The next step...

Small Planet Trading will turn 5 soon.  Since we have an active 5-year-old boy living in our midst-- we know how amazing 5 years old is:  full of fun, so much is still new, learning through everything he touches, changing right before our eyes.  Having a business often feels like raising children-- you have high expectations and hopes, you give it lots of love, and you have to trust that all will turn out well in the end.

Since the beginning of Small Planet, back when we were Pachamama, we've been an eclectic group of women with a vision of a retail store but also something more. We started with Fair Trade hand-made imports, mostly gifts for the holidays and grew to include local artists and manufactured products for earth-friendly living.  We've always held ourselves and our artist partners and suppliers to high standards for how people and the earth are treated.  We have hoped to be a sustainable, long term member of the Gorge community.

Life goes on amidst the daily realities of business, and each person involved at Small Planet has seen many life changes over the years-- some planned for and some unexpected.  Change has been the only constant.  So it is not surprising that we find ourselves in the midst of the next change.  If you have visited us at the store recently you may have noticed, or have heard us talk about the latest stage of development.

We continue to work for a sustainable future for Small Planet.  At this moment, Small Planet needs more investment than we are able to offer it.  It needs capital for inventory, marketing and continued investments, and it needs an investment of time.  Because we see clearly what could be, we are offering the business for sale in the hopes that the right person or people will have a vision that includes Small Planet and the investment to grow it to the next stage.

Don't worry, Small Planet isn't going anywhere.  We'll be here, working in the midst of change to offer more products you need and want from amazing craftspeople around the world.  If an outright buyer isn't in the near future, we'll be open to other creative solutions.

How you can help:

• Tell people about the wonderful opportunity to own an established social enterprise.
• Have creative ideas for keeping Small Planet vibrant? We're happy to hear them, send them our way.
• Shop and support Small Planet Trading-- and tell your friends-- We are first and foremost a retail store, so people purchasing our goods is the only way we pay the rent.

Thank you for being on this journey with us.  Again just like parenting, it takes a village to support and grow a vibrant local economy.  You truly do vote with your dollar (or RiverHour) and we appreciate it each time you entrust that vote with us.  --DeLona and Karen