hannahskvarla

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Did you catch the interview with business-savvy, super organized, all-around super woman Hannah Skvarla, Co-Founder of The Little Market? If not, no worries! Just keep scrolling down!

It’s hard to write about  The Little Market without doing some little market shopping, aka “research,” for ourselves, so why hold back?

Below are some faves from the fabulous site for your gifting (or personal) pleasure!

bags1. Backpack Poolside | $54: The name says it all! Perfect for the beach and pool days ahead.

2. Poolside Laptop Case | $46: Yes, you should “spring” up your tech accessories too. Couldn’t pick between these two pretties, so I posted them both!

3. Endless Summer Laptop Case | $46

 

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1. Alpaca Baby Mittens | $24: Because cute little hands need cute little mittens.

2. Alpaca Baby Beanie in Grey | $28:  And a cute matching beanie, of course!

3. Lamb | $26: There’s nothing better to snuggle with than a sweet lamb…

4. Owl | $26: Or a small round owl depending on baby’s mood.

5. Pom Pom Garland | $18: Pretty and colorful decor to catch baby’s (and mommy’s) eye. This doesn’t have to be just for kids right? Hanging this in our own room or from our own mantle would be totally acceptable, right?

6. Watermelon Rattle | $12: Cute enough to eat and in pretty summer colors.

7. Polka Dot Baby Beanie in Gray | $28: Too sweet, and even better, neutral! Baby can wear with any outfit, and there’s booties to match!

8. Polka Dot Baby Booties in Gray | $24

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1. Olive Wood Rectangular Board | $40: A sturdy, pretty, and long-lasting board for all your future wine and cheese parties.

2. Honey Pot | $28: I mean, wouldn’t you eat more honey if you had this cute pot to store it in? And, oh my, the drizzle stick! Set it next to your Olive Wood board to drizzle on brie and pear slices, and you’ll have the yummiest and prettiest display.

3. Olive Wood Honey Drizzle Stick | $10

4. Square Striped Tablecloth | $100: Don’t forget the tablecloth. It’s on the pricier end, but the style is timeless, and it’s made of 100% Ethiopian cotton. Luxurious!

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1. Rajastha Block Print Pillow | $40: Light and neutral pillow to pair with it’s Mumbai sibling (below) or pillows of any color. An easy addition to your home decor.

2. Mumbai Block Print Pillow | $40

3. Jasmine Soy Blend Candle | $24: Jasmine just makes me happy! However, if it’s not your scent of choice, fear not. There’s a variety of candles to shop on the site, so you’ll find more than you need to keep up the aroma of your home.

4. Striped Hand Towel in Blue | $30: Blue is my go-to, but if color is a commitment for you, the gray one (#7 below) is a perfect pick.

5. Classic White Trunk, Large | $400: Pricey, but oh-so-chic.

6. Classic White Trunk, Small | $300: If you don’t need something as large and want to keep that extra $100 for yourself (or for another item on TLM), go for the small option. Still just as classy!

7. Striped Hand Towel in Gray | $30

baskets1. Dot Bowl in Yellow | $28 – $32: Bowls, bowls and more bowls! I have a weak spot for woven anything, so narrowing this down to my top four was hard, and I still love so many others. There are more colors and neutrals on the site if pink and yellow aren’t your faves. If they are, click on these links and shop away.

2. Woven Bowl Yellow Dots | $24 – $32

3. Woven Bowl Pink Dots | $24 – $32

4. Dot Bowl in Pink | $28 – $32

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One-of-a-kind buys are the best kind of buys, and there’s definitely beauty in quality. Knowing that we’re getting (or giving) something that we love, and the money is going into the hands of the hard-working and crazy-talented artisans that made it, is a good feeling.

Talk about guilt-free shopping!

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Have you ever dreamt of starting a business that requires you to travel across the globe with one of your best friends, all while creating positive change in the lives of others?

Yes?

Same here!

Hannah Skvarla, Co-Founder of The Little Market, wife, and mama to her one-year-old daughter Liora, is living our dreams and her very own.

While attending the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising (FIDM), where she met her friend and then soon-to-be business partner, Lauren Conrad, Hannah’s ultimate career goal was to find a way to merge fashion and giving back. Lauren, previous star of MTV’s The Hills, and now NYT Best Selling author and designer of her own Kohl’s fashion line, shared the same interest. Together they joined forces to create The Little Market, connecting artisans from around the world to a broader clientele.

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“Starting The Little Market has allowed me to have my dream job!” Skvarla said in our interview last year. “I always loved design but didn’t know how to turn it into a career path. After traveling with Lauren, we decided to start to The Little Market to empower women around the world.”

Hannah, also a member of Human Rights Watch, divulges below on the rewards and challenges of working with friends, her future goals (because, yes, she wants to do more!), and her best advice and tips to staying organized while changing the world.

What is the biggest challenge of running your own business?

The biggest challenge is prioritizing my to-do list. Everything I put on my list is important. From writing customer thank you notes to planning our next trip to designing new products, I really care about everything I do.

Prioritizing is definitely a universal struggle!  Do you have any tips or favorite tools that you use to help you?

Of course!

1) I love the app Asana. It’s an amazing task manager for group projects. I use it to organize my to-do list.
2) I try to complete quick tasks immediately rather than adding them to my to-do list.
3) I like to keep my email inbox as close to empty as possible. If an email simply requires a quick response I try to get to it immediately. For emails that require work, I often file the email in a folder and I add the task to my to do list.

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You have the opportunity to work every day with one of your closest friends. What is the biggest reward of working with a good friend?

The best part of working with good friends is that it doesn’t feel like work. Our small team at The Little Market is very close and I really enjoy working with everyone.

What do you think is key to working together successfully?

For me, the key to working successfully with a friend is realistic expectations. It’s important to work together to determine each other’s role and responsibilities.

 

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While traveling and shopping, what kinds of items or styles are you drawn to for TLM?

I am drawn to items that would make good gifts. I love buying gifts for my family and friends and I like to find items that other people can give as gifts.

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What is your favorite part of your job right now?

My favorite part of my job is meeting with the talented artisans we work with. I love hearing their stories of how our purchases have improved their lives.

You’ve traveled all over the world and seen some of the hardest working women. What does it feel like when you come back to LA, where we have so much, after seeing such struggle and poverty?

Every trip reminds me that I am lucky to live in LA. We often take for granted the privileges that come with living in the US. Most women and girls around the world don’t have the opportunities we do. Each trip motivates me to work harder to help other women earn an income so they can create a better life for themselves and their families.

Hannah_Lauren2What’s your next goal or even a dream that you might have for the business?

I would love to open a brick and mortar store. All of our handmade products are truly works of art and I would love for customers to be able to see each piece in person.

What’s the best advice you can share with anyone dreaming of starting their own business?

I highly recommend working or interning at a company that does work you are passionate about. You won’t even realize how much you learn until you apply the knowledge to starting your business. Change is possible, it is ok to be idealistic!

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Interest and passion can spark a dream, but Hannah proves that dedication, desire, and gratitude will fuel it. Writing thank you cards to customers, appreciating her co-workers, and caring about the artisans she works with, only makes us admire her more!

If you aren’t familiar with The Little Market, read up on the amazing company here before you get your shop on! The work they are doing reaches beyond the artisans and into their communities.  Then, go nuts! You’ll know that you’re getting quality, handmade, one-of-a-kind items, and more importantly, you’re supporting other hard-working ladies around the world.

 

all photos from:

@thelittlemarket | The Little Market on Facebook | TheLittleMarket.com