Access to Markets

Most communities that we visit have locally produced artisan items, such as woven textiles, wooden sculptures, furniture, paintings, beaded belts or jewelry.  We've often purchased them at ridiculously undervalued prices and wondered how we can help these communities bring their products out to global markets & at fair values.  The Muskoka Foundation has developed a program to easily move products into the on-line marketplace with the fewest possible intermediaries dipping into the artisan's hard-earned funds along the way. 

The Muskoka Foundation has developed a full circle program from order creation to receipt of funds for developing communities.  This program includes a how-to for travelers to photograph and catalog products, examples of artisan write-ups and required information, a system to put those products on-line including all relevant information, an eCommerce website for selling the products called “Net Impact Crafts,” partnerships with large resellers such as eBay/World of Good (in process), and an innovative ordering and payment system using mobile phone technology that helps overcome typical order and payment receipt issues.

The Foundation will also provide a training guide on how developing community artisans can tailor products to world markets, with practical advice on pricing, timing to production, order taking and payment receipts.

This program requires minimal background and skills as travelers will essentially be bringing locally produced items and crafts into the on-line marketplace.  The main ingredient required will be a good idea for what will sell internationally and an ability to respectfully advise artisans on products that they have been making for generations. 
Volunteers should have:

• A talent in spotting local products and crafts that can sell internationally
• A desire and passion to advise artisans on how to tailor products and build small businesses

• An interest in cataloging products and telling artisans' stories in a compelling way
• Patience to overcome the language and cultural issues, building deep relationships that can last for years.

We have created a highly usable sales platform and are building partnerships with large resellers and mobile phone entrepreneurs to develop small but formal on-line platforms in developing communities. 

Typically, local artisans have a challenge in getting their products to market, taking orders and receiving payment.  Our travelers will be able to set up the artisans with an immediate link to global markets as well as a method for contracts and receivables.  These skills would be transferred to the artisans through training and possibly necessary equipment (eg: camera phones) that allow for a small sustainable business that the artisans can maintain on their own.  Travelers will also pass on their knowledge of what global markets might need and advise artisans on tailoring their products and possibly expanding their product offering. 

There is also a significant benefit in cataloging and describing local crafts and items as often many of these generations old traditions are quickly dying out as youth head to cities and find jobs in manufacturing and production. Just the very act of photographing the items, describing what they are as well as telling the story of the tradition and the artisans involved is a very important task in preserving history.
Furthermore, developing communities can scale up their on-line marketplace by training and including other local and regional artisans.  This could lead to these improvements across multiple communities. 

Once travelers get adept at providing the on-line marketplace and training, this type of program can easily be run in multiple villages to leave a wake of positive and sustainable impact.

We are currently looking for our first marketplace building success story, if you think you'd like to help us fill in this section with an inspirational story of how you've helped a community, then please contact us!

If you enjoy looking at and purchasing local crafts and locally produced items, would like to build relationships with local artisans and help them start a business, then please contact us, and we'll help set you up!