Sealing our first order for an international client was a small but significant moment for us at Samsara Creation — Nepal’s first brand offering a complete solution for Nepali-made, sustainable gifts, souvenirs, and promotional merchandise. It was a moment that felt quite like a milestone, both exhilarating and grounding, as it signalled our work was gaining recognition beyond Nepal.
In this blog, we would like to walk you through Samsara’s honest reflection regarding our first export order.
Why We Decided to Take the Leap Into Export
A company, namely Zonult from Finland, was where Samsara’s first international export order was destined, and it was no coincidence. There is a genuine curiosity and interest that has been growing regarding handcrafted and natural fibre products among European consumers who are drawn to sustainability. Materials like hemp, cotton, Lokta paper and Dhaka fabric are not just materials, they are the fabric that holds cultural stories that connect deeply with consumers who are sustainability conscious.
Zonult did not become a client of Samsara through any kind of trade fair or marketing campaign — they simply came across our website and reached out. They were interested in our Hemp cotton mix backpack. This was an encouraging and reassuring signal for us as it suggested that our products and the story behind them are accessible and speak for themselves. However, when the inquiry came through, we were not comprehensively prepared for export at that stage — there were areas we were working through, such as a detailed understanding of international packaging standards and export documentation.
“It was mostly communication with the client and the trust they put in Samsara” — our CEO
What kept Samsara moving was the steady communication and trust shown by the client who flew to Kathmandu to visit our office, which showed us that their interest extended beyond the product.
From Kathmandu To Customs: What Fulfilling Our First Export Order Taught Us
Handling a domestic order and handling an export order are two entirely different experiences. Samsara’s domestic experience — built through partnerships with organisations like USAID, NMB Bank, and the Confederation of Nepalese Industries — had given us a strong foundation in managing large orders, customisation and tight deadlines. Export, however, demanded a new level of preparation. Pricing was the first of them. For this pilot order, we had quoted lower than we would for a typical commercial order, and it was a strategic decision rather than a reluctant decision. The client was testing whether our Hemp cotton mix backpack would fit in the European lifestyle, and we were testing whether we could deliver international orders with reliability and integrity.
The Gaps We Discovered: Quality, Communication & Packaging Lessons from Export
Samsara’s first export order experience had made us genuinely clear the critical distinction between domestic and international communication. Working domestically comes with the same working hours, familiar ways of working that reduce the explicit documentation and follow-up. Internationally all of it has to be replaced with proper communication, clarity, careful documentation and language that leaves no room for assumption. Even a minor shift or adjustment can affect packaging, labelling and customs. The client’s flexibility and cooperation allowed us to resolve it without any disruption but the lesson stayed with us.
The second lesson Samsara felt in the middle of production was related to the customisation scope. On this initial export order, we accommodate a higher volume of customisation, which was driven by the significance of the order and a genuine commitment to client satisfaction. Flexibility is our core strength, but we learnt the difference between flexibility and over-accommodation. We are now working to define the boundaries of customisation within our export product line with clarity and confidence.
“I think there were too many customisations and we were not able to say no as it was our first international order” — our CEO
Certification and standardisation are the third area Samsara has been addressing. While dealing with an international client, the export process becomes more straightforward if we have recognised certifications regarding product quality, environmental standards and other related areas. Samsara has been working towards this with ISO certifications and other applicable marks under consideration as we build the kind of credibility that sustains international trade requires.
Here’s What Samsara’s Export Journey Looks Like From Here
The pilot order confirmed what Samsara had long believed, but now we can say from real experience that sustainable, handcrafted Nepali products such as hemp totes, crochet bags and dhaka-covered diaries have genuine international demand in markets.
The pilot order also showed Samsara that demand alone is not enough. To serve the international market well, Samsara had to focus on two things: product standardisation and certification, which Samsara has been successful in obtaining. As our CEO reflected when asked what Samsara would do differently, he answered:
“Nothing at all— because mistakes taught us many things”
