We were lucky to catch up with Alexandra and Karole Wechsler, Albach recently and have shared our conversation below.
Alexandra and Karole , looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Let’s kick things off with your mission – what is it and what’s the story behind why it’s your mission?
La Canasta Company brings handwoven recycled plastic basket bags to local markets in St Louis and we have an online store at www.LaCanastaCo.com! We buy from independent basket makers in Guatemala so they get the price they want and we get to offer a really useful handmade product! The basket bags are washable, sturdy, lifeproof, and we offer a lifetime guarantee because we stand behind all of our baskets. We also give back 10% of our profits to various organizations in Guatemala.
There are no basket factories in Guatemala! The weavers are often moms working out of their home with their children surrounding them. Sometimes it’s whole families working together! Much like we have our own children helping at booths and learning pieces of the business. It’s a family business feom start to finish.
We travel all over Guatemala looking for new weavers every trip. We have developed ongoing relationships and will buy up all the baskets!
16 years ago I (Alexandra) was living with my oldest daughter in Antigua Guatemala until her adoption was finalized. Many people carried the handwoven plastic baskets in Guatemala. One can see men carrying their farm produce in an extra large bag loaded down with gigantic carrots from the rich soil or full of potatoes. These are not just pretty baskets but really used daily in Guatemala. I found a basket maker and bought my first basket! So everyday off to the market we would go with my baby on my chest and my basket in hand. I still have the same basket today and it’s going strong! My “baby” is sixteen and helps with the business!
Over the years we would return to Guatemala for visits. Everytime I had a list in hand for who I had to buy baskets. My bestie Karole was always on the top of the list for baskets!
In 2019 Karole and I took just a moms trip to Guatemala. That July we sat on the roof of our hotel gazing at the smoking volcano and sipping coffee… all very Guatemalan things to do 😂 We decided to make our basket buying official and bought out the market!
Not only did we want to create a market for ourselves but we also knew that the weavers would appreciate having more outlets to sell their basket for a good price. Our efforts didn’t want to be just a buy and sell model but we also wanted to give back. Ten percent of our profits will go back to various Guatemalan organizations that we personally have picked out so we know the money is getting to the right place. We would like to think the every hand that touches the basket benefits in some positive way.
Alexandra and Karole , before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
La Canasta Company literally translates to the basket company. We have a variety of handwoven recycled plastic basket bags from Guatemala. We don’t know anyone else bringing these to market. They are very unique.
Baskets are used for beach bags, market baskets, everyday use, picnic baskets, pool bags, organization in the home, blanket baskets, work bags, soap holders, shower caddies, lunch boxes, and everyday use.
Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?
Guatemala is a beautiful, raw, rich in culture, colorful, full of volcanoes, many languages, coffee, unusual fruit, kind people, gorgeous landscapes, chocolate, handmade textiles, political variations, Mayan pyramids, and a warmth that is unique with Guatemalans. I am privileged to get to work with the people of this country.
Tenacity and perseverance is needed however!
Exporting has not been easy for a small business! It has taken us a year to figure out a reasonable shipping method! Getting pallets out of a product that weigh like feathers but takes up a lot of space is a bit of a challenge. One bureaucratic hand doesn’t agree with what the other hand says. They constant change of what is allowed make my head spin. But, I’m a guest in the country and I just put one foot in front of the other politely and keep moving forward each time. When those pallets come rolling into our homebase it is very exciting and fulfilling!
One trip was shut down after an unusual eruption of Fuego. The ash made it dangerous for air travel. Deep breath in and wait and pray for all the people in the way.
Another time landslides closed the roads on the pan American highway which is the only route to Quetzeltenango and we had to delay our route.
Today we were supposed to be picking up baskets in that same city and political unrest has shut down the highway with protests. So once again we wait patiently while Guatemalans speak up for their rights. The basket makers couldn’t complete the order either because they too cannot get materials due to the travel issues.
Accepting that life, safety, and values are far more important than my agenda and work I am reminded that it’s ok to change course. Today it can’t happen but tomorrow we will rewrite the plan and keep going. We have people relying on us from basket makers, customers, and our own mission to give back.
Can you talk to us about your experience with selling businesses?
Twenty years ago I sold a business that offered spa services. That work was built solely on my own hard work and dedication. I learned each piece myself and didn’t seek outside help from anyone. I felt drug over the coals by the time I sold it. I needed a serious break from the stress. It was successful in that I was able to sell it for a profit and move to Mexico for a year with my dog 😂 and remove the stress.
However, what I learned is that relying on other people is crucial. Being an island is not healthy! Ask. For. Help. !!! Pay people to do pieces that they are skilled. Don’t try to reinvent the wheel all by yourself. The pennies saved are dollars lost when you go at it by yourself! Have a partner in business that you can be accountable to and treat everyone as a valued team member.
Taking my own advice I hired a woman in Guatemala who is business savvy and at her core a kind woman. She has helped in so many pieces to grease a wheel that I couldn’t have tackled easily. Between language barriers, travel, and shipping needs she has made this venture possible!
Don’t go at business alone! Get the help that propels you forward and brings everyone with you!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.LaCanastaCo.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lacanastacompany/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LaCanastaCompany/
Image Credits
N/a taken myself