Trần Ngọc Lan and her cousin run Mây Tre Nhỏ, a small workshop producing baskets and lampshades from bamboo bought in central Vietnam. They signed the Buy Small pledge after realizing that most of their purchasing budget had drifted toward large, convenient wholesalers, even when nearby family-run suppliers offered suitable materials. The pledge gave them a measurable target: one in five supplier dollars to independent businesses. They now record each purchase by supplier and review the tally at the end of the month. In the first six months, 23 percent of their supplier spending went to independent producers, including a local paper maker and a family shop that supplies natural dye. The change has not always meant the lowest unit price, but Lan says smaller orders and closer conversations have reduced excess stock. They plan to keep the target and invite two nearby makers to share delivery runs.
