Craft Culture: A Channel for Connection

As a craft-inspired company, Mana creates quality products that uphold sincere values and support community resilience.  When we strengthen independent businesses, we uplift people and local economies.

So, what is Craft Culture?

CRAFT CULTURE

Craft Culture is comprised of people and businesses that aim to offer the highest quality products using cultivated skills that preserve artisan methods and sustain people, rather than large corporations. Craft products are made with care and consideration, they are not mass-produced using a ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach.

A few beneficial aspects of artisan crafting:

1. High-Quality Products & Services

With a dedication to process and outcome, craft products are generally of superior quality to their mass-produced counterparts.

2. Preserving Local Character

Often craft businesses highlight the distinctive character of their community. They can bring visibility and value to preserving unique traditions, products, and places from their region which increases local prosperity.

3. Keeping Dollars in the Local Economy

In comparison with big box and chain stores, locally owned businesses keep more money circulating in the local economy, enriching the whole community.

4. Enhancing Community Well-Being

Locally owned businesses build strong communities by valuing the skills and supply chain of their community. This enhances social and economic relationships.

5. Entrepreneurship

Entrepreneurship is a valuable avenue for economic growth with the ability to move people from low-wage jobs into the middle class. It brings a sense of purpose through innovation and ownership.

6. Product Diversity

Small businesses base their offerings on their own interests and the needs of their customers, not on a national sales plan. They generate product diversity through a broader range of product choices.

What you can do to support craft culture

1. Shop Small Businesses

Make an effort to source what you need through small businesses first. Shop online directly through the stores themselves, cutting out giant middlemen like Amazon who take a cut of the profits.

2. Shop Local

When possible buy locally from shops that are run by people in your community. During the crisis, you can likely do curbside pick-up and online shopping.

3. Share Your Story and Write Reviews

Word of mouth can make or break a small business, so if you like something tell people about it. Take a moment to write a review and help these companies improve and grow.

4. Buy Gift Cards

Gift Cards are a great way to share a favored craft company with friends and family, encouraging independent choice of unique offerings.

5. Use Collectives to Find Unique Products

If you live in Hawaii, Shop Small Hawaii and Mana Up Hawaii are two great resources to find local businesses with unique products.

If you live on the mainland you can also shop online sites like Etsy that connect you directly to craft people and their offerings.

Now more than ever we need to come together to support each other to stay strong, be resilient, and to take the actions we can to keep our communities and small businesses alive and well. We encourage you to explore ways you can do this in your community.