Mary & Martha, Mongolia
Mary and Martha was founded in 2007 with the express intention of running an ethical, fair and transparent business that has a primary objective of supporting the growth of small and micro indigenous businesses in Mongolia.
Mary & Martha is a company that stands or falls on the products it sells; it has to make a profit to be self sustaining and to have the cash flow to fund the expanding business and those of its artisans. They believe that they should show ethical, fair and transparent businesses can compete head to head with main stream businesses, without major donations and without running at a loss. Ethical, fair and transparent because that is in our DNA and because many said it was not possible in Mongolia. They follow the principles of “Unashamedly Ethical” personally and corporately and adhere to the 10 Fair Trade principles used by the World Fair Trade Organisation (WFTO). They have been members of WFTO since 2011.
Currently all of their business is in the handcraft or semi handmade product sectors. These sectors tend to be non-automated, using hand tools or basic cottage industry type machines and so employs more people to step up production rather than buying more machinery. They try to take skills and cultural aspects passed on from generation to generation and utilize them to make products that appeal to other cultures, without losing the indigenous aspects. But this does not always make a living for people so new skills need to be developed to produce products that a wider audience desires. They encourage a number of our artisans to see themselves as more than hand craft workers - actually artists in their own right, which brings out more self expression.
Mary and Martha contract with their artisans each year, often taking up to 90% of their yearly production through 8 - 10 orders during the year. They encourage them to become self sustaining in relation to finance but they still provide up to 50% advances on orders and often give long term advances so that materials can be bought when available or equipment purchases can be made. No interest is charged on advances. Advances are gradually paid off at a reasonable rate through the purchase of products.
A note from Bill & Irene, owners:
Our hope is that customers buy our products because of the quality and the usability at an affordable price, covering a range of budgets. We hope the icing on the cake is for customers to discover how our business model works and to learn more about the artisans behind the products - an ethical and fair success.
An Encouraging Note from Mary & Martha - September 2020
In August 2020, in the midst of the COVID pandemic, we placed an order for fair trade merchandise from Mary & Martha. In September, we received this email message:
Subject: Staying Alive
Greetings from Mongolia and Mary & Martha
I am writing to you to say "you folk are our heroes". I did not "blind" copy because I'd like you to know who you are and how you have made such a difference in the lives of all our artisans in these difficult times.
Music for the Eyes in the USA, Global Village Nanaimo (via Victoria Global Village) in Canada, Hand in Hand in the UK, Uplift and Fair Trade Downunder in Australia and last but not least Aira (Yokoda Shouten) in Japan.
Our domestic business, like so many, has dropped by about 95% this year due to COVID 19, closed borders and no customers in the country.
Back several months our loans were growing every day
Back several months cash flow was really bad BUT with your Orders to us we have "steadied the boat", we are no longer sinking! We have funds to make it through until about next April, probably without increasing loans, but are basically in hibernation.
Thank you to every one of you. I hope and pray that having stepped up for us, your businesses thrive and you are repaid for your kindness to us.
There has been a cost to staff. We are down to 3 staff from nearly 25. We have one shop open 2 days a week and a second that is contracted to be open all the time. Both are losing money each month but we are close to breakeven on rent and staff salaries.
The amazing news is the staff who have left have all said we kept them longer than they could imagine because we were transparent about the company situation and did our best. All staff have said, when we rehire they want to come back to us even if they have found other jobs. Some have said even now, if we need help they want to work for free - we are humbled by their response.
Our artisans who we partner with are ok just now - we bought all orders we committed to for us to be stocked for this summer, so they have had about an 80% normal year from us. Again they are happy with our communication of our situation and understand that we have done our best. Fortunately most have other small income streams from vegetable growing, keeping animals, making felt for gers and even running small general shops. Our Mongolian Kazakh partner is the worst hit as we have been their only buyer this year - giving them orders of over 60,000 USD and keeping them working for about 7 months. We represent about 50% of their business usually. Now almost all their staff are on furlough. We have high stock levels but of course not of everything and we should be able to give some small orders to our partner as stocks need replacement because of exports. We will do our best for them.
Success and stay safe, control COVID and send your tourists to us!
Bill M
Supporting Artisans the Fair Trade Way
http://maryandmarthamongolia.blogspot.com/