但是，如果你能买到世上仅少数人才有的东西——而且同时又帮助妇女养家糊口，并给她们的社区创造了就业机会，保存了她们的文化，你会做何感想呢？

请浏览#chooseartisan，你也许能做到这些。

手工艺品企业是创意经济的核心，它把我们和世界各地的人和文化联系在一起。这个市场相当大且还在不断发展。仅在过去十年中，手工艺品的国际贸易量翻了一番，达到每年320亿美元。

更重要的是，这些企业可以在最需要的地方推动社区的可持续发展。在世界许多地方，手工艺行业是仅次于农业的第二大雇主。而且，据玻利维亚一家公平贸易工艺品公司的业主帕特里夏·马尔多纳多（Patricia Maldonado）说，对于需要养家糊口的妇女来说，这关系着她们是身陷贫困还是有一份像样的收入。

好处还不仅于此。投资于手工艺人也保护了独特的文化传统，这些传统正在面临被机器制造的低质产品替代的危险。

不仅选择手工艺作品，你也可以成为手工艺者——要领如下：

马尔多纳多在大学毕业后回到玻利维亚时，想与全世界分享自己国家手工艺人的创作和技能。于是，她开了一家公司，专门出口手工编织的服装和工艺品。

马尔多纳多最近被国家女企业高管协会（National Association for Female Executives）命名为“美洲企业家”（Entrepreneur of the Americas），她谈到作为一名手工艺品创业者的成功经验。

怎样寻找资金……

我总是尽量避免借银行的高利率贷款。所以，我的建议是，首先找家人或合作伙伴。其次可以去找为妇女项目提供援助的国际组织。他们的帮助可能有附加条件，但你还是会得到比银行更好的待遇。

怎样寻找客户……

打开市场的最佳途径之一是参加专业展会。你在那里一定会找到想要的客户。一旦你有了几个好客户，如果你也有好的产品，而且你的服务无可挑剔，那你就会慢慢建立起口碑，客户会蜂拥而来。

怎样避免失败……

我认为，很多人失败的原因是因为他们与客户打交道时太不正规，没有表现出认真扎实的承诺。很重要的一点是，要使每一位客户觉得他（或她）是最重要的，并且绝对不作无法兑现的承诺。很根本的一点是，运作计划要基于时间和能力的现实，从而避免失败。

怎样管理团队……

手工艺制作是大家合作的结晶。重要的是，千万不要感到自己在团队中高人一等。要有开放的心态，向大家学习。永远面向每个人，无论她是谁。永远不要显示或说你需要忙更重要的事。

怎样平衡工作和家庭生活……

你一天的时间永远也不够你完成所必须做的工作和与家人共度时光。因此，让你的家人也参与进来。让你的孩子和丈夫帮助你。与他们分享你对工作的热爱，并让他们也喜爱你的工作。

怎样判断是否走对路……

当一名手工艺品企业家开始发现她的工作能为他人创收并产生有意义的影响时，而且她也在激励身边的人成为创业者，那么她就可以肯定，她现在的路子一定对头——她找到了生活的目的。

You’re looking at a $32 billion business

Where did you buy your clothes? What about your furniture? If you’re like many people, chances are you went to a department store or discount house and bought the same pair of jeans or coffee table as thousands of others.

But what if you could buy something only a few people in the world have — and at the same time help women support their families, create jobs in their communities and preserve their culture?

You can, when you #chooseartisan.

Artisan enterprises are at the heart of the creative economy, connecting us to people and cultures around the globe. They represent a sizable — and growing — market. In the last decade alone, international trade in artisan goods has doubled to more than $32 billion a year.

More important, these enterprises can drive sustainable community development in places that need it most. In much of the world, the artisan sector is the second-largest employer after agriculture. And that can make the difference between poverty and a livable income for women who support their families, says Patricia Maldonado, owner of a fair-trade handicrafts company in Bolivia.

That’s not the only benefit. Investing in artisans also preserves unique cultural traditions that are at risk of being replaced by lower-quality, machine-made products.

Don’t just choose artisan, become one — here’s how

When Maldonado returned to Bolivia after university, she wanted to share with the world the creativity and skill of her country’s artisans. So she started a company that exports hand-knit clothing and crafts.

Recently named “Entrepreneur of the Americas” by the National Association for Female Executives, Maldonado shares her advice on succeeding as an artisan entrepreneur.

On finding funding …
I always try to avoid high bank interest rates. So my advice would be to approach family or partners first. The second-best option would be international organizations that offer support for women’s projects. They may come with conditions, but they’ll still be better than what you could get at a bank.

On finding customers …
One of the best ways to find markets is to attend specialized trade fairs. There you’ll always find the customers you are looking for. Once you have a couple of good clients, and if your product is good and the service you provide is impeccable, word will spread, and customers will flock to you.

On avoiding failure …
I think a lot of people fail because they are too informal with clients and don’t demonstrate a serious commitment. It is so important to make each and every client feel like he or she is the most important one, and to never make a promise that can’t be kept. Planning work based on realistic times and capacities is essential to avoiding any possible failure.

On managing a team …
Artisan handiwork is the result of many hands working together. It’s important that you never feel superior to anyone on your team. Be open to learning from them. And always be available for everyone, no matter who it is. Don’t ever show or say you are busy with more important matters.

On balancing work and family …
The hours of the day will never be enough for the work you have to do and the time you want to spend with your family. So involve your family. Have your kids and husband help you. Share the love of what you are doing with them, and make them love it too.

On knowing you’re on the right track …
As soon as an artisan entrepreneur starts finding that her work is generating income and meaningful impact, and that she is inspiring those around her to also become entrepreneurs, she can be sure that what she is doing is absolutely right — that she has found the purpose of her life.