1981

Retained to assist in sourcing sustainable production for a new line of high end home accents handmade in a variety of materials with the lowest possible environmental impact. Products include wood, recycled glass, silver, and pewter items, all made with the lowest environmental impact possible.

Retained to analyze and assess the capacity of a consortium of furniture manufacturer in Asunción, making recommendations for optimizing their production capacity.
Showed a sampling of products at two successive High Point Markets, making market connections and facilitating sales.
(UNDP)

Retained to assist in developing a strategy to increase the sustainability of the home furnishings industry in Indonesia, and then market that, as a way of improving the competitiveness of the country in the global marketplace.
Analyzed and assessed the home accessories sector throughout Indonesia.
Met with producers and exporters throughout Central Java
Surveyed buyers to determine their perceptions of the strengths and weaknesses of the sector.
Made recommendations for playing on strengths that attract buyers to the country & for addressing weaknesses, especially in terms of social and environmental impact, that buyers want addressed
Made new market connections.
(USAID)

Retained to analyze the possibilities for artisan enterprise development among the Carib people in Dominica.
Analyzed other artisans and manufacturers abilities to serve new markets.
Made recommendations to strengthen their ability to reach new markets, regionally and in the US.
Made specific market connections for certain product, including handmades.
(USAID)

Provided services in analyzing the products and production capabilities of 4 different indigenous nations.
Delivered a seminar on beginning the export process, for artisans and for Sinchi Sacha, the organization partnering with them in export
Placed product with US import customers, including Tucker Robbins, Earthues, and Vermont Woods Studios
(USAID)

Provided business development consulting services in analyzing the capabilities of wood processors and furniture and accessory manufacturing firms.
Taught a seminar on “Understanding and Serving US Markets”
Made market connections between 63 Bolivian producers and 44 US importers and retailers.
Generated first buying trips to Bolivia by 2 wood products companies
Generated requests for samples from 32 import firms, including majors such as Aveda Corporation
Secured production orders from major importers The National Geographic Catalog, Charity USA, Red Egg, and Egg Baby.
Placed product from Bolivian producers with 3 exhibitors at the New York International Gift Fair.

Providing consultant services in product sourcing and in developing new product for six “click and give” websites: The Breast Cancer Site, The Rainforest Site, The Hunger Site, The Animal Rescue Site, The Literacy Site, and The Child Health Site.

Providing business development consulting for support and assistance in all aspects of designing, producing, marketing, and distributing two distinct lines of handcrafted jewelry.
Consultant to CC Hill, Louisville, KY (2004-2005)
Supported and assisted in all aspects of establishing a new import and retail business concentrating on high-end handmade decorative accessories.

Made an analysis of the possibilities for artisan enterprise development in the departments of Putumayo, Cauca, Narino, Huila, and Tolima. Results included introducing lines of hand-woven silk, hand built ceramics, musical instruments, and baskets to interested US import businesses.
Designed mechanisms for accelerating the effectiveness of project initiatives in the light manufacturing sector in the departments of Cauca and Putumayo. Implementation of the mechanisms effectively set design and marketing direction for initiatives building businesses in totumo product development and production, in flowers and foliages, in wood product development and production, in essential oils and aromatics processing, and in paper and packaging production. As a result products were tested with potential customers.
Returned to evaluate the previously designed production mechanisms of project initiatives in the light manufacturing sector for the departments of Cauca and Putumayo. Continued marketing initiatives of production from businesses with sufficient capacity for export built businesses. Products were further presented in these markets: US gift, natural products, home furnishings and decorative accent industries. Key accounts sold include Aveda Corporation, The Pottery, and Daystar. Over the course of the project, market linkages were created between Colombian producers and 45 new potential customers.

Grantee of USAID’s AMIR
Designed and developed mechanisms for marketing handcrafted product to local, regional and export markets.
Presented and placed products in US markets, including embroidery, mosaics, rugs, ceramics, glass, and jewelry. Made market linkages with 29 new potential customers. Secured business with CharityUSA.com.
Organized, curated, and staged an event at The Embassy of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan to showcase products and their stories, selling examples and generating over $1100 in sales at the event, and $11,000 in sales subsequently. The presentation was called “New Markets for Traditional Artisans: the Opportunities & the Challenges”, and was successful enough that a follow on presentation was requested for late in 2006.
Developed and delivered training of trainers courses for a national artisan enterprise development effort. “Marketing Handmades” is an interactive course that teaches marketing of handcrafted product to local, regional and export markets. “Handmade Product Development” prepares trainers to teach handcrafted product development with an understanding of local, regional, and export markets. Both courses particularly emphasize selling to tourist markets and to US markets.

Wrote 2006 Trends Report on trends in Gift, Home, Garden, and Fashion markets in the US and Europe. The report is distributed on-line and in print.
Wrote 2001, 2002 & 2003 Trend reports for The Crafts Center’s Artisan Enterprise Network, covering trends in the Children’s, Fashion, Furniture, Garden, Gift, Home Accent, Jewelry, Paper, and Rug industries, as well as color trends.

Helped founder and support staff prepare for a successful presentation at a major US trade show, the New York Home Textiles Show, working with them to design and implement a promising strategy for new market entry. Ongoing sales agent for the enterprise.

Provided consulting services to USAID’s Rural Poverty Alleviation Project, working
with artisans in Ayacucho, Pucallpa, Cajamarca, Huancayo, Cuzco, and Huancavilica to develop new products and get them into new markets.
Designed lines and collections including, alpaca and cotton sweaters in Puno and in Huancavilica, indigenous painted Shipibo and Yine fabric home and fashion accessories in Pucallpa, woven wool and alpaca rugs and cushion covers in Ayacucho, woven wool and cotton home and fashion accessories in Cajamarca, silver and gourd jewelry boxes in Huancayo.
Made market linkages between Peruvian producers and 72 new potential customers. Arranged for sampling in a variety of handcraft media, including textiles, ceramics, wood products, silver jewelry, and candles.
Facilitated sales to major importers and retailers, including Melange, Gaiam, One World Projects, Aveda, eZiba, Tesoros Trading, AMS Imports, Culturas del Sol, Maine Cottage Furniture.

Provided a 3-part Making Cents business skills training course to ARC staff and partner organizations. Part 1 providing a foundation course in business skills to future trainers; Part 2 providing trainers with the knowledge, tools, and facilitation techniques to teach business management to microentrepreneurs; Part 3 facilitating a process to prepare trainers to develop business plans to ensure that they effectively identify and serve entrepreneurs with a quality product in a financially sustainable manner.

Performed the final evaluation of the BID/FOMIN project, “Programa de Desarrollo Artesanal en Bolivia”, a project which has improved efficiency in artisan enterprises throughout the country.

Provided assistance in developing an export strategy for handcrafted product from Minas Gerais, including product evaluation, business capabilities analysis, and advice on serving specific markets in the US and Europe.
Facilitated business with 8 buyers brought in for a major annual fair.

Presented introductory workshops on the full range of Making Cents entrepreneurship skills training tools and demonstrated market demand for specific tools appropriate to a range of business development service providers.

Provided Making Cents training of trainer’s course to GAP community center managers enhancing their facilitation skills and enabling them to use Making Cents’ Business Orientation Course to teach business management to microentrepreneurs.

Reviewed collections of handmade product and made recommendations for expanding the line into Garden, Holiday and Religious markets.

Reviewed collections of handmade product and made recommendations for product development for US markets, and for making the most of opportunities to participate in major trade shows. Ongoing sales agent for SPB-UniCommerz.
Consultant Trade and Investment Program for a Competitive Export Economy, Chemonics International, Ghana 2004
Assisted in developing a strategy for a proposal to increase exports of several commodities and products, including handcrafts.

Provided training in entrepreneurship skills using the Making Cents program, L’Esprit d’Entreprise.
Provided training and assistance in developing a sewing and embroidery enterprise, covering market-led product development, market identification, and development of marketing materials, costing and pricing, and materials sourcing.

Coordinated efforts to build artisan enterprises in Ayacucho, Cajamarca, Huancayo, Hualhuas, Huancavelica, Cuzco, Juliaca, Pucallpa, and Puno.
Designed a collection of rugs and cushion covers for Raymisa in Ayacucho and presented them in US markets.
Designed a collection of accessory and accent items for Shipibo and Yine artisans in Pucallpa and presented them in US markets.
Designed a collection of handwovens in Cajamarca and presented them in US markets.
Placed these handcrafted products with key US customers including AMS Imports, Aveda Corporation, Caramba, Charity USA, Eziba, Gaiam Corporation, Maine Cottage Furniture, Melange Collection, One World Projects, Tesoros Trading Company

Wrote “Packaging and Packing” and “Managing Financial and Physical Resources” modules for a 14-module training curriculum.
Provided advice on various aspects of the organization and delivery of the curriculum
Consultant to The Rainforest Workshop, Yachana, Ecuador (2003)
Provided key co-ordination and participated in a product development workshop involving four major US buyers (One World Projects, Aveda, San Diego Zoo, and Charity USA) and three artisan enterprises from three counties (Pontare from Ecuador, Aid To Artisans from Haiti, and MayaWorks from Guatemala.) The workshop generated orders for samples and/or production of more than 150 products.

Worked with importer One World Projects and their customers, Gaiam and Aveda, to develop new product lines.
Provided logistical support in all aspects of workshop participation to Shipibo and Yine artisans who had traveled from Peru for the event.

Provided marketing training in support of African Growth Opportunities Act (AGOA), to businesses ready to enter US markets. The training included numerous handouts of resources useful to participants’ on-going understanding of US markets.

Completed an analysis of the potential for artisan enterprise development in the Chapare.
Recommended a strategy for working with craftspeople of the area to include entrepreneurship skills development, service to local and regional markets, and entry into international markets.
Provided training in entrepreneurship skills development using Making Cents BEST Game. Provided training in product development and production systems development to artisans in five communities in Chapare that included instruction to trainers. Provided training in improving the efficiency of production systems for basket makers, banana bark artisans and orange peel artisans. Provided staff training in marketing to ARTETROPIC association of artisan enterprises, covering all aspects of producing, marketing, and selling handcrafted products.
Facilitated access to new markets in Cochabamba, Santa Cruz, and La Paz. Facilitated relationships with export agents. As a result a selection of gift and home accent products were test marketed with US importers including key accounts such as One World Projects, which continues to sell products from ARTETROPIC upwards of five years later.

Wrote a module on Packaging and Packing for the training curriculum, Artisan as Entrepreneur.
Consultant to the government of Peru’s vocational training institute, SENATI (2002)
Provided production systems training to weavers in 8 different rural communities in Cajamarca, Peru.

Designed a collection of sweaters for CIRNMA, in Puno
Presented the collection in US markets, selling two designs to eZiba.

Completed an analysis of production capabilities of six artisan workshops served by export NGO Proarte.
Researched the US market for their skills and products.
Successfully won back former customers and secured new ones, resulting in 43 market linkages.
Provided training in how to exhibit successfully at an international trade show.

Designed a collection of sweaters for AlpacaWorks, comprised of 13 pieces, 6 of which remain in the line sold 6 years later
Provided training and assistance in product presentation
Facilitated connections to US markets.

Developed and wrote the plan for a two-pronged strategy to develop community-based tourism and handcrafts for export, addressing rural poverty problems by developing entrepreneurship skills and facilitating access to markets.

Analyzed the need for business development services among artisans in five communities.
Provided training in strategies for market-led product development.

Analyzed capabilities of INDEPCO sewing cooperative and facilitated connections to new markets.

Analyzed potential of artisan enterprises in the Makalu-Barun Conservation Area.
Identified product to serve expanded markets and facilitated market linkages.
Introduced Nepali Nettlecloth into US markets, tripling household income among participating weavers in a two-year period.

Designed a collection of accessory items for Ruth y Nohemi vocational training institute to sell to Self-Help Crafts Stores, now called Ten Thousand Villages. Some items remain in the sold line 11 years later.