Verified
Rikki Quintana Headshot 2020.jpg

Rikki founded HoonArts Fair Trade in a blind leap of faith, after retiring from her law career. Starting from “ground zero” as the first person in the US to work on building a sustainable US market for handicrafts from Tajikistan, HoonArts is now a verified fair trade business, working with artisan groups in 3 Central Asian countries. With customers on 4 continents, HoonArts is helping to empower over 100 artisans, most of whom are rural women. Rikki continues to build HoonArts as an easy way to shop ethically and make a difference in the world with memorable handmade fashion and gifts. By partnering with the artisans to bring their authentic artwork to the US market, HoonArts is also building new cross-cultural bridges.

Rikki is also dedicated to sharing the key lessons she’s learned in the trenches of social entrepreneurship, where experts flounder, “business as usual” often doesn’t work and burnout is a daily threat. Solving the difficult problems that social impact businesses tackle takes a different mindset. It also requires being willing to challenge the status quo of today’s business eco-system that centers on competition––a system that rewards the apex predators and destroys the little guys and the environment in the process. Rikki envisions solutions that focus on creating a new, subversive eco-system built on conscious collaboration instead of competition. By working together, we can give power back to the 99%.

Media Pitch

Six years ago I was a retired lawyer, volunteering for a nonprofit that hosts visiting professionals from around the world. At the farewell party for a group from Tajikistan the visitors were giving us gifts of local handicrafts. I had learned during their visit that NO ONE in the US was working to build a market for Tajik products. In my farewell speech, I found myself saying, “I’ll do it.” And thank God I didn’t know what I didn’t know!

It turns out that I didn’t know anything about fashion, design, marketing, sales, social media, websites, or even Central Asia. By February 2020, my business was a verified fair trade business, working with artisan groups in 3 countries, empowering over 100 artisans (mostly rural women), with customers on 4 continents.

If I’m a guest on your podcast, I can share some fascinating stories and key lessons I’ve learned along the way and my “subversive” vision of reinventing the business ecosystem based on conscious collaboration instead of brand-focused competition, including 5 simple ways anyone can help build that new eco-system By working together, even in this new locked down pandemic world, we can give power back to the 99%.

Talking Points or Standard Questions

1. How did go from being a retired lawyer to a fair trade importer working with artisans in Central Asia?
2. By the way, where exactly is Central Asia and what countries do you work with?
3. What had you choose to leave your comfortable retirement after a full law career and take on building a new business with a part of the world that most Americans can’t find on a map? In Simon Sinek’s words, what is your “why”?
4. What have been some of your biggest challenges in building a fair trade business?
5. What has been most fulfilling for you in building the HoonArts business?
6. Tell me more about the artisans you work with.
7. How have you shifted your business during the pandemic?
8. What are the top 3 lessons you’ve learned during your time in the social entrepreneurship trenches that you think are most important for other people who want to make a difference with a social impact business?
9. Why do you call yourself the “Subversive Social Entrepreneur”?

Do you agree to promote your interview?
Mailing List, Social Networks
Social Reach
Mailing List: 663; Facebook: 588 Page Likes; Instagram: 4317 Followers (as of 8-10-2020)
Social Media
Available to conduct interviews via:
Landline Phone, Mobile Phone, Internet Voice, Skype, Facebook Live, Zoom
Available Equipment

2019 MacBook Pro 16″ computer; Shure MV88 Portable iOS Microphone for iPhone/iPad ; I will also be purchasing a professional quality desktop microphone

Interview Availability
Monday 9:00 am - 8:00 pm, Tuesday 1:30 pm - 8:00 pm, Wednesday 2:00 pm - 8:00 pm, Thursday 9:00 am - 2:30 pm, Friday 9:00 am - 8:00 pm, Saturday 10:00 am - 8:00 pm, Sunday 10:00 am - 5:00 pm
Time Zone
MOUNTAIN TIME (DENVER)
Additional notes about availability or scheduling

Would typically appreciate at least 24-48 hours notice.

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Rikki Quintana Headshot 2020.jpg 4 years ago
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