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Massachusetts or the USA is proving very difficult

Written on May 23, 2008 by mimecine

Doing something in the United States is more difficult then I imagined, it’s a depressing experience…maybe we have 5 items in the collection and then move back over to Asia.
read on…

From a local cheese maker in northern MA:
Hi, We really don’t have any cheese to sell you and we are two busy for a visit, (we are not open to the public).
have fun, Carolyn

My reply:
Hi there

I just got off the phone with the people at west county cider and we were both speaking in such good terms about your product

what a shame, I am not sure what to say to you actually, every american producer has more or less responded to me about our project with either skepticism (what do I get out of this? what does it cost me?) or a response like yours (I don’t have the time) It’s nonsense.

funny, so many small producers complain to me again and again and again and again how hard it is (it is hard for us too, no salary to speak of for almost 3 years) and we want to support the american producers and guess what! none of them have the time to meet! or the interest! Pretty different from when we did Hong Kong! I think I cam coming to understand more clearly why the United States is in the state we are in, truly depressing but something to learn from it, here we are a small american company trying to support other small american companies and they could care less

at least this starts a dialog of a sort…

thanks very much for your time,

Alisa

In: .

7 Comments

Comments closed

  1. Comment by Carrie S.:

    Oh, this is so frustrating! I’m sorry that you’ve had such a glum response in my home state.

    I’d love to recommend the Sarah Elizabeth Shop in Rockport, Mass. They create block printed textiles that are absolutely gorgeous.

    Sarah Elizabeth Shop
    5 Whistlestop Mall
    Rockport, MA 01966
    http://www.sarah-elizabeth-shop.com

    Good luck on your quest!

    May 27, 2008 @ 7:30 am

  2. Comment by Veronika Baspaly:

    Wow, I’m so surprised and disappointed for you! I own a boutique in Vancouver Canada and every time I go to NY on buying trips we visit your store. If you ever do anything about Canada I’d love to help you in any way I can!! I’ll make time!

    May 28, 2008 @ 2:16 am

  3. Comment by Tim:

    Please don’t give up! If you guys start to lose faith then what hope is there for the rest of us! 🙁

    May 29, 2008 @ 9:24 am

  4. Comment by Ian McFaul:

    Here here!

    So Alisa, were the folks at West County interested or no? Whatabout Westport Rivers?

    What a depressing response from American small-business owners in your own proverbial backyard.

    By the way, that cleaver is sharp indeed! It made short work of my fresh tomatoes to pair with Mozzarella di Bufala. I was wary to keep my fingers away!

    Best

    Ian

    May 30, 2008 @ 2:23 am

  5. Comment by admin:

    Hi there!
    Many thanks for the nice notes.
    People are still missing meetings or not having the time, I am starting to wonder how many things we will have for KIOSK, a few…
    The great news is the people and the places we have gone to are amazing. I am from New Jersey originally and have been going to the Cape since I was 2 and never knew Massachusetts was like this. As far as trips go we are having a great, enlightening time. The people are either Yankee strange and intersting or warm and talkative. Americans in general amaze me more than ever. Now that’s a reason to do this trip. Less about goods but everyone is giving me their political opinions!
    Oh, the people at West County are amazing and we have not made it to Westport Rivers yet. We are heading to the Vineyard today and will be coming back up to do the North Shore and the Cape and some other points in July! Alisa

    May 30, 2008 @ 6:35 am

  6. Comment by Rick Hamelin and Garine Arakelian:

    You can’t meet two nicer people than Alisa and Marco (Marko?). After their visit, my wife and I regretted not thinking of picking up two pizzas and bringing them up to the Hardwick Winery for a vineyard picnic. Hopefully next time we can introduce them to the drooling Mastiff and the frisky goats up there.
    Their direction and energy is inspiring and refreshing.
    We believe that our political and economic climate has done nothing more than sabotage trust and cooperation with the smaller businesses and each individual.
    We can either sink or swim and these two are offering some sort of lifejacket. Jump on board! But you will have to help them paddle!
    Rick

    June 1, 2008 @ 9:54 am

  7. Comment by Adriane:

    Hi Alisa,

    I hope things are working out better for you. how unfortunate people have given you the cold-shoulder…since there really are some amazing, warm, friendly people/places in MA. I just left you a list of some things to check out on your original post and realized another place I should mention: Buzzards Bay Brewery in Southern Ma

    June 3, 2008 @ 2:19 pm