Results:
Over six year--1993 to 1998--conceptualized, designed and patterned 75 unique products. Between 1994 and 1998, produced 6,647 natural cowhide leather products. Earned $437,490 via retail, wholesale and mail order sales.
Over six year--1993 to 1998--conceptualized, designed and patterned 75 unique products. Between 1994 and 1998, produced 6,647 natural cowhide leather products. Earned $437,490 via retail, wholesale and mail order sales.
Answers about why, and who, are best explored in conversation with good food and libations. Here, though, is the proper place to give answers about the enterprise's where, when and how--how often, many and much.
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For decades (1950's to the present), cattle ranching and beef production have been / are pillars of Paraguay's economy. Consequently, and logically, that agricultural industry fascilitated two adjacent enterprises: leather tanning and crafting.
The majority of Paraguay's tanneries use organic materials to convert hides into undyed--"natural"--leather. The beauty of undyed leather is that it will gradually darken in hue through exposure to sunlight. Thus, each crafted item will have a unique appearance based on where and how it is used. |
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What would become a nine year odyssey, began by taking a chance . . .
After an exhaustive campaign to find an export quality production company, in September of 1992 I spent (invested?) the majority of my Peace Corps "readjustment" fund to buy a stock of leather goods from a firm in San Lorenzo, Paraguay. That first shipment arrived in Seattle (via air cargo) a fortnight after my close-of-service / return to the US.
The entire inventory of purses, totes, backpacks and luggage--augmented by one re-order--was sold via one house-party and several week-ends at the Fremont Christmas Market. And that's how . . . an enterprise and adventure began.
After an exhaustive campaign to find an export quality production company, in September of 1992 I spent (invested?) the majority of my Peace Corps "readjustment" fund to buy a stock of leather goods from a firm in San Lorenzo, Paraguay. That first shipment arrived in Seattle (via air cargo) a fortnight after my close-of-service / return to the US.
The entire inventory of purses, totes, backpacks and luggage--augmented by one re-order--was sold via one house-party and several week-ends at the Fremont Christmas Market. And that's how . . . an enterprise and adventure began.
In the workshop:
Products designed: Products produced: Products sold via: Revenue: |
72 days (July 1 - September 10)
Fifteen (15) 490 Fremont Market / FSM Store (Jan - Jun) & Broadway Market (May - Dec) Retail = 100% |
Enhancements / expansions:
- May 1: Opened a retail cart at The Broadway Market
- July 1: Organized, funded and created a production workshop
In the workshop:
Products designed: Products produced: Products sold via: Revenue: |
33 days (June 21 - July 23)
Twelve (12) 1,341 (One shipment, 216 pieces, stolen from the MIA air cargo warehouses) Broadway Market (Jan - Apr) & Westlake Center (Apr - Dec) Retail = 100% |
Enhancements / expansions:
- January: Acquired export and import bonds / licenses to clear shipments through Paraguayan & US Customs
- April: Opened retail cart at Westlake Center
- September: Entire cargo of GLC product stolen from the air cargo warehouse in Miami
In the workshop:
Products designed: Products produced: Products sold via: Revenue: |
60 days (January 1 - March 1)
Twelve (12) 1,191 Westlake Center (Mar - Dec), Pier 57 (May - Sep), mail order & wholesaling Retail = 96% (WC: 91% P57: 9%); Mail order = 3%; Wholesaling = 1% |
Enhancements / expansions:
- May: Opened a store at Pier 57 (The Bay Pavilion)
- September: Closed store at Pier 57
In the workshop:
Products designed: Products produced: Products sold via: Revenue: |
45 days (January 10 - February 24)
Sixteen (16) 1,850 Westlake Center (Mar-Dec), mail order & wholesaling Retail = 95%; Mail order = 4%; Wholesaling = 1% |
Enhancements / expansions:
- May: Created tri-fold, full color product catalog
- December: Product profiled in Showcase magazine
In the workshop:
Products designed: Products produced: Products sold via: Revenue: |
43 days (January 15 - February 26)
Eleven (11) 1,676 Westlake Center (Mar-Dec), mail order & wholesaling Retail = 88%; Mail order = 5%; Wholesaling = 7% |
Enhancements / expansions:
- July: Product profiled in Showcase magazine
- August: Presented products at the San Francisco International Gift Fair
- December: Product profiled in Showcase magazine
In the workshop:
Products designed: Products produced: Products sold via: Revenue: |
42 days (March 5 - April 15)
Nine (9) 589 Westlake Center (Jan-Feb, Apr - Sep), mail order & wholesaling Retail = 81%; Mail order = 6%; Wholesaling = 13% |
Enhancements / expansions:
- January: Presented products at the (winter) Seattle International Gift Fair
- August: Presented products at the (summer) Seattle International Gift Fair
In mid-August (1998), all cart vendors were informed that Westlake Center would be closing their specialty (cart) leasing operations by the end of of September.
In the workshop:
Products designed: Products produced: Products sold via: Revenue: |
No
None (0) 126 Fremont Sunday Market (Jun, Jul & Dec), mail order & wholesaling Retail = 45%; Mail order = 22%; Wholesaling = 33% |
At a time when a domain name cost $70 and obtaining a three page website cost $1,500 . . . made an attempted to move the business online while selling off all remaining inventory to our mail order customers.