Petel Design

Collection
Design Strategy (MBA) | Design Division

Course
Spring 2016Business Models & StakeholderTimothy SmithDSMBA-618-01
Final project
Student(s)
Victor Corral, Lindsay McComb, Sarah Miller
Description
Our team’s goal in working with Petel focused on devising strategies that would help grow sales and profits in order to increase the amount of money Petel is able to send to Mauritania to pay for children’s education.

Petel Design is owned by Julie and Ibrahima Wagne, and has a great story, beautiful products, and an inspiring vision. In the Fulani language of Mauritania, “petel” means “little spark,” and through the sale of beautiful objects and handmade textiles, Petel supports education in Mauritania. Our team’s goal in working with Petel focused on devising strategies that would help grow sales and profits in order to increase the amount of money Petel is able to send to Mauritania to pay for children’s education. By doubling revenue in the next year, Petel could also double the amount they send to Mauritania, and if they could reach $500,000 in revenue in three years, they could not only better fund children’s education, but also have Julie transition to working on Petel full-time and build and run a school in Mauritania. Petel’s growth will help them realize their vision, mission, and have the impact they want to have in Mauritania.

Through our collaboration with Petel, our analysis of their business, and the customer research we conducted, we developed a status quo business model as a foundation, and two additional recommended business models that will help them best reach their goals. First, we recommend that Petel redefine their value proposition through a brand refresh focused on effectively communicating the impact of each purchase on children’s education, throughout each customer touchpoint. Second, we recommend that Petel develop new partnerships and products, and lower their price points to expand into the “Worldly Millennial” customer segment to increase sales and profits. 

We are confident that Petel will be able to sell their existing inventory, gain widespread interest in their brand story, and expand their customer base in a way that will allow them to realize their compelling vision of the future for Petel and children in Mauritania. 

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