Pracownia Splot i Forma is a Łódź design studio producing short-run fabric accessories and display pieces for local shops. Managing director Zofia Zielińska took the Buy Small pledge because the studio wanted its purchasing choices to support independent suppliers, not just the largest vendors with the easiest ordering portals. The team set a practical target: at least one in every five supplier złoty should go to independent businesses. It began mapping spend by supplier size and identifying local printmakers, packaging makers, and repair services that could meet its quality needs. In the first six months, 23% of supplier spending went to independent businesses, up from 14% in the preceding half-year. One new partnership with a neighborhood screen printer also shortened a sample run by four days. Zofia says the target did not mean choosing on price alone; it prompted the studio to compare service, lead time, and craft alongside cost, then build more resilient relationships.
