Category: Merchant Stories
Dan and Mal, Uphill Designs: crafting products with a human connection
Dan Sedlacek had a passion for making things. This, combined with his love for hiking and a desire to honor his grandmother’s memory, pushed him to leave his stable career...
Robyn Bradley, Handmade: working through anxiety as a business owner
Growing up with an engineer as a father, Robyn Bradley was encouraged to have an analytical mind. Robyn’s shop, Handmade in La Conner, Washington, is the result of a lifelong...
The Caffeine Experience: The Café Serving Up Second Chances To Ex-Cons
Singaporean social enterprise The Caffeine Experience is a home for ex-offenders, a place where ex-inmates are accepted despite their pasts. Its co-founder, Matthew Poh, who is an ex-convict, is helping...
Kellie Phelan, The Works: building community at Seattle’s DIY School
When a stressful career-related health crash sent Kellie Phelan on the search for more meaningful day-to-day, she discovered that her passion for making things by hand fulfilled her local community’s...
Prana Chai: Building Big Chai Business from a Side Hustle
Mario loved chai so much he started a side hustle to share his love with the world. After years of dedication and difficulties, he was finally able to focus on...
Sara McIntosh: Founding a School, Finding a Community [Chicago School of Shoemaking]
Sara worked by herself as a one-woman shoemaking business. When she finally decided to pass on her skills, she founded a school instead – and found a community of warm...
Khadi London: Fabrics with a difference
Kishore Shah always had an interest in changing the world for the better. Here’s how he found the power to make an impact by starting social enterprise, Khadi London. Here...
Stephanie, SCOOP Marketplace: Balancing sustainability, business & family
Stephanie Lentz opened Scoop Marketplace in Seattle to ‘normalize zero-waste grocery shopping and teach people how to walk gently on the planet’, and to create a more financially independent future...
Hungry Nerds: Darren’s path from foodie to chef
Darren’s passion for food led him to leave his radio job to focus on putting smiles on customers’ faces. Here is the story of Hungry Nerds. When Darren Wee started...
Cambodia Knits: Helping one stitch at a time
Monika wanted to make a direct impact on the impoverished villages around her in Cambodia. To make a difference, she started social enterprise Cambodia Knits. Here’s her Merchant Story. Originally...
