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From Nepal to Global EnterpriseBy Yasu MaskayAs a small business owner, I am naturally a big proponent of any organization that supports entrepreneurship and helps sustain healthy livelihoods in global communities. When I learned that when my childhood friend, Deepak recently snagged a prestigious retail space in Washington, D.C. for his popular store, Pangea, by submitting a proposal to The World Bank, I was ecstatic. Not only does the store carry gorgeous artifacts, but also helps the creators of these products make a living. A noble thought isn't it? 
What is Pangea?
It is a retail store and cafe located at Pennsylvania Avenue and 21st Street, NW, Washington, DC. It sells high quality and socially responsible products handmade by artisans in developing countries. Pangea carries products from only those producers who pay a fair wage to its artisans/employees and provide safe and healthy working environment. The producers are also required to practice ethical and sustainable business practices. It is also an educational store where customers can scan the barcode on each product in the interactive Kiosks in the store to learn about the country where it is made, the story about the artisans/producers and also can watch video clips how artisans make the product. We also do country day events at Pangea to bring the artisans from that country to demonstrate the art of making their products as well as performing music and dances of that country. The cafe at Pangea serves fair trade and organic tea and coffee, gourmet sandwiches and sushi. How did you get involved in it and how was the name of the company derived? The World Bank called for proposals to open a retail store in its space to promote products from grassroots businesses in developing countries to which it provided assistance. Since my brother and I were interested in helping needy people in developing countries as we also come from a developing country, we submitted a proposal. There was a tough competition but our proposal was selected after a long due diligence process. Thus, we opened the store in May of 2006. Pangea is a Greek word for a single piece of land mass before all the continents were formed. At Pangea, products from all over the world converge at one place. What is your background? Are you an artist as well? I am an engineer but I have a great interest to learn about arts, culture and crafts from various countries. How do you choose the artisans that you represent? We look at different aspects such as social cause, compliance with fair wages and safe working environment, ethical business practices as well as quality and type of products. What other organizations do you work with to ensure that the mission of Pangea is met? The World Bank, International Finance Corporation, Fair Trade Organizations and Artisan groups in developing countries. Tell us little bit more about your hobbies? Travel to different countries and learn about the people, their culture, customs and arts. How many different countries products do you represent? About 50 countries covering Asia, Africa, East Europe and Latin America. 
How do work with small business owners to represent their company? We buy directly from small or grassroots businesses in different countries instead of big wholesalers. Once we select the products and place order, we pay them 50% payment in advance at the time of order so that they can buy the raw materials needed to make the products and remaining 50% when the products are ready for shipment. What is the most fun you've had with your job? Knowing and working with so many artisans from so many countries and being able to help them.  What additional product categories are you planning on adding? Right now we carry jewelry, women and men accessories, home dˇcor, arts and sculptures, stationeries and cards, ceramic dinnerware, toys,holiday ornaments, accent furniture, music CDs, packaged foods. We carry several green products (eco friendly) made of recycled materials and planning to add more of green products. What is one message you'd like to share with the readers of Jade? When you buy a product at Pangea you are not only helping to generate income for the under privileged people in developing countries but also helping to preserve their culture since most of the products are deeply related to their culture. How can one get involved with the mission of Pangea? By buying the beautiful handmade products at Pangea or on its online store www.pangeamarket.com |
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