Fighting Poverty with Entrepreneurship: How Jen Lewis is Connecting Artisans & Consumers in All New Ways

Many of us would love to make a bigger impact on more people, but we aren't sure how. The great news is that our habits and choices as consumers are some of the biggest ways we can be impactful today. There are emerging businesses that are becoming the supplier and marketer for amazing products made by talented people in third world countries. How can we adapt our consumer behavior to make a bigger impact? As entrepreneurs, what can we do to bring about meaningful change in people’s lives? And how can we reward good work? In this episode, Founder and Executive Director of Purse & Clutch, Jen Lewis shares how she is making a difference in the world one purse at a time.   We are connected to the people that make our stuff, even if we don’t know it. Shouldn’t we have a story attached to our belongings? - Jen Lewis   3 Things You’ll Learn in This Episode   The importance of taking baby steps: We might not have the resources to impact 100 people today, and that’s okay. Focus on helping one person at a time and ultimately, all our efforts will add up. How to create positive change as a consumer: We’re all connected to the people who make the products we buy. When we support “slow” businesses that prioritize expertise and quality over mass-produced items, we’re contributing towards someone’s sense of purpose.  Why we should focus on celebrating good work:For entrepreneurs thinking of partnering with local artisans, it’s important to remember we’re not doing so for charity. Instead, we’re doing it to support skilled craftsmanship and amazing work.     Guest Bio-  Jen Lewis is the Founder and Executive Director of Purse & Clutch, a slow fashion brand working to create sustainable jobs for men and women in developing countries - starting from the raw materials and ending with the consumer carrying the most beautiful bag in the room. Jen holds a degree in Chemistry and a Master’s degree in Leadership & Ethics, and in her spare time she enjoys vegetable gardening from seeds with her 2 ½ year old daughter, despite mixed results.    To find out more, visit: www.purseandclutch.com   www.instagram.com/purseandclutch  www.pinterest.com/purseandclutch  www.facebook.com/purseandclutch