The Little Market

What The Little Market does

The Little Market is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2013 by Hannah Skvarla and Lauren Conrad, originally launched as an online fair trade shop and later expanded into a brick-and-mortar store in Pacific Palisades, California from 2018 to 2023. The organization curates and ethically sources handmade goods from over 100 artisan and producer groups across more than 35 countries, with product categories spanning home décor, baskets, bags, dinnerware, kitchen and table linens, bath and spa, jewelry, accessories, holiday décor, babies and kids items, gift wrap and stationery, and kitchen and pantry staples. Its stated mission centers on supporting dignified work, fair wages, and the preservation of traditional cultural techniques such as kantha embroidery, backstrap loom weaving, Tenango embroidery, rattan weaving, and hand-blown glass.

Following a 2023 business model transition, The Little Market no longer sells products directly to consumers through its website. Instead, it operates as a B2B facilitation platform connecting wholesale buyers, retailers, and corporate gifting programs directly with individual artisan and producer groups; the website now serves as a catalog archive and discovery layer rather than a transactional storefront. Corporate gifting services and related candle, spa, and pantry offerings have been transitioned to long-standing partner Prosperity Candle, a social enterprise that has crafted small-batch candles for the organization since 2014. The organization has generated over 1.6 million hours of dignified work for artisan groups over its operational history.

The Little Market's customer base is split between two primary segments: wholesale buyers (retailers, gift shops, and corporate buyers seeking verified fair trade artisan products) and the artisan and producer groups themselves, whom the organization supports in reaching larger markets. The operating model is grant- and donation-supported nonprofit operations augmented by B2B facilitation revenue and channel partner income via Prosperity Candle, with no disclosed external investment or equity ownership. Headcount is reported in the 11–50 employee range, and the organization has added a Chief Operating Officer (Caitlin Beas) and Chief of Staff (Laura Toomey) to support the post-2023 operating model.

Name

The Little Market

Legal name

The Little Market

Website

https://thelittlemarket.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Little Market is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that connects wholesale buyers and retailers with over 100 artisan and producer groups across 35+ countries, facilitating fair trade sales of handmade home goods, accessories, and gifts after pivoting from direct e-commerce to B2B facilitation in 2023.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Fair Trade Artisan Goods Sourcing

NAICS

Gift, Novelty, and Souvenir Retailers (45942), Sporting Goods, Hobby, Musical Instrument, Book, and Miscellaneous Retailers (459)

SIC

Retail-Miscellaneous Shopping Goods Stores (5940), Retail-Miscellaneous Retail (5900), Retail-Apparel & Accessory Stores (5600)

akta.pro primary industry

Local Artisan, Handmade & Craft Gifts Retail (CRALAJAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Seasonal & Holiday Craft Supplies Retail (CRALACAI), Kids & Baby Specialty Department Stores (CRAGAGAD)

Keywords

• Fair trade marketplace
• Artisan goods sourcing
• Wholesale artisan platform
• Handcrafted home decor
• Ethical product sourcing

Headquarters

HQ city

Los Angeles

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. B2B Wholesale Connections: The Little Market connects wholesale buyers and retailers directly with artisan groups. The organization facilitates transactions and supports the reach of artisan-made goods without taking a direct sales commission. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, revenue supports operational costs and mission activities.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

The Little Market is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that operates a B2B connection platform linking wholesalers, retailers, and large buyers directly with artisan and producer groups in underserved communities worldwide. Its website functions as a catalog archive of ethically sourced, fair trade, artisan-made goods spanning more than 35 countries and 100+ artisan groups, covering categories including glassware, bags and totes, baskets, blankets, dinnerware, kitchen linens, bath and spa items, pantry goods, stationery, babies and kids items, accessories, jewelry, and holiday décor. The organization no longer sells products directly to consumers and instead facilitates introductions between wholesale buyers and individual artisan cooperatives.

Product overview

The Little Market is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that operates as a B2B marketplace connecting wholesalers and buyers with artisan and producer groups in underserved communities worldwide. The company no longer sells products directly to consumers through its website; instead, it directs buyers to its catalog archive—a decade's worth of curated artisan-made goods spanning categories including Glassware + Barware, Bags + Totes, Baskets, Blankets + Pillows, Dinnerware + Serveware, Kitchen + Table Linens, Bath + Spa, Kitchen + Pantry, Gift Wrap + Stationery, Babies + Kids, Accessories, Jewelry, and Holiday Décor. The organization has worked with over 100 artisan groups from more than 35 countries and generated over 1.6 million hours of dignified work. Its Corporate Gifting services have transitioned to Prosperity Candle.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Catalog Archive An archived collection of ethically sourced, fair trade, artisan-made goods that The Little Market curated from underserved communities worldwide over nearly a decade. The archive serves as a reference catalog for wholesalers and buyers to connect directly with artisan groups.
• Corporate Gifting (via Prosperity Candle) Corporate gifting services offering candles, spa goods, reusable totes, custom totes, and assorted décor, dining, and pantry staples originally offered by The Little Market, transitioned to Prosperity Candle, a partner social enterprise that has crafted candles for The Little Market since 2014.

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Prosperity CandlecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2014Prosperity Candle is a social enterprise that has worked with The Little Market since 2014. They hand-craft small-batch candles using recipes originally created for The Little Market. In 2023, The Little Market transitioned its Corporate Gifting services to Prosperity Candle, which now handles candles, spa goods, reusable totes, custom totes, and assorted décor, dining, and pantry staples.
• Domino MagazineminorOthersThe Little Market has been featured in Domino Magazine as part of media coverage highlighting ethical brands and fair trade products.
• E! NewsminorOthersThe Little Market has been featured in E! News coverage about celebrity-founded brands and ethical shopping.
• Hollywood ReporterminorOthersThe Little Market has been featured in Hollywood Reporter coverage about lifestyle and ethical brands.
• House BeautifulminorOthersThe Little Market has been featured in House Beautiful magazine as part of coverage highlighting home décor and sustainable brands.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Ten Thousand Villages: A long-established fair trade nonprofit retailer sourcing handcrafted goods from artisan groups in 30+ countries. Directly comparable to The Little Market in mission, supplier base, and gift/home product assortment.
• NOVICA: An online fair trade marketplace connecting global artisans with buyers across home décor, jewelry, and accessories categories. Comparable in marketplace model and artisan supplier network structure.
• SERRV International: A nonprofit fair trade organization partnering with artisan cooperatives worldwide to sell handcrafted goods through catalog and wholesale channels. Closely aligned in mission, nonprofit structure, and B2B/wholesale orientation.
• The Citizenry: A direct-to-consumer home goods brand partnering with artisan groups globally to produce limited-edition collections. Comparable in artisan supplier model and premium home décor positioning.
• Goodee: A curated marketplace for ethically sourced home goods partnering with artisan makers across the world. Directly comparable in artisan supplier curation and home décor category focus.

Emerging players

• Made Trade: An online marketplace curating ethically made fashion, home, and accessories from global artisans and fair trade producers. Comparable in ethical sourcing and curated marketplace model, though for-profit.

Regional players

• Prosperity Candle: A social enterprise partner since 2014 that now handles The Little Market's candle, spa, and corporate gifting lines. Comparable in mission-driven artisan production, and a strategic commercial relationship.

Others

• Fair Trade Federation: The trade association representing verified fair trade enterprises in North America. Comparable as an ecosystem participant that The Little Market could leverage for buyer introductions and certification credibility.
• Nest: A nonprofit dedicated to growing small artisan businesses globally through mentorship, market access, and handmade certification. Comparable as a mission-aligned ecosystem participant supporting artisan enterprise development.

Broad incumbents

• Eileen Fisher (Renew): A sustainable apparel brand with a Renew take-back and resale program. Comparable in mission-driven, circular, and ethically sourced positioning, though operating at much larger scale in apparel rather than home goods.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/thelittlemarket
• Facebookfacebook.com/shopthelittlemarket
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-little-market

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Little Market