Meet Meredith Blair

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Meredith Blair a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Meredith, really happy you were able to join us today and we’re looking forward to sharing your story and insights with our readers. Let’s start with the heart of it all – purpose. How did you find your purpose?

My inspiration to create Artruism Imports began my junior year of college. I was taking business classes and seeking out an internship opportunity. I knew my ideal internship would be with a company that supported women and their creativity, but I was struggling to find an opportunity that felt right for me- and the clock was ticking. A friend introduced me to a local Fair Trade shop called Eternal Threads, and the owner agreed to mentor me. The opportunity fit the parameters of my ideal internship, but as it turned out, it fulfilled so much more- it changed my life.

Prior to my internship, I had no concept of the meaning or mission of Fair Trade. I had so many questions! When the owner explained to me the mission of Fair Trade- to create a world where all workers can enjoy secure and sustainable livelihoods so that they can thrive and have the freedom to decide on their own futures- I only had more questions. I learned that many people around the world, particularly women, are paid little to nothing for the work that they do. These same women create products we buy everyday- clothes, jewelry, shoes, home décor, and more. Because these workers live far away from us, and because they are so far down in a product’s supply chain, they and their situations are invisible to us. Fair Trade’s goal is to shine a light on the people who create the products we buy, so that they are no longer invisible to us. I whole-heartedly embraced that mission and determined that I would someday create a Fair Trade business of my own.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

Running an ethical business is exciting because you are part of something larger than yourself- you are part of a movement that connects people together from one end of the world to the other!

It is also unique because we see every member of the business as vitally important. So much of capitalism is based on a fixed hierarchy of roles, with some viewed as much more important than others. Ethical businesses are structured more like a spider web- everyone may have a different part to play, but every part is respected equally.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

One of the most important skills I have learned- and one of the hardest!- is being a good listener. It has been through feedback from our customers, our artists, and our partners that I have learned the majority of what I know, and I am immensely grateful for their input. I have also learned so much by listening to other business owners and creatives who have paved the way for me- their experience and wisdom are so appreciated.

The other skills that have benefitted me the most are resilience and hope. To keep any passion project going, you have to be willing to hold on for the ride (even when it is bumpy!) and feel hopeful that smoother times are ahead. I have been so grateful to others who have encouraged me when I have been discouraged on this ride.

When I make mistakes, run into obstacles, or experience disappointment, I have found it so helpful to reach out to others for encouragement. None of us do anything great alone, and having a reminder that you are doing well can be the thing that allows you to move forward when you aren’t feeling resilient and hopeful.

All the wisdom you’ve shared today is sincerely appreciated. Before we go, can you tell us about the main challenge you are currently facing?

Balancing awareness about serious issues like enslaved labor while providing hope and practical solutions is a consistent challenge, but it is so important. We live in a world where we are bombarded with news of tragic events and disheartening stories, and it can be very overwhelming! In order to combat this, I have a motto that I live by- do not talk about injustice without talking about improvement. Anytime I bring up the injustices that Fair Trade is combatting, I always follow up that information with either hope or solutions. Whether the improvement is statistics I provide to show that the problem is getting better, or the improvement is a list of helpful ways that we can make real change, I will never speak about injustice and leave it at that. We truly can make a difference!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.artruismimports.com