Imizi Basket Studio is a small business selling handwoven baskets and table goods made with a group of independent artisans. It took the Buy Small pledge to make its purchasing choices more intentional and keep more orders with independent suppliers. The team reviewed its quarterly spending and began tracking which purchases went to small local makers rather than large distributors. It also created a short list of local sources for packaging, photography, and display materials, while keeping quality and delivery requirements in place. In the first six months, 23 percent of supplier spending went to independent businesses, up from 14 percent the previous year, exceeding the pledge’s one-in-five goal. The studio says the exercise helped it discover a nearby printer and a family-run packaging supplier it had not previously considered. The owner emphasizes that the pledge is not about choosing on price alone, but about making independent suppliers a regular part of the business plan.
