From Window Rock to Japan, with love
Background
In 2021, Marco Arviso formed his LLC and opened a retail storefront and gallery in Window Rock, Arizona. At his local gallery, he showcases other Navajo artists in a variety of mediums including modern jewelry, painting, beadwork, and much more. Marco’s unique jewelry designs are made with all-natural gemstones, genuine leathers, feathers, and sterling silver. His local gallery also showcases the works of other Navajo artists.
Challenges and Opportunities
There was potential for the company to lose focus on their home market and existing customers by dedicating time to international trade. There are also limited resources on Tribal nations to guide business owners through the process of export and meeting regulations and compliance. Finally, there is the challenge of managing remote relationships that are thousands of miles away.
SBDC Support
The SBDC assisted Marco Arviso with the formation of his LLC and internal processes. The SBDC assisted him with locating a local CPA to help set up and streamline his internal bookkeeping and personnel processes. In addition, the SBDC has connected the business with the Arizona Commerce Authority's Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) program which specializes in helping manufacturers become more efficient. Marco has attended SBDC no-cost training regarding access to capital to help him plan for future growth and expansion.
Results and Future Plans
The company’s sales growth more than doubled in 2022, allowing them to hire additional staff, renovate their storefront, and rent a warehouse dedicated to jewelry-making. The business has been on track from Q1 in 2023 to far exceed their 2022 revenue. Marco has been exporting select pieces to a Japanese-based company, Nepenthes. A group of eight people, including owners and company buyers traveled from Japan to the Navajo Nation to visit Marco and his staff. The company wishes to collaborate with Marco to create a select line of his jewelry to accent their women’s clothing line for their Osaka, Japan store.
