Cover Photo: Imran Sulaiman/Tatler Malaysia
Photo: Imran Sulaiman/Tatler Malaysia
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The brains behind the female-led e-commerce platform The Artisans Haven, Jade Lee started with just 30 artisans and expanded to more than 1,000 businesses in two years
With 40 years of experience in finance and business management, Jade Lee is someone you would turn to for advice on starting your first business or connecting to the right financial institutions. Before she retired, Lee was the managing director of retail banking at Ambank.
Trading the corporate life for a different pursuit, she co-founded The Artisans Haven in 2020, a digital platform that showcases local handmade goods from over 1,000 artisans and brands, the majority of which are women or women-led.
More: The Artisans Haven's First Physical Showcase In 2021
Above Photo: Imran Sulaiman/Tatler Malaysia
Photo: Imran Sulaiman/Tatler Malaysia
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During the pandemic, many artisans and creatives who lost jobs overnight started their own businesses or micro-enterprises to earn a living. This community of business owners ranged from the orang asli artisans of East Malaysia to artistic urbanites looking to sell their wares online during lockdown. With the help of The Artisans Haven’s affordable e-commerce platform, many of these small-to-micro enterprises were able to increase their monthly income and benefit from the pro-bono business and digital marketing expertise and services provided by the platform’s founding team.
Related: Chryseis Tan's First Beauty Brand LUMI and 3 More Asian Brands To Try
“It’s not easy running a business, which is why we should give local brands the opportunities they need," says Lee. "I’m not talking about merely giving them grants and money. What they need is distribution capabilities, strong business networks, and a space to promote their products to those willing to pay for them.”
This year, Lee has been hard at work keeping up with the rapid growth of The Artisans Haven virtual platform along with the opening of physical branches at Fahrenheit 88 shopping centre and Malaysia Grand Bazaar, among others.
Lee shares how supporting more Malaysian micro-enterprises and artisans can strengthen the economy and create lasting social impact in local communities.
Empowered micro-enterprises and artisans create jobs in the economy
Above A display of local hand-sewn food covers at The Artisans Haven store at Malaysia Grand Bazaar in Bukit Bintang. (Photo: Imran Sulaiman/Tatler Malaysia)
A display of local hand-sewn food covers at The Artisans Haven store at Malaysia Grand Bazaar in Bukit Bintang. (Photo: Imran Sulaiman/Tatler Malaysia)
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"Not all of us can get jobs working for corporations or for the government," Lee says. "When you support small-time entrepreneurs and artisans, their average household income goes up from three digits to four or more. This means they’ll have more working capital. They will be able to produce more, spend more, and employ others, creating new jobs."
See also: 3 Contemporary Malaysian Solid Wood Furniture Brands to Know
Giving local brands more visibility frees them up to focus on their craft
Cherita Chocolate is a female-led brand offering dark chocolate snacks made from locally-sourced cocoa beans
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"Many artisans have skills that have been passed down from their parents or grandparents. They are good at their craft but may not necessarily be good at marketing themselves or using e-commerce platforms. I come from a marketing background, so I like to talk a lot. At The Artisans Haven, we don't just tell but show people the story of who make their products, how they make it happen, and why.
"A bar of soap is just a bar of soap, but if I tell you the story of the orang asli mother who makes it and the impact her business will have on her ability to provide for her family, you're more likely to buy her soap—or at least remember it," says Lee.
Related: How Lorraine Lee From Talee Turned Nautical Knots Into World-Famous Jewellery
Supporting local creates one-of-a-kind, handmade treasures
“Some consider being a small business a disadvantage,” Lee says. “Actually, being small can be an advantage. The goods created by artisans are unique and one-of-a-kind. No two products will be exactly the same, even if they are made by the same artisan. The price of mass-produced products is more or less fixed by the market, but the value of artisanal products is linked to their uniqueness."
Above Photo: Imran Sulaiman/Tatler Malaysia
Photo: Imran Sulaiman/Tatler Malaysia
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We're not compromising on quality by buying local, but supporting Malaysians and receiving a product that’s deeply personal in return.
"We Malaysians love imported goods. But we should also keep an open mind and remember that by buying local, we're not compromising on quality, but supporting other Malaysians and receiving a product that’s deeply personal in return,” she concludes.
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Previously contributing to Esquire Malaysia, Expat Lifestyle and Newsweek, Tania oversees digital stories across Tatler’s key content pillars, also leading the Front & Female platform exploring issues and topics affecting women today.
