Clams to Cash: How to Make and Sell Giant Clam Shell ... - eXtension

Clams to Cash: How to Make and Sell Giant Clam Shell ProductsPage 28Planters and Garden OrnamentsThroughout the Pacific Islands, giant clam shells have long been used to decorategardens and gravesides. This practice remains so common in the Pacific that it hardlywarrants a description. This is perhaps the most common use for giant clam shells on islandswhere the animals occur. After all, what island yard, garden or path would not look better ifsurrounded by a neat curbing of giant clam shells? It surely makes more sense than paintingrocks white, a curious American custom.If tridacnid shells are destined to be used as garden ornaments, there is really no needto go overboard in cleaning them. Exposing them to the sun and rain for a few weeksprovides results that should be more than adequate for outdoor use.However, chemical bleaching may be desirable for more elaborate creations. TheMMDC staff developed a lovely T. derasa shell planter (Figure 27) nested in a simplemacramé sling.The planter hung from the MMDC gift shop ceiling beside the sales counter. Eachmorning, we placed fresh red hibiscus blossoms in the planter. We had no way of knowing ifthe presence of these fresh flowers increased sales in the shop, but judging by the number ofcompliments on the planter, we don’t doubt that customers appreciated this touch. Freshflowers, along with the polished marble floor of the shop, the richly stained wood interiorand the spectacular “living wall” of reef tanks, were just one more subtle way to send themessage “This is an upscale shop; expect merchandise to be priced accordingly.”The shell used in the planter was simply a large T. derasa prepared as though it werebeing used as a salad bowl. The macramé sling was bought for about $1 at a shop calledBetty’s Imports, a large wholesaler of gift items in Waikiki. The planter sold for $9.95 retailin Palau and would undoubtedly fetch two to three times that retail price in Waikiki.Figure 27.A T. derasa shell can be placed in amacramé or shell sling and used as alovely, unusual planter or vase.June 1996