How Does a Home-Based Craft Business Showcase its Products on International Markets?
One answer is through a private sector-driven trade support network, an example of which is found in the Canadian province of British Columbia. Businesswoman Barbara Mowat has set up a process that has given over 5,000 small businesses the chance to launch their gifts and household items on the international market. Peter Hulm interviewed Mrs Mowat about her experience of building up a network of small home-based businesses. Interview by Peter Hulm Several years ago, the Canadian province of British Columbia (B.C.) took the unusual step of supporting a private sector effort to enable home-based gifts and handicraft businesses to present themselves to potential global buyers at a special wholesale traders’ show. The idea was the innovative contribution of Barbara Mowat from Abbotsford, B.C. For 15 years she taught human relations before setting up what became a family business with her two daughters and son. She called the company Impact Communications, and apart from specializing in ma
