Javanerra Imports
Location:
Hours of Business:
Phone:
Web Address:
Store closed May 2008
Chosen for:
Indonesian imports
Owner visits artisans to hand-pick products
Quality with low mark-up prices
Grapevine participants marched through the door of Javanerra Imports on Saturday, October 14th, 2006, surprising owner Majid El-Shuli as he worked at his computer. "My Gosh," Maj said when we handed him best-of-the-bunch balloons for October. With eyes scanning the applauding crowd of 23, he was clearly overcome. "I'm speechless," he said. "I'm speechless."
- photo by Tony Parker
It was challenging to get some Grapeviners inside the shop because they were enticed by a striking outdoor plant pot covered in beach rocks just outside the entrance. Javanerra Imports is a small store packed with beautifully displayed furniture and handicrafts from Indonesia and Jordan as well as Victoria. The elegant beds, tables and storage cabinets are made from teak recycled from old Indonesian houses and then stained anything from light oak to an exotic dark tone bordering on black.
Maj thanked us profusely and graciously answered questions and shared photographs of his artisans at work.
Maj travels to Indonesia and buys direct
from his sources.
Several handmade purses caught our attention. A sure conversation piece was one fashioned from a coconut shell with a long beaded strap. But the group favourite was a purse covered with rows of tiny coconut buttons, each centered with a teensy black bead. Despite the detail that took many days to complete, these items were priced at only $69.
One wall featured small mirrors framed in woven reeds from coconut trees. Another focused on colourful batik hangings. Still other areas highlighted small wooden bowls, chopsticks, candle-holders and unusual pottery vases. A display of gorgeous silk scarves attracted a constant crowd. Large enough to be used as a shawl, sarong and/or halter-top, they were a bargain at $20.
Gorgeous silk scarves,
large enough to be
used as shawls, sarongs, and/or
halter-tops,
were a bargain at $20.
- photo by Harvey Forester.
Shy Eleni, just 4½ years old, was the youngest Grapevine participant we've ever had. She came with her mother and fell in love with a small square wooden box with a lid in which she was going to store her "rocks" (gemstones, clarified Mom).
Maj came from Ontario to Vancouver and then settled in Victoria two years ago. He lives in the same neighbourhood as his store and supports his community by carrying locally-made jewelry, aromatherapy and bath products. Without a budget to advertise, he relies on word of mouth. He keeps mark-up prices low because all he wants is "to live comfortably and travel to Indonesia a few times a year, buying products direct from source, enjoying the people, and eating good food".
Maj came from Ontario to Vancouver and then settled in Victoria two years
ago. Javanerra Imports opened in June of 2005 with three owners.
Maj's sister was an overseas teacher who met and married an Indonesian man. The
couple opened a furniture business in Indonesia and then moved it here, just
as Maj had decided he wanted to start a business. So Maj subsequently
became
their business partner.
- photo by Sandra Tennent
The trio named the shop after Java, the city where it had all started—and added "nerra", meaning "picked by love". But Maj's sister was a new mother, and when his brother-in-law decided to learn a new trade, the store transferred into Maj's sole ownership. His relatives continue to help by providing assistance with Indonesian suppliers and administration.
Remarks overheard during our visit were, "What a wonderful store!" "Things are surprisingly inexpensive". Investigate Javanerra for an unusual gift idea!