Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Haymanot Honelgn. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Haymanot , thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today The first dollar your business earns is always special and we’d love to hear how your brand made its first dollar of revenue.

When I first started my brand, I was mainly making jewelry. I started by making earrings and necklaces for myself and my friends to give as gifts. One day I walked into a gallery that also had a concept store wearing one of my handmade earrings. The store owner complimented my earring and asked me where I bought them from. I told her I made them. Then she asked me if I would be interested to sell the at her store. Initially I was hesitant because I wasn’t sure whether anyone would want to purchase my creations. But her enthusiasm convinced me to give it a shot.
I went back home and started making more products. A week later I returned to the gallery and signed a consignment agreement with them. They told me to go back in a month to collect my money. It was a long month of wondering if they had made any sales. A month passed and I went to the store to check. To my surprise, more that half of my items had already been sold. I couldn’t believe it. I still remember how happy I was that day.
That experience marked the birth of my brand HAMKE. Looking back I wish I had a chance to meet and thank the first person who purchased my product as their support was pivotal in shaping my brand’s success.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

My name is Haymanot Honelgn and I am an Ethiopian fashion designer and photographer. I have a BA in Business Management and I worked in corporate offices for two years before deciding to pursue my dream of becoming an artist. In 2016 I started my journey into photography and have since had group and solo exhibitions both in Ethiopia and abroad.
While exploring my voice in photography, I began experimenting with various materials and started creating crafts and jewelry. And I started my brand HAMEK that same year. This eventually led me to selling my creations at a concept store, starting with necklaces and earrings and later expanding to notebooks, home decor accessories and eventually to clothing. I co-founded a shop called HANUBET with my business partner 2021, where we sell our products from my brand HAMKE and hers Ethiopian Batik Art. And it’s also a home for three other incredible Ethiopian brands owned by Ethiopians residing abroad.
HANUBET is not just a shop, it is a community hub where young entrepreneurs and creatives come together to network, collaborate on projects, make friends, share ideas and so much more. We regularly host events that bring people together and create a vibrant and supportive community.

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

I think the first thing that helped me build my brand’s reputation is offering something unique and different that the market was missing. When I started my business, I made sure that I had unique products and that would attract customers. I also make sure not to compromise the quality of my products because I want my customers to come back and tell their friends about my brand. Social media is a great way to promote your business and attract new customers, but staying consistent with the quality of my products and having a good relationship with my customers is what helped me built my brand’s reputation.

We’d love to hear about how you met your business partner.

I met my business partner at my previous workplace, where I worked as an administrative assistant and she was running a special education department. Our shared passion for art and creativity brought us together and made us close. After being friends for years and we decided to open a shop as we both started making clothes and we needed a space for them. Working with a partner can be challenging at times but our shared values and mutual vision for our store made the process easier. We each brought different qualities to the table that complemented one another. She excelled in areas where I struggled and vice versa. Having a strong foundation as friends helps us in navigating the ups and downs of working together.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://hanubet.com/
• Instagram: HaymanotH https://www.instagram.com/hamek_hon?igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA== HANUBET https://www.instagram.com/hanu_bet?igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
• Facebook: Hanubet

Image Credits
Betty Tamrat Haymanot Honelgn Sean Thomas Kopeto Robel Birhanu