This story is part of the #MissingEntrepreneurs 2023 campaign, which features an OECD-EC report analysing the challenges that underrepresented groups face as entrepreneurs. We will shine an entrepreneurial light on the stories of women, young people, seniors, people with disabilities, immigrants and unemployed people.
My love affair with West Africa began when I was shooting a film. On my many visits to Mali, Côte d’Ivoire and Senegal I travelled light because my suitcase always came back full of beautiful, colourful fabrics.
On one such visit, I improvised, making my first iPad case, worn over the shoulder. Other practical creations followed, inspired by the professional bags that some technicians use on the set, including a small bag for the laptop, a bag with handles for the computer, clutch bags for travelling, shoe bags, pie carrier bags and finally “bags for everything”, which became the key concept for my new business, SACATOU (“bag for everything” in French).
To get started, I opted for a “micro-business”. Setting it up was fairly easy, something you can do at the Chamber of Commerce with the help of an employee. However, that was the only easy part in terms of administrative procedures. Everything must now be done online via websites that are extremely difficult to navigate. If one encounters an issue that doesn’t fit into a pre-determined category, the problem remains unresolved indefinitely. To succeed, one needs determination, patience, courage and resources to pay for advice from specialists. Governments must make these processes easier for entrepreneurs.
On a positive note, as an older entrepreneur, I was pleased to find that I didn’t encounter any sexism or ageism in the competitive world of entrepreneurship. When I took part in a workshop on setting up a business, there were people of all ages, nationalities and genders.
The only critical voices came from people my own age who reacted surprisingly negatively when I shared my project. The young people around me admire my courage and approach, and that’s wonderful. They help me, they support me, and they teach me how to do it…
It’s nonetheless a path I would recommend to anyone – there is no age limit for entrepreneurs.
The products will go on sale in February 2024.
Find out more about the Missing Entrepreneurs here.
Angeliki Arvanitis, maiden name Theodoropoulou, adopted her husband's surname 'Arvanitis' for a more convenient adaptation to life in France with a name easier to pronounce.
Born in Greece and holding dual French and Greek citizenship, Angeliki is married and a proud parent to three adult children. She has been a resident of France since 1989. Initially specialising in French and German languages, her academic journey took her to the Athens School of Tourist Guides. Her passion gradually shifted towards the realm of cinema, where she pursued studies at the Athens Film School. She has engaged in various roles within the film industry, ranging from producer to assistant director, ultimately specialising in script supervision —a path she continues to pursue passionately to this day.