|
Reaching
the global market with PEOPLink
Introduction
 PEOPLink,
a non-profit organization formed in 1995, employs a
grassroots strategy to help artisans in over 22 less
developed countries use the Internet to reach world
markets. Working
at the local community level, PEOPLink has opened
doors for many aspiring artists the world over by
providing them with access to a variety of modern
technologies, including digital imaging and Internet
technologies. With
the goal of empowering artisans in the developing
world through e-commerce, and a commitment to
narrowing the digital divide by offering
self-sustaining techniques for reaching world markets,
PEOPLink fosters the linking of cultures in the
ever-evolving global society.
With a growing network of trading partners
throughout the world, most of which are women,
PEOPLink gives artisans access to virtually every
global market.
Success Stories
While there are a variety of examples that
demonstrate the effectiveness of the PEOPLink’s
e-commerce strategy, there are a couple of ongoing
programs that illustrate how the organization brings
producers and potential buyers together via the
Internet. These
two projects highlight how PEOPLink establishes links
at the community level to help them express the unique
features of their culture through handicrafts, while
helping small businesses gain access to the global
economy.
·
In Kathmandu, Nepal, PEOPLink worked with
Mahaguthi Crafts, the country’s oldest
artisan-focused NGO, to increase their international
exposure and grow their business. Partnering with Mahaguthi in 1998, PEOPLink helped the
NGO’s some 2000 low-income artists improve their
product design, while introducing them to modern
marketing techniques.
Not only did PEOPLink’s efforts help the
aspiring artists gain international recognition, but
also through the use of new technologies Mahaguthi’s
annual sales grew from eight to 10 per cent between
1995-1997 to over 40 per cent by 2000.
By 2001, sales of Mahaguthi’s products
reached USD 450,000, up from USD 125,000 in 1995.
With PEOPLink’s help Mahaguthi also expedited
communications, transaction and distribution
processes, while significantly improving
administrative and production functions.
·
A similar success story took place in New
Delhi, India. PEOPLink
partnered with Tara Projects, which has been working
with local artisans on a variety of alternative
production and marketing techniques since the 1970s,
to help modernize its operations.
After providing training to non-profit
organizations in 1998, PEOPLink helped Tara Projects
create a website and introduced local craftsmen/women
to digital imaging.
Tara Projects quickly embraced the Internet and
e-commerce, resulting in a 20 percent increase in
sales, which lead to over USD 1 million per year.
Tara Projects attributes approximately 10 per
cent of that increase directly to the website.
With PEOPLink’s help the company was also
able to significantly reduce overall marketing and
production costs, allowing them to reach new markets
more rapidly.
The CatGen application
PEOPLink has also
created an innovative software-based e-commerce
platform to help underprivileged artisans overcome the
technology and social limitations of international
trade. CatGen allows artisans to create their own
catalogs independent of technical expertise.
The cataloging software tool offers users an
opportunity to reduce transaction costs by cutting out
the middlemen that stifle their ability to profitably
market their goods in both the real and virtual world
markets. CatGen also offers hosting and product management services to
users. The
software is available for free download
here.
For further information visit the following links:
|
