The Trove "Bible"

As we prepare to launch the website, I’m reflecting back on the past ten months… The idea for Trove started with a huge, white 3-ring binder full of printouts of makers and small companies that I had come to admire. When I say “big binder,” I mean BIG BINDER… still today, I call it my bible. It was a labor of love that began in October and lasted through the end of January; the compilation was exhaustive and morphed my initial idea into this amazing online object gallery called Trove.

As I went down the internet rabbit-hole to discover more and more interesting makers, my business plan changed. I knew that I wanted to showcase beautiful, one-of-a-kind design from unique artists that stay true to honoring traditional craftsmanship. I knew that everything I put on Trove needed to be hand-made and made by artists who share the similar values. And as much as an online gallery seemed like the perfect next step; I spent a lot of time figuring out how to differentiate myself from the marketplace’s plethora of high-end online galleries.

One… I wanted to allow the artist to feel “right” about the selling price. In other words, I do not  believe that charging the artist a high commission is the correct way to sell the work of individual producers and small, independent companies. Thus at Trove, the financial model allows the artist to keep more of the profits while some of the “would be” commission is passed on to the client.

Two… I wanted to showcase artists from around the world. I sought out to span the globe in search of unique work and people with interesting stories. It has been so much fun speaking to talented individuals from places like Greece, Japan, and Columbia. I strongly feel as though the collaborative, global environment that we are building at Trove will be inspirational for both artists and pursuers alike.

And three… I wanted to ensure that Trove feels personal to all those that visit: from the artist to the client, and everyone in-between. As such, it is vitally important for us tot share our artists’ stories from the music they find inspirational to their personal design philosophies. I believe that at the base of every interaction is must be a feeling of connection and familiarity. We were quite deliberate with who we reached out to in order to maintain an elevated environment that champions our shared values.  

So as we get ready to share our first group of 25 artists with the world, I hope you’ll find yourself lost in inspiration, motivation, and beauty.