Your Name: Mary Mitchell
Business Name: Made & Told
Type of Business: Social Enterprise
Business Location: United Kingdom
Reason for starting
Made and Told was founded in September 2012. We sell handcrafted homeware made by artisans and craft cooperatives in Central Asia, alongside stories from the cultures and contexts in which they were made. We sell handcrafted homeware with a story. All our products are sourced directly from the artisans, and 50% of our profits are donated to organisations working with artisans and entrepreneurs in Central Asia. Our goal is to partner with local organisations to benefit thousands of artisans through receiving training and business development opportunities. We want to generate income for craftsmen and women and give them the opportunity to have their stories heard and their work admired all across the world. Although we work with artisans of both genders, our focus is on empowering women to earn a living and break the cycle of poverty, through preserving their local traditions and crafts.
How do you define success?
Success is making a tangible difference to the world, and to the lives of other people.
What is your top challenge and how have you addressed it?
As we are only starting out, our biggest challenge is marketing and increasing the profile of the brand. We are using social media to address this, and we’re targeting homeware bloggers in the UK.