All the believers were one in heart and mind. Acts 4:32

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2 Creating a Small Business with FMSC MarketPlace Emily Meyer, Retail Operations Manager

3 Beth s Story:

4 Agenda Background of MarketPlace Steps for creating a business program Benefits of your business program Questions

5 Contributors: Children s Cup Heart for Africa Hope Again Women (ACT) 3 Cords (Mission of Hope) Carol Leair carol.leair@ childrenscup.org Items: Beaded serving set Jewelry Janine Maxwell janine@ heartforafrica.org Items: Beaded animals Christmas ornaments Jewelry Richard Mutaawe mutaawerichie@ yahoo.com Items: Grass baskets Magazine jewelry Vine wreaths Banana leaf items Carol Hansen [email protected] Items: Headbands Cloth bags

6 Background Vision: To support artisans around the world and Feed My Starving Children Started: In 2008, MarketPlace began with Haitian bracelets Today: 180 items from 17 artisan partners in 6 countries

7 Circle of Impact Meals are shipped to FMSC feeding partners around the world MarketPlace purchases generate additional funds for meal ingredients FMSC feeding partners provide meals for those most in need in their community FMSC purchases goods to directly support the livelihood of artisan families Feeding partners facilitate small business programs to help artisans support their own families

8 Steps for Creating a Business Program with FMSC MarketPlace Step 1: Goal setting Step 2: Product development Step 3: Team development Step 4: Setting a cost Step 5: Promotion Step 6: On-going

9 Step 1: Goal Setting What is your overall mission? What goals do you have for your small business program to achieve that mission? Define your resources (staff, time, knowledge) Examples of Goals: Children s Cup Heart for Africa Hope Again Women (ACT) 3 Cords (Mission of Hope) Funds to send kids to school. Employ locals Funding for the baby home Teach skills Income source so a family could send their kids to school Support their own programs Foster business To bring life transformation to Haitians with disabilities, as well as at-risk women Support their own programs

10 Step 2: Product Development Look locally Adapt to U.S. interests Design new items Things to consider: Best items are functional Ability to get consistent materials Ease of shipping U.S. product regulations (baby) Partner with FMSC

11 Step 3: Team Development Leader from your organization Local leader Artisans Volunteers Trustworthy 100% committed Business skills What else do you need to tie to your mission? Mentoring? Trustworthy 100% committed Bridge cultural gaps Knows the local laws/customs (tax, export) Who best ties to your mission? Are you going to teach them the skill or do you need them to know the skill? Item design Shipping Customs

12 Artisans Mission Step 3: Team Development Artisans Children s Cup Heart for Africa Hope Again Women (ACT) 3 Cords (Mission of Hope) > Funds to send kids to school > Employ locals > Funding for their baby home > Teach skills > Income source so a family could send their kids to school > Support their own programs > Foster business > To bring life transformation to Haitians with disabilities, as well as at-risk women > Support their own programs > Neediest kids > Anyone interested in making crafts > Neediest moms > Amputees > Deaf > At-risk women

13 Step 3: Team Development Hope Again Women The artisans of Hope Again Women Ministry are central to the workings of the organization: Feed in the schools Distribute meals in their communities Identify children in need so the group can help them One child in a good school and pay for their school fees Contribute to a small fund that the women use for donating for a reason they choose (medical, child, etc.) Teach those outside of the group: farming, child raising, HIV training Help in the bakery Re-invest in a small business

14 Step 4: Setting a Cost Determine your expenses (materials, wage, staff time) Thoughts on wage: Pay by piece (challenge with quality when they just make as many as possible) Day wage (challenge with motivation. Why work more when paid the same?) Hourly wage (challenge with tracking hours and a little on motivation if not tied to the piece) Assess the culture you operate in Assess what other goals you have for the group (education, Bible studies) Consider the implication to your wholesale customer (if they are reselling, they ll want to double your cost) Partner with FMSC

15 Step 5: Promotion First, define your resources Then, choose your channel(s) Other: Boutiques in your area Holiday sale events (2-4 a year) Sell to tourists FMSC MarketPlace Online store = Social media, campaigns, US fulfillment At your events Donor Ambassador Partner with FMSC

16 Step 6: On-going Plan for, execute, and ship orders (every other month) Submit stories for marketing (+awareness +sales) Develop new items (seasons) Partner with FMSC

17 Economic Benefits of Small Businesses Income for your organization (average partner is projected to receive $26K TY) Income for your artisans School fees paid *Results vary on the mission Children s Cup Heart for Africa Hope Again Women (ACT) 3 Cords (Mission of Hope) Money for school fees for 89 children! Families earning income some can now afford electricity! Funding for diapers and formula babies Families earning income Money for school fees Programs are supported Families earning income can afford to feed their families! Some are now able to put their kids in school

18 How a Small Business Brings People Together All I have done is help people come together. Carol Leair, Children s Cup Swaziland is hopeless and full of orphans. This brings people together. Janine Maxwell, Heart for Africa

19 How a Small Business Brings People Together Builds relationships within the artisan group Goats aren t such a big deal Artisans supported the family of a deceased artisan Builds relationships within the community You build relationships with locals You gain a deeper understanding of their culture Spread information from educational sessions Mix socioeconomic groups Builds relationships with your volunteers/donors

20 Other Benefits a Small Business Creates Brand awareness for your organization Skill development (customer service, communications, computer, auto, baking, business skills) Changing the perception of the individuals Pride, optimism and empowerment Unemployment is 80%. So if the kids don t have parents, how do they pay school fees? It s not about teaching kids to bead spoons. For the first time, these high schoolers live. They can do something to positively influence their future. - Carol Leair, Children s Cup Discipleship

21 Let s Begin! Stop by the MarketPlace table me: [email protected] Call me: