Sokoto Saffron Works is an Abuja studio producing naturally dyed scarves and table linens in limited runs. Founder Zainab Bello took the Buy Small pledge to make the studio’s support for independent makers measurable. The team is working toward spending at least one in every five supplier naira with independent businesses, including small growers, local packaging makers, and neighborhood repair services. Rather than switching suppliers all at once, the studio reviews each purchasing category and checks whether an independent option can meet its quality and timing needs. It now groups orders with two nearby businesses to reduce delivery trips and make smaller quantities worthwhile. In the first half-year, 23 percent of supplier spending went to independent businesses, compared with 16 percent in the same period before the pledge. Zainab says the figure matters, but so does maintaining fair terms and reliable relationships. She signed because deliberate purchasing can help a studio grow alongside other small businesses rather than leaving them behind.
