SMALL BUSINESSES IN CRISIS

On October 17th Utama Spice's warehouse was burned to the ground. Miraculously, nobody was hurt. But in the 4300 sq ft (400 sq mtrs) warehouse, ALL of the raw materials, finished goods, packaging, delivery truck and major machinery were lost or damaged. In a country where it is nearly impossible to insure your business, this page is truly our only avenue to help.

Please donate to help save this small business, and share with friends and family.

OUTLOOK

Funds raised will go directly to re-purchasing machinery necessary to prepare, mix, and package the material. One sink was also salvaged and will be refurbished at a cost savings of roughly $3000usd. Every effort is being made to save costs and salvage when possible. In addition to replacing the raw material, the following must be replaced:

Moving forward there are plans to move to a new location. The original pre-paid three year lease on the building is now a loss, and a new lease for a smaller, 2,000 sqft warehouse must be secured. Remaining funds will go to keeping staff onboard and re-purchasing raw materials and securing the new building.

Livelihoods are at stake. With a workforce of 60 (83% female), helping Utama Spice also means helping to maintain the lives of the workers and their families in a country where work opportunities - especially for women - are scarce.

A CRUCIAL MOMENT

After two years of covid, Utama Spice was just getting back on track. Bali was devastated by lockdown, and Utama Spice lost 40% of their staff to layoffs and roughly 60% of its gross revenue. Before the fire, Utama Spice had recovered to about 30% of their gross in pre-covid times. Obviously, this fire is a major setback.

Additionally, Utama Spice has been making good on its commitment to reduce the use of single-use plastics. As such, great efforts were made to transition to fully reusable product containers. All of that went up in flames. This is why a fire at this moment is such a loss, but this fundraising effort can help ensure the future plans for Utama Spice to make good on their commitment to the community and the planet can be met.

This warehouse is the lifeblood of Utama Spice. It represents the culmination of decades of hard work, and it also represents the hopes for the future of the company. The entire company is very much in jeopardy as so much depends on this one warehouse and the material and equipment that it contains.

HUMBLE ORIGINS

Utama Spice set up shop in 1989 with founder Melanie Templer working with local Balinese women to create traditionally inspired incense for natural aromatherapy. Since then, the company has expanded into natural body care and household cleaning products, guided by its vision to bring safe and natural cleaning solutions to people’s lives. Being responsible to people and the planet has always been their guiding mantra.

THANK YOU

If your life has been touched by Bali, or by Utama Spice, please donate and share. This loss for Utama Spice is a loss for us all, especially the friends and fans who have watched and supported them grow over the last 33 years.

PLEASE SHARE

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/UtamaSpiceBali/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/utamaspice/

Website: www.UtamaSpiceBali.com