A discussion about marketing, trends, and artisan sourcing.
This month, I am thrilled to share an interview with Colleen Pendleton, founder of Mercury Handmade. Colleen is a seasoned expert in the artisan sector, with over 25 years of experience. Colleen is another longtime colleague who is an absolute wealth of information in this field.
Colleen's career began with Aid to Artisans/ Creative Learning, where she worked as the marketing director while also opening a partner company in Honduras. She now works with some of the largest retailers, helping them import and strategically incorporating artisanal production into their product mix. Her expertise lies in working with artisan businesses to improve their strategies by analyzing costing, pricing, and marketing, and helping them identify their market orientation, both locally and internationally.
This interview explores importing tips, sourcing strategies, do’s and don’ts, lessons learned, market trends, and best sellers. Enjoy!