The Word is Spreading....

Global Daughter was featured in this week's Business Examiner. We invite you to read the article below:


Global Daughter aims for worldwide focus on foreign exports
10/27/2008
Source: Business Examiner
Author: Breanne Coats

There are numerous Web sites that sell unique products to customers online. There are also numerous female advocacy sites on the Web as well. What two Auburn natives felt was missing, though, was a combination of these two types of sites.

Global Daughter works with Nepali women designers, painters, tailors, master cutters and jewelers on a regular basis to create products that the business can then sell to Western consumers.

Owners Erika Mosebach and Erin Miller started Global Daughter to empower working women in Nepal. They are in charge of the Web site, www.globaldaughter.com, but all of the products that are sold through the Internet site are produced by women in the Himalayan mountains.
“We started from scratch and are trying to fine tune,” Mosebach said. “We want to give them all the tools to succeed.”

The company uses the phrase, “for women, by women, inspired by all women,” to promote its products.

The site features the following types of merchandise: jewelry, handbags, natural paper, home decor, organic tea and children’s products. From business cards, product tags and screening on merchandise, Mosebach said, women in Nepal not only make the products they sell, but also the various things they use to promote Global Daughter.

When shopping at places with “fair trade” products, Mosebach said, sometimes customers can't be sure if the businesses really are abiding by fair trade practices.

But with Global Daughter, people can rest assured, she said, since either she or her partner will actually be in Nepal helping the women get materials and paying them for their products directly.

In the future, Mosebach and Miller plan to expand Global Daughter to other countries. Their next stop will probably be Cambodia, Mosebach said.

Global Daughter started with Nepal because the two founders had a personal connection there and wanted to do something to help. It is one of the poorest countries in the world and the level of corruption there makes it even harder for money to trickle down to the regular citizens.
Global Daughter aims to get money directly into residents’ hands, specifically women, since they are often viewed as second-class citizens.
While the online boutique’s merchandise is made from products found in Nepal, Global Daughter does not try to make its products “scream Nepal.” Rather, Mosebach said, they are aiming to make their products more marketable in the United States.

The business has especially formed a close relationship with the artisans and management of Janakpur Arts and Crafts Center. This center provides clean working conditions, fair and reasonable working hours and wages. It also provides in-workshop meals to its women workers, according to Global Daughter.

To help get their business rolling, Mosebach has been hosting Global Daughter parties. She goes to people’s homes and shares the stories of its operations and the women it works with from Nepal. People can pay for and receive Global Daughter’s products at these parties.
“We’ve just had a great response,” Mosebach said. “Women love to get together and shop for a cause.”

While the two entrepreneurs do hope they can make some sort of living from the site, Mosebach said it is really more about making change in the lives of Nepali women.

Mosebach and Miller have to deal with a lot of unforeseen problems.

For example, the people in Nepal frequently go on strike. And when they do, no one works, which can stall the online retailer’s business.

Also, if one of the women who makes a particular product gets sick, Global Daughter may just have to go without that product until the woman-producer gets better.

Yet, these issues do not deter Mosebach and Miller from following through with their goals.
“The mission is to hopefully empower women worldwide to lift themselves out of poverty,” Mosebach said.