We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Dija Sabbar a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Dija, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. What’s the backstory behind how you came up with the idea for your business?

I love everything decor, and with my background in graphic design provides me with valuable skills and knowledge that are useful in the field of interior decorating. I am always the go-to friend for home decoration projects

I travel to Morocco my home country once every year and each time on my way back to the US I have to bring a lot of gifts to family, friends, and co-workers. I am the Santa Claus from Morocco. a friend of mine suggested an online store for Moroccan decor an idea that I entertained for a year. after a few months of research, I decided in 2021 to start my business.
I went back to Morocco and traveled all over the country to acquire items ranging from decor pieces to kitchenware that were authentic, unique, and versatile the experience was and still is my favorite task: shopping ”like its for my own place ”
visiting places I have never been to before and building great lasting relationships with vendors, makers, craftswomen, and craftsmen.
After launching my online store WALILI-LIVING.com I start making a lot of sales a day and that was an encouraging sign that this idea could be a successful business venture

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 journey began with a simple idea – to offer authentic Moroccan decor that reflects the country’s diverse and colorful heritage. We work closely with local artisans and craftsmen to curate a collection of high-quality products that showcase the beauty of Moroccan artistry.

Our collection includes a wide range of home decor items such as Moroccan rugs, poufs, lanterns, mirrors, and pottery. Each piece is unique and handmade, reflecting the skill and craftsmanship of our artisans. We take great pride in the fact that our products are ethically sourced and sustainable, ensuring that our customers receive not only beautiful pieces but also pieces that are socially responsible.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

I had to unlearn the habit of not taking risks. As someone who likes to be 100% sure about everything beforehand, I used to avoid taking any kind of risks it took me a few missed opportunities and disappointments and a feeling of unfulfillment to start shifting my perspective to be more open to taking risks and trusting my guts one book, in particular, gave me the boost I needed was ”Choose Possibility by Sukhinder Singh Cassidy

What’s been the best source of new clients for you?

I’m a people person so I like to talk to new people, whenever I’m out and about like running errands, on the train, doctor’s office, gym… I take the opportunity to introduce my business which proves to be an effective strategy for acquiring new clients

Contact Info:

• Website: https://walili-living.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/walili_living/