Tips for Becoming an Online Entrepreneur: Owning a Jewelry Store
Today's I Want to Be features Tracey Krause, who is a Canadian currently working and living in Ecuador. In 2012, she moved with her husband and two kids to Cotacachi, a leather making town in the Andes mountains.
Since she and her husband had children, it
has been their goal as parents to move with their children to another country
to show them a different culture, learn a new language, and share some
adventures. She says Ecuador has been a
wonderful choice. They have enjoyed
exploring its mountains, rainforest and lovely beaches.
While in Ecuador, Tracey has also been
pursuing her passions to work in fair trade and to help preserve the rainforest
and has been able to combine that with her love of all things handmade through
her shop, Artisans in the Andes. Find
out how to connect with Tracey at the end of this article.
How long have you had your business?
The website
for Artisans in the Andes went live in December of 2012. Since then it has grown a great deal from a tiny shop with
only a few offerings to one with a wide selection of the best tagua and acai jewelry.
What led you to pursue it?
Initially I
came to Ecuador to pursue my dream of helping women start their own businesses,
most likely through microfinance. When I got to Ecuador, I found that there was
a microfinance bank on every corner and that debt had become a significant problem
amongst the local poor. Microfinance wasn't a good fit for me.
After
settling here and learning about the culture and business practices, I started
to see that there are many women working very hard for very little return. The
lack of education and low access to technological advancements has kept
artisans from expanding their businesses. My purpose in starting Artisans in
the Andes is to give local artisans access to the worldwide market and to
ensure that they get fair prices for their beautiful work. Artisans in the Andes gives the
artisans involved a way to jump over the hurdles they face in expanding their
business and making it profitable.
I am also very interested in the environment and specifically the Amazon rainforest. Most of the items that I offer on Artisans are made from seeds and nuts that are sustainably sourced from the Amazon. People harvesting tagua trees, for example, make more money per acre than burning or cutting down the rainforest for alternative purposes such as raising crops or animals.
Artisans in the Andes combines my passions for helping the poor, the environment and handmade crafts - I can't believe I got it all into one business!
I am also very interested in the environment and specifically the Amazon rainforest. Most of the items that I offer on Artisans are made from seeds and nuts that are sustainably sourced from the Amazon. People harvesting tagua trees, for example, make more money per acre than burning or cutting down the rainforest for alternative purposes such as raising crops or animals.
Artisans in the Andes combines my passions for helping the poor, the environment and handmade crafts - I can't believe I got it all into one business!
Are you full time or part time? If
part-time, do you anticipate switching to full time?
I work part
time on Artisans, about 4 hours a day, 5 days a week. I also am raising two
kids, learning Spanish and involved in a local charity that gives scholarships
to children of the poorest families. Throw in a little traveling and new
friends, and I am pretty busy. At this point I don't anticipate switching to
full time, but I am not ruling it out as the business grows. I would also
consider taking on a local partner and training her.
How do you market your business?
Marketing
is the most difficult aspect of the business for me so far, and I am a long way
from mastering it. Right now I am going through a process of trying a variety
of different things and then evaluating what works best.
I am quite active on
social media, especially Twitter and Pinterest. I am working with Google
Adwords. I have started a blog (TheEarthFriendlyFamily.com) with the hope of
connecting to people with similar interests to me. There are many people who
are interested in green products and fair trade, and I am hoping to interest
them in goods beyond coffee and cleaning products.
What is your favorite part of the
business?
I love to
work with the artisans, learn about their lives, and meet their families.
I enjoy seeing the new work and learning about the processes involved. I am
often saddened by the deep poverty, but also uplifted by an artisan's dignity,
hope, and craftsmanship.
What one question do you get most from people
about your business?
I often get asked how I find my artisans. But that came together easily. I have a deep passion for handmade, handcrafted items. I live in a small town in the Andes of Ecuador, surrounded by artisan villages. Each village/town has its own specialty. Cotacachi's specialty is leather work, and I offer leather bracelets from a local leather worker. Another town specializes in tagua, and I work with several artisans there.
I often get asked how I find my artisans. But that came together easily. I have a deep passion for handmade, handcrafted items. I live in a small town in the Andes of Ecuador, surrounded by artisan villages. Each village/town has its own specialty. Cotacachi's specialty is leather work, and I offer leather bracelets from a local leather worker. Another town specializes in tagua, and I work with several artisans there.
What one myth or misconception do you want
to dispel about the work you do?
People have said that I must
be very brave and have a huge risk tolerance, to move to another country and
start a business. I don't see it that way at all. I am pretty
ordinary with fears and anxiety like everybody else. I refuse to let fear stop
me from living a life consistent with my dreams and ethics.
What advice do you have for others who
want to get into a similar opportunity?
Get
started! Take at least one step, even if it's really small, everyday. Accept
that some steps will be mistakes and learn from them. Starting a business can
be very fast and inexpensive these days. If you would like to import goods from
Ecuador, contact me, and we can see if we can come up with some ideas.
What is the first step?
The first
step is to identify your own unique beliefs and passions, then start moving
your life in a direction that is consistent with them.
What
websites or books do you recommend for tips?
Steve Chou from MyWifeQuitHerJob.com has been a tremendous resource and mentor for me.
Steve Chou from MyWifeQuitHerJob.com has been a tremendous resource and mentor for me.
You can learn more about
what Tracey does at her website,
Artisan in the Andes, and on her bog, The Earth Friendly Family. You can also find her on Pinterest, Facebook, and Twitter.
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