Thank You for Making 2018 Our Very Best Year!
This is a special note to thank you for being HDIF and HDIF-USA's supporter, customer, and friend, and to tell you how much you mean to us.
Without people like you, we couldn't do what we love to do, which is promote economic development by creating sustainable jobs for women (and men) through handicraft enterprise. HDIF's fair trade, handmade products are produced with love and dedication in Armenia's rural villages, small towns, and struggling regions. When you give or receive a product from HDIF, Armenia's breathtaking artisan traditions come to life.
Year End Successes & Highlights:
HDIF opened the first guaranteed fair trade shop in the entire former Soviet Union at Parpetsi Street 13 - two days before the start of Armenia's velvet revolution!
Sales increased 120%!!
HDIF participated in Ambiante International Consumer Goods Fair in Germany and met a customer who ordered 85,000 finger puppets.
Major exports were delivered to Germany, Italy, Norway, Australia, and Spain, not to mention all of the orders from HDIF-USA!
Numerous visits to producer partners helped to enforce the 10 principles of fair trade and continue training in standard business practices.
Share the Love fundraising campaign, created by HDIF-USA, raised $10,000 to support job training and business development for survivors of domestic and sexual violence at the Women's Resource Center.
Fundraising campaign for Equal Rights Equal Opportunity helped the group purchase an office and work space that's handicapped accessible.
HDIF was an "exporting partner" of the Smithsonian Folklife Festival, producing over 2,000 items to showcase Armenian artisans.
HDIF participated in Hartak's Social Enterpreneurship Festival in Gyumri.
HDIF partnered with Armenian United Nations Association for Social Entrepreneurship, Birthright Armenia, Armenia Tree Project, Arm Marathon Foundation, and many more!
HDIF-USA created an e-commerce website for online shopping, email marketing, and a vehicle for tax-deductible donations to benefit HDIF.
HDIF-USA completed its first year of importing and shipping products within the U.S. and Canada.
HDIF-USA participated in 6 festivals and bazaars on the West Coast, with online orders going to almost every state in the U.S.
Happy New Year from some of the gang at the Homeland shop at #Parpetsi13!