To date we have donated circa £14,000 to Elephant Conversation projects.
From July 2020 to Jan 2023 we donated to the Born Free Amboseli National Park Elephant research project via the Born Free Foundation - www.bornfree.org.uk. Since 2023 we have been sponsoring an orphaned Elephant via a monthly donation to the Retiti.Org in East Africa as sales from non-discounted avenues became harder to drive, profits signicantly tightened and poor summer weather has restricted sales, growth and profits.
Prior to Born Free, we also supported a local Elephant conservation community in Thailand.
With regards Born Free:-
From July 2020 - June 2021 we donated £4,944.99
From July 2021 - June 2022 we donated £5,340.64 (subject to confirmation of final accounts for June 22 year end figure).
Bohotusk's donation to Born Free were ring fenced so that 100% goes direct to the chosen project at Amboseli and not towards Born Free's running costs
https://www.bornfree.org.uk/african-elephant-conservation
https://www.bornfree.org.uk/
Below is the 1st certifcate we received from Born Free acknowledging donations during their financial year 2020/21.
From 1st July 2022 a number of factors have dramatically effected our product cost and delivery costs - as noted below.
- The £ to $ currency exchange has falled in during 2022 from $1.32 per £ to close to $1 per £1 - we buy all our fabric, production and shipping from Thailand to UK and USA in $ and those have seen a signifcant increase in landed cost price per item.
- The ongoing Royal Mail strikes have created several additional costs and issues. Namely a) A large % of parcels are having to be sent via Royal Mail 1st class (24) rather than 2nd class (48) to try and negate delays caused by the strikes action. So rather ironcially we are paying up to 25 - 30% more to the Royal Mail for a worse service b) Delays and misplaced parcels have meant an increase in replacement goods or full refunds (under normal circumstances that level is zero to negligible) and c) Lost orders as customers decide not to purchase online for fear of delays, lost orders.
- In addition it is envisaged that more discounts and sales will be required in coming months to clear stock / maintain sales due to the above RM issues and general economic restrictions.
These financial changes along with the challenges & costs of currently partnering Royal Mail will materially effect our product margin, and therefore from 1st July 2022 we will change the target donation per full price (non-sale) items as below. As soon as the exchange rates and RM strikes & service return to normal (or indeed we can switch to a more reliable alternative delivery service) we will be able to revert to 30 - 50p per item donation (perhaps in stages as the economic environment gradually improves. Onwards and upwards....
Donation per full price unit for www.bohotusk.co.uk - 0.15p
Donations are not made for wholesale or marketplace orders at this time.
