In 2018 I started CEREMONIA out of my home, where I held intimate events & trunk shows for friends and family to introduce them to my brand. At about the same time I also started going out to local markets to expose the brand to a larger audience. This is a great way to test your product and get direct feedback from customers. At the same time, it's a great marketing tool: in addition to sales revenue, you're gaining exposure. Take this as an opportunity to build connections with customers, and other small business owners. Build your e-mail list, ask customers to follow you on social media, gain a better understanding of your demographic. Meanwhile you never know what other opportunities for collaboration may come from meeting with other vendors. Check, check, check, and check.
Photo by CEREMONIA at Smorgasburg LA
So you're convinced now, right? But maybe a little overwhelmed on where to start? Don't worry, I got you! Start by researching craft markets or farmers markets in your area. Visit them to get a feel for them, get inspired, and choose a couple that make sense for your business. Give yourself time to prepare and gather all your inventory & equipment. Continue reading for the ultimate craft market check list and some tips for having a successful pop up.
Basics
Marketing Materials:
Toolbox:
Fanny pack:
Optional:
Photo source: Foca
Once you've set a date for your pop up, make a flyer for it. Be sure to promote your event across social media, let all your family and friends know about it. Ask them to help you get the word out. And now it's time to show up. Arrive early, give yourself more time than you think you may need to set up. Be friendly, SMILE lots, welcome everyone who walks by. You'd be surprised how much eye contact helps. Avoid being on your phone or looking down even during slower periods. Engage with shoppers, try to learn a little about them. Give genuine compliments and thank everyone who stops by, even if they don't purchase from you.
And there you have it. This is a list of everything I have for our pop ups and these are the practices that I employ, and train our team to employ. To date, we've only had positive pop up experiences and customers who continue to visit us 4 years later. I hope this list helps you on your business journey and encourages you to try a pop up. Good luck!
]]>
Atomic Habits by James Clear
Source: Nele via Pinterest
James Clear created this book to help you achieve more good habits and avoid the bad ones. Clear includes scientific research while also sprinkling in some jokes to help you understand how to break your bad habits. Atomic Habits discusses how small, incremental changes develop into significant changes over time.
"Habits are the compound interest in of self-improvement" - James Clear
Best Self by Mike Bayer
Source: Libroworld
This book helps you identify your desires and identity. It gives perspective on where you are in life in the hopes that you're able to discover the best version of yourself.
"I believe being your best self is being authentic, being truly who you are, how you were born and free" - Mike Bayer
Declutter Your Mind by S.J. Scott and Barrie Davenport
Source: Libroworld
Do you find yourself constantly worrying? In this book Davenport explores practical ways to declutter your mind and focus on priorities.
"Thinking may seem automatic and uncontrollable, but many of our thought patterns are habitual and, well, thoughtless." - S.J. Scott and Barrie Davenport
Who Moved My Cheese by Spencer Johnson
Source: Beentherewithkids via Pinterest
In this book Johnson encourages readers to stop fearing the future and instead thrive in uncertainty. He's able to delve deeper into this subject via an amusing parable involving cheese. This is a light, digestible read we highly recommend.
"What would you do if you weren't afraid?" - Spencer Johnson
The Power of Positive Thinking by Norman Vincent Peale
Source: Buzzfeed
The Power of Positive Thinking is filled with practical advice that illustrates the power of thought. It teaches how to believe in yourself and take control of your life by adjusting your thoughts, and changing your attitude.
"The way to happiness: Keep your heart free from hate, your mind from worry." - Norman Vincent Peale
Bookmark this blog and let us know if you've read any of them. Do you have any books you'd add to the list? Feel free to add them in the comments.
]]>
It's more important than ever to take a pause, and recognize the importance of maintaining our own physical and mental health. Today we're sharing tips for incorporating self-care into your every day life.
]]>Practice Gratitude
Source: Jess Bailey via Unsplash
Practicing gratitude can help get the positive thoughts flowing and you’ll also notice that more positivity will come your way. Positive mind equals positive mind. Whenever you feel sad or start to have negative thoughts, try some of these gratitude exercises/ideas.
Move Your Body
Source: Jared Rice via Unsplash
Any type of movement, whether it’s stretching, walking, or running can loosen your muscles and relieve tension. Better yet, break out the beatbox, and dance like no one’s watching! When you move your body, endorphins get released, so you are left feeling positive, motivated, and relaxed.
Treat yourself
Source: Jarek Cebroski via Unsplash
When was the last time you treated yourself to something special? When you regularly treat yourself better, you feel good about yourself, and when you feel good about yourself the people around you feed off your energy. You get what you give. Learning how to be good to yourself trains others on how they should treat you.
Here are some fun ideas for treating yourself on a regular day:
We hope these easy-to-apply tips inspire you to start caring for yourself a bit more. Remember to rest, prioritize and love yourself. You deserve it. Let us know in the comments what's your favorite way to self-care?
]]>Swap your everyday items with eco-friendly products
Source: CEREMONIA
This is a phrase that we’re all familiar with, but not many of us do often. It’s convenient to buy and use plastic bowls, utensils, and cups, but you can save money and reduce waste by investing in reusable items. By doing this you are also reducing your carbon footprint!
Conserve Water and Electricity
Our planet is our home and needs to be taken care of with love. Click here to visit our shop’s variety of handmade reusable products!
]]>
photo courtesy of Estée Janssens via Unsplash
Set realistic goals
Take the time to write down your goals, and be realistic about them. Sometimes we set goals that are way out of reach, and when we don't achieve them we feel defeated and quickly lose motivation. Instead, set a goal and give yourself a timeline. Break it up into days, weeks, months, years. Make it relevant to you so you're excited about working toward it!
Book recommendation: “Creating your best life” by Caroline Adams Miller
photo via Unsplash
Envision your goals
Now that you've set your goals, envision them. Bring our your scissors, all your old magazines/catalogs, poster board/cardboard, and glue stick. Then, cut out words, phrases and pictures that convey the goals you're out to achieve. Lastly, start gluing your magazine cut outs on your board, and place your finished vision board somewhere you can often reference it. If you prefer you can also create a digital vision board using Pinterest to find photos that inspire you. Create a photo collage, and keep it as your desktop wallpaper or screen saver. This way you always have your goals front and center.
photo courtesy of Markus Winkler via Unsplash
Change your daily habits
Making minor changes in your daily habits can help motivate you to accomplish all your new goals. Over time, these small changes will become routine, and make a big difference.
Book recommendation: “Atomic Habits” by James Clear
photo courtesy of Helena Lopes via Unsplash
Surround yourself with uplifting people
Are the people you spend your free time with energizing you or depleting you? Be intentional about the people you hang around. Those closest to you should have a positive influence in your life, uplift you, and motivate you. It's so much easier to accomplish your goals when you have a supportive crew cheering you on.
Book recommendation: “How to Win Friends & Influence People” by Dale Carnegie
We hope you find these tips and book recommendations helpful. These are only some ways to get motivated, but of course there are so many more! How do you keep yourself motivated? Let us know down in the comments!
]]>
We've got you covered with tips to help you pack with confidence and ease! Consider this your packing guide to have you fully prepared for your next adventure.
A list will be your best friend!
Source: antovico
Spending a bit of time to create a list will save you time in the long run. This will help you ensure you don't forget anything important!
Essentials vary depending on the location you are traveling to. However, here are some basics that are needed for every trip!
How many of us have been guilty of overpacking? To help you pack strategically, here are some tips to help you utilize as much space in your suitcase or carry-on
Has this packing list been helpful? Do you have any tips we missed? Let us know in the comments!
]]>
Apart from looking beautiful, plants also help purify the air and are known to have mood-boosting qualities. Once you find the perfect plant and learn the basics of plant care, you’ll start to notice the benefits that come with being a plant parent.
Don't worry, it has nothing to do with spiders! These plants are named so because of their spider-like leaves. They are great air-purifying plants, have medicinal properties, and are safe for pets.
Spider plants can quickly adapt to various climatic conditions even if neglected for days; they're very independent. It's best to keep these plants in indirect sunlight, but they also grow well in low light.
If a prize could be awarded for the most indestructible plant, the snake plant would be a frontrunner. The snake plant is most recommend for beginners because they're difficult to kill. You only need to water them once every 2-3 weeks, making them ideal for those who can be forgetful. They also thrive in different lighting, from direct sunlight to low light. Be mindful of overwatering and freezing temperatures as these are the two things that will harm the snake plant.
Like spider plants, snake plants also purify the air by removing toxic pollutants, and are effective against allergies. According to feng shui, a Chinese traditional practice that is essentially the interaction of humans and their environments, snake plants absorb negative energies of bitterness and jealousy.
For a forgetful gardener or constant traveler, the ZZ plant is a great plant to have. It takes minimal effort to keep this plant alive as it can tolerate months of neglect and still look picture-perfect. What’s great about this plant is that it is recommended to leave them alone in a low-light area more often than caring for them. The only way you could kill the plant is by overwatering, so the less water, the better.
If you are working from home constantly, this is a must-have. One of its benefits is improving human brain functions like learning, decision making, thinking, and problem-solving. The extract roots of ZZ plants are also known for their traditional medicinal uses for inflammatory conditions. Like the first two plants mentioned, ZZ plants remove pollutants from the air.
Remember that each plant is a unique living thing with different needs, so make sure you choose the best plant that best fits your lifestyle.
Need a cozy plant hanger home for your plant? Visit this page to choose from our shop's variety of handmade plant hangers!
]]>
Kitchen
source: CEREMONIA
Living Room
source: uniqwacollections
Bedroom
source: celadoncreating
Bathroom
source: hovia.com
Do you like to take your time to clean, or are you a “do it all in one day” type of person? Let us know if you found this blog useful, or add your own tips in the comments below!
whether you're boo'd up, or celebrating single's awareness day this recipe will surely make valentine's day a little sweeter... ¡provecho!
Ingredients:
Instructions:
Nutrition:
Serving: 2 berries | Calories: 172kcal | Carbohydrates: 23g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Sodium: 23mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 22g
photo credit + recipe courtesy of California Strawberries www.californiastrawberries.com
]]>
ingredients
• 4 pounds apples, cored and sliced
• 2 tbs butter
• 1/4 cup apple juice
• 1/4 cup honey
• 2 tsp cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp allspice
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 2-3 tsp arrowroot or organic cornstarch
• 1 tsp apple cider vinegar
method
• place the apples and butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. toss until butter has melted and is coating the apples
• mix apple juice, sweetener, cinnamon, allspice, salt. pour over the apples, toss. cover with a lid and simmer on medium-low heat for around 5 minutes
• uncover and toss. either simmer until thickened, or add a rowroot/cornstarch and toss quickly
• stir in apple cider vinegar and serve hot
by Carlsbad Cravings & Aberdeen’s Kitchen
ingredients
• 2 pounds thin baby carots, peeled, and tops chopped
• 1/4 cup apricot preserves
• 2 tbs honey
• 2 tbs olive oil
• 1 tbs butter, melted
• 1 tsp balsamic vinegar
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1/4 tsp ground mustard
• 1/4 tsp thyme leaves
• 1/8 tsp ground cumin
• 3/4 tsp salt
• 1/8 tsp pepper
method
• preheat oven to 375 degrees F. line a baking sheet with foil and lightly spray with nonstick cooking spray. add carrots to the center. set aside
• in a medium bowl, whisk together remaining ingredients and pour over carrots, toss until evenly coated. line carrots in a single layer. bake for 30-45 mins depending on the thickness. garnish with fresh parsley if desired
ingredients
• 1 cup (200 g) sugar
• 1 cup (250 ml) water
• 4 cups (12 oz package) fresh or frozen cranberries
• pecans, orange zest, raisins, currants, blueberries, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice (optional)
method
• place the cranberries in a colander and rinse them. pick out and discard any damaged or bruised cranberries
• put the water and sugar in a medium saucepan on high heat and bring to a boil. stir to dissolve the sugar
• add the cranberries to the pot and return to a boil. lower the heat and simmer for 10 minutes or until most of the cranberries have burst
• once the cranberries have burst you can leave the cranberry sauce as is, or dress it up with other ingredients. some people like adding raisins or currants, or even blueberries for added sweetness. you can also add holiday spices such as cinnamon, nutmeg, or allspice. if adding spices, start with a pinch of each and add more to your taste.
• remove the pot from heat. Let cool completely at room temperature, then transfer to a bowl to chill in the refrigerator. Note that the cranberry sauce will continue to thicken as it cools.
ingredients
• 2 tbs grapeseed or canola oil
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 juicy ripe tomatoes, diced or ½ 15-oz can of diced tomatoes
• 1 large bunch of collard greens, stems removed, and leaves very thinly sliced (removing the stems is optional)
• sea salt
• 2 tbs tamari (or normal soy sauce)
• 1 tsp smoked paprika + more to taste
method
• warm oil on medium heat in a large heavy-bottomed pot
• add the garlic, and sauté on medium-low until it begins to turn golden
• stir in the tomatoes, and cook until soft, about 3 minutes
• add the chopped collard greens and a sprinkle of sea salt, and stir well. reduce the heat to low, and cover the greens. cook until tender, about 30 minutes, or longer depending on your preference
• turn off the flame, then stir in the soy sauce and smoked paprika. season to taste with more soy sauce if necessary
]]>when I found out a girlfriend of mine was in Mexico city, it gave me the courage to book my trip and meet her there where we spent an incredible 3 days together before renting a car and road tripping to Michoacán, where I have family, and also where they celebrate Dia de los Muertos the biggest.
so what exactly is Dia de los Muertos? it is a holiday celebrated throughout most of Mexico and many parts of Latin America where families celebrate their departed loved ones for the lives they lived. it is a celebration full of color and tradition--where the souls of those who have passed are kept alive. the exact origins are unknown, but what is known is that it's a mix of Catholic and indigenous customs. specific traditions vary by region but they are always colorful and lively.
traditionally, families unite to put offerings together for their loved ones. below I'll break down the manner in which the altars are decorated in my father's home state of Guanajuato--I borrowed this information from Yo Guanajuato!
]]>
While the weather has been cooling in most of the country the last month, it's only recently started cooling in Southern California. You know what that means? It's time to break out the layers, all the pumpkin-flavored-xyz's, and bring some warmth into the home. In this blog, we're sharing a few tips for how to make your bedroom nice & cozy.
1) Add string lights for warmth and ambience.
source: glaminati.com
2) Layer different textures for your bedding.
source: diydarlin.co
3) Consider storage baskets to get rid of clutter.
ceremonia handwoven hanging basket trio
3) Personalize your space with a DIY project of your choice.
source: etsy.com
4) Up-cycle your furniture: re-paint or add a new finish to make it feel new.
source: apartmenttherapy.com
5) Consider adding warm hues to your room.
source: anewall.com
6) Add a nice rug to soften your space.
source: ofhousesandtrees.com
7) Add a dried floral bouquet that you don't have to worry about killing.
source: popsugar.com
8) And remember not everything has to match, just have fun!
source: walkeredisonshop.com
If you’ve been on social media lately, you may have noticed there is an uptick on a long-standing issue: vulnerable street vendors are being attacked and robbed, only now it is being recorded and posted on social media for all to see. It’s so sad to know that someone would have that much disdain to beat an often-times elderly and defenseless person for no more than $100, but that’s what has been happening to our street vendors for many years now.
As a born and raised Angeleno and having attended elementary in Pico Union, I grew up buying from street vendors. Their friendliness and hustle has always inspired me. I’ve never seen a grumpy or lazy street vendor. They are the definition of a dedicated entrepreneur: resourceful, creative, innovative, humble, hard-working, and let’s be honest they’ve been selling instagrammable cold-pressed juices long before it ever became a trend.
They made me want to sell shaved ice, fruit, juice, flowers, etc. and to do it all with a smile. They work so hard, and such long hours for very little in return. Dorany Pineda recently wrote a thoughtful piece highlighting the life of a street vendor in Pico Union during COVID-19 in the LA Times: https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-07-02/pico-union-paletero.
Recently, my friend Cynthia invited me to an event her friend organized to support his local fruit seller in Koreatown Los Angeles. His goal was to buy out the cart with the help of his friends. I showed up to a group of socially distant and mask-wearing friends patiently waiting for their fruit cup orders. It was a success! Juana, the Guatemalan fruit vendor, was so grateful to have sold out her cart that day, and she was also gifted an additional $2000 donation that was raised for her. Meanwhile, we all walked away with delicious fruit cups. Juana cried tears of surprise and happiness, and said “things like this don’t happen to people like her.” She lead a prayer for all who contributed and said this money was going to have such a big impact on her family in the states and Guatemala.
So how do we help? I’m glad you care because there are so many ways to help, big ways, small ways, and everything in between:
Hope this blog inspires someone to take one small action that will make a big difference to a hard-working street vendor. As our parents taught us: hoy por ti, mañana por mi.
<3
]]>What if 2020 isn't cancelled?
What if 2020 is the year we've been waiting for?
A year so uncomfortable, so painful, so scary, so raw--
]]>What if 2020 is the year we've been waiting for?
A year so uncomfortable, so painful, so scary, so raw--
that it finally forces us to grow.
A year that screams so loud, finally awakening us
from our ignorant slumber.
A year we finally accept the need for change.
Declare change. Work for change. Become the change.
A year we finally band together, instead of
pushing each other further apart.
2020 isn't cancelled, but rather
the most important of them all.
-leslie dwight
as soon as I read this, I let out a sigh of relief. it was what I needed. I don't know about you all, but I've become overwhelmed by the amount of information and posts, black squares, videos of looting, videos of peaceful protest, organizations to donate to, books to read, netflix series to watch, black businesses to support...... pphhhhewwww... my mind felt like it was being pulled in 1 thousand and 1 different directions. I felt helpless, and "muted."
truth is: I've read the books, I've watched the series, I've had those uncomfortable conversations. I've corrected friends, I've confronted family, I've shared a little bit of my insight with white friends who swore that when Obama got elected racism ended. in college all the classes I gravitated toward revolved around social justice, without even realizing it I was 1 class away from being a Black Studies minor. because those are the classes I was always interested in, because so many of my most loved friends from high school are black, because my high school/college sweetheart was black. because I'll always remember the phone call I got from him moments after he had been placed on the ground similar to George Floyd, roughed up in Inglewood because he "fit the description." he was scared, I was scared. we haven't talked for years, but even writing this now, it makes me angry and emotional that he went through that.
and all this is not to say that I know it all, faaaaaaar from it. I'm always learning, and growing, re-educating myself, and having more of these conversations, especially in my travels with friends from other countries who truly don't understand the black plight. posting on social media is great, but let's make sure we follow that up with REAL actions, meaningful actions, educating ourselves, so we can help educate others.
and in the midst of all this, we have tropical storm amanda who decided to show up in my mother's motherland, the tiny nation of El Salvador. hundreds of shanty homes have been swept away, in a community that has been hit by devastation after devastation for so many decades. 2020 is really something, isn't it?
but 2020 isn't cancelled. so we're rolling up our sleeves, and getting back to business. we've placed another round of orders with our artisan partners who are so excited and relieved to be getting new orders because tourism in Bali is non-existent, so there is very little opportunity to generate income.
for the next week 10% of ALL SALES will be distributed across organizations to aid the initiatives of the Black Lives Matter movement and to help families in El Salvador rebuild their homes. it's the least we could do, and we hope to have the opportunity to do more as our business grows.
thank you for reading, thank you for caring, thank you for supporting these causes.
Black Lives Matter LA: https://www.blmla.org/
El Salvador x Vos: https://magosdigitales.net/esxvos_sv/
]]>
dear kevin,
hi, how are you? it’s been a while since I’ve written to you, but you started showing up again...
]]>hi, how are you? it’s been a while since I’ve written to you, but you started showing up again tonight, and I know it’s not a coincidence… you’re proud it's happening, I feel it. it’s crazy, but I do. that week back in february 2018 I was physically in the hospital with you, but I had my macbook with me and i was working on the logo. my memory isn’t always the greatest, but I remember that week so clearly. you went in for a routine visit on a monday, and they decided it was best to admit you. I came by to bring you food, and I brought my work with me each day. our CEREMONIA collection was tiny, the first official production was ready to go. I was excited and wanted to launch within a month. I was finally living in bali, but back in LA for a couple weeks…I told you what I was working on. you wanted to be excited for me, but you were just too sick. we didn’t know how sick, so there I was working on my macbook while you were next to me living your last days. I don’t have any other regrets in my life kev, you know that. but I’ll always regret not putting my macbook away that week.
you were superman, a true guerillero, so strong… you were supposed to pull through and surprise everyone (including the doctors) like you always did.. but your body was tired; you were mentally drained. you just didn’t tell us.. you kept it to yourself. I’m sorry I wasn’t there for you like you needed me to be that last week. even though you were sick, your passing was so unexpected and devastating for so many. I didn’t leave the house for weeks. eventually, I tried to pick up where I left off with CEREMONIA, but things just weren’t the same any more. I lost the motivation I initially had to see it come to its full fruition.
I took a break from it all in an attempt to process your loss, and heal from the heartbreak of losing you, my dear cousin, my brother growing up, and my first very best friend. when I lost you, I also lost most of my childhood, and with your departure from this earth, you also took all our memories. I no longer have you to remind me of some obscene prank we pulled, or travesura that you did. I miss that, I miss you. so, so much.,, but you already know that, you hear me, you see me, you feel me. I know you do. and that’s why you’re here with me tonight—on my right shoulder. it’s no coincidence primo.
when things seem tough, you're always there to remind me to keep going, keep pedaling. I have multiple copies of this picture of you riding your bike, literally carrying your friend's load on your back, with the chemo bag at your hip. the definition of dedication. your dedication is what has kept me going even when the odds seem stacked.
a few days ago I sent the password for the site to vic. since he’s been helping me along the way, I wanted to get his feedback. he came back with the sweetest reply and told me he was going to send the CEREMONIA Instagram to all his friends. tonight he sent a text to tell me his friend likes the owl planter and wants to come pick it up tonight before she leaves to san diego. when she arrived to pick up her order, she showed me the owl she has tattooed on her back, similar to the one on your leg. at the same time, I got a text from your friend, lloyd, who is in the area and wants to come by to drop off some owl masks I ordered…. now that’s some owl magic.
I’m filled with emotions because tonight, just before the launch I’ve been working on for so long, you found ways to sneak up on me and show me you’re still here. you've never left those who loved you. we all share stories of how you still show up for us, thank you. I know you see me crying, and you don’t like it. and yes a lot of them are sad tears, but there are also some joyous ones mixed in there, too cousin. because I’m happy you’re here. thank you for loving me, taking care of me, and being my wise owl throughout this entire process. i love you, and I miss you. and I hope to continue making you proud.
with all my heart,
your cousin cari
]]>of course all of our artisan partners are also affected by the current affairs, but your purchase and patronage allows us to continue placing orders with them which contributes to their livelihoods and many times to their village. if your heart calls you to give back to Bali in other ways, below are some of the initiatives and organizations that we have supported.
the KIM Women's Centre serves divorced women, and mothers of children with disabilities whom are often ostracized in Balinese culture. these women are not included amongst those who are considered eligible to receive aid from official or village institutions, so it is especially critical that they continue receiving donations during this time:
https://www.kimwomenscentre.org/
the local family who runs Tresna Cooking School in Ubud has shifted their focus to form the Feed Bali organization, where they are using their food resources to give back. they've compiled a database of over 5000 food-deficit families living in remote villages. their mission is to provide the most in-need families with food sourced by local farmers. a $30 donation feeds an average family for 2 weeks:
Kopernik is another organization we have long supported. they're based in Bali and committed to serving communities in the most remote parts of the developing world. they're currently raising money to provide support to healthcare workers, prevent the spread of COVID-19 and provide livelihood support to all those who have lost their income:
https://kopernik.info/en/donate/covid19-bali-emergency-response
]]>
the plan was to fly back to LA from bali in early may to start doing our spring shows and get things ready for a summer website launch, but then march happened, and the world as we know it got flipped upside down.
we only had a couple days to pack our home in bali and leave when the level 4 travel advisory went out, it all happened so fast I hardly had a chance to grasp what was happening. then, once I got back to LA it all started slowly sinking in. markets weren't opening up any time soon, and with that my means for an income. I definitely felt the pressure to move online right away, but I worried that this was the most inopportune and insensitive time to launch. I also avoided putting up any sales on Instagram, I felt a bit disoriented, and had no desire to launch during a pandemic.
then the DMs started coming in from friends, customers, and followers asking how they could continue to support my small business. I saw other small business owners shifting to find new ways to stay afloat. I was slowly becoming encouraged to carry on with business. then, the whatsapps from bali started coming through.
approximately 80-90% of the income on the island is generated from tourism, so after multiple weeks without tourists, some locals were really struggling, and reaching out to everyone in their phone book asking for money. the struggles on the island are much more dire and visible than the ones we face in the western world.
knowing that we have over a dozen artisan partners and their families who rely on our orders as an income generator motivated us to snap out of the shock, and pivot like other small businesses trying to survive this period. we kept production going on all the others we had already placed and assured out partners we would do our best to continue placing regular orders during this difficult period. the majority of our partners work from their own home, so this poses no threat to their well-being.
our hope is that even with closure of all markets, we can continue placing regular orders from the families we work with. we recognize the importance of being good partners, and just as much as we rely on them to make our beautiful creations, they rely on us to sell them on their behalf. a true partnership.
our launch is not what we envisioned, but it's happening, and we thank you for being here with us. stay safe, stay home. and make it cozy friends.
]]>