskets, and they operate out of a St Louis warehouse rather than a storefront. All of her artists are from the West African nation of Senegal, and each has a distinct specialty. It takes about forty hours to create the biggest basket used for hampers.
Who is the founder of Expedition Subsahara?
Sofi Seck is the company's founder and Chief Executive Officer. She was born in Senegal, in West Africa. At age 14, she traveled to the United States for her studies. 2009 marked the completion of her studies at the University of Missouri. She worked as a professional photographer after graduation, and in 2018 she launched her own business.
Expedition Subsahara is a brand of traditional African artisan baskets and home decor. This brand concentrates specifically on Senegalese and African cultures. All of their exquisite handcrafted items reflect art from the glorious West African nation of Senegal. Senegal's culture is incredibly ancient; travelers go from all over the world to experience it. There are two to five Wolof members from Senegal. This Senegalese culture is renowned for its musicians and artists. The art of Senegal is distinct from that of the rest of the world, and it consists of a variety of colorful handicrafts.
Sofi Seck founded Expedition Subsahara in order to promote Senegalese culture and art. Sofi is a member of the Wolof Tribe and was born in Senegal. Making handcrafted baskets offers tribeswomen an opportunity to earn money. The African marketplace is vibrant and filled with many forms of artwork. Sofi Seck, the founder of Expedition Subsahara, will appear on Season 14, Episode 4 of 'Shark Tank' with her firm and seek funding. The art tradition of the Senegalese population is centuries old, and their work has been distributed worldwide for decades.
The Expedition Subsahara team builds joyful baskets for diverse individuals. Sofi Seck, a fiber artist born in Senegal and raised in St Louis, Missouri, is the Creative Director and Founder of Expedition Subsahara. She utilizes her business and photography backgrounds to develop and manufacture the company's exquisite collections. Providing the public with unique, handcrafted Senegalese items is only the beginning. Twenty percent of each sale is designated for the construction of a STEAM school for girls in Senegal, which will empower young women by providing them with the chance, confidence, and education to choose their own route in life.
What is the cost and where to buy Expedition Subsahara baskets from?
Expedition Subsahara creates traditional storage containers that also function as standalone design elements. All items are hand-woven utilizing a coil-style weaving method that has been passed down through generations and genuinely produced in Senegal.
The company's website features hundreds of necklaces, coasters, baskets, and other hand-woven goods. From $29 for little items to over $200 for bigger baskets, prices vary. Sofi's firm also has a mission. She is reserving 20% of her annual earnings or $50000 (whichever is larger) to build a STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) school for girls in her native Senegal. Sofi has had difficulty getting her business off the ground and would appreciate the assistance of a Shark to reach the next level.
Where is Expedition Subsahara now?
A modest object, such as a woven basket, can sometimes help a "crazy large dream" come true. This is the concept behind the St Louis firm Expedition Subsahara, which sells real African basketry and jewelry. This company is clearly on the right track. Currently, the handicraft market is expanding rapidly. In 2021, the global handicraft market was valued at $680 billion. This sector may expand even further in the next few years. However, there is a great deal of rivalry in this market.
This firm operates with a focus on its objective, which is to assist Senegalese women by providing education and employment. Sofi thinks that educated women can transform the world. She collaborates with other artists, including more than fifteen craftspeople from the remote communities of Senegal and Uganda. Aside from this, they have 120 Senegalese experts working for them. This firm will send its goods to the United States, the US Virgin Islands, Australia, Canada, England, France, Italy, and Portugal in October 2022. The firm currently has a total of 48k Instagram followers, with much of its branding conducted through social media.
Who will steal the deal?
Sofi will pitch the business and its development possibilities to the five Sharks. She must persuade Robert Herjavec, Lori Greiner, Kevin O'Leary, Daymon John, and Mark Cuban that the business deserves a Shark Investment. If all goes according to plan and Sofi is able to convince the Sharks with her business strategy and sales data, Shark Barbara Corcoran may be interested in negotiating a deal.
‘Shark Tank’ Season 14, Episode 4 airs on ABC on Friday, October 14, 2022, at 8 pm ET. Catch the latest episode featuring products like Expedition SubSahara, Ghia, Storage Scholars, and Woosh.