South Cone sets tribal line for Oct.
By Powell Slaughter -- Furniture Today, April 21, 2003
Gardena, Calif. — South Cone Trading Co. will offer at the October market a line of tables and accessories produced by the Yanesha tribe, which lives in the highland rain forests of Peru where the high-end case goods maker sources much of its wood.
The products were developed as part of South Cone's Partnerships and Technology for Sustainability, or PATS, a key component of its Giving Back programs that seek to enrich the lives of people where the company sources materials and makes furniture.
South Cone's main factory is in Peru, and another plant is in Argentina. The Yanesha are one of the native tribes who, through PATS, are learning the economic benefits of preserving the forests as an ongoing source of wood.
"We've created a formula of how to make wood into money by turning trees into beautiful furniture that people in the United States are willing to pay a good deal of money for," said South Cone President Gerry Cooklin.
South Cone will offer around 20 Yanesha-made products in October, including wood stools, platters, chess sets, tabletop accessories and soft goods such as naturally dyed and painted fabrics, pillows, fabric screens, comforters and linens.
"One hundred percent of the profits from the sale of these items are re-invested in PATS," said Amy Smith, director of the program for South Cone.
PATS is using its "Conservation Makes Cents" program to develop the Yanesha's traditional hand-work skills to produce goods suitable for sale in a modern market.
"We took 15 artisans to Lima for a course on creativity to encourage them, teach different standards of quality and to spark ideas," Smith said. "In nine months they have made great strides.... Our goal is to raise family income from an average of $14 a month to $80 a month by 2004."
South Cone sees ecotourism as another economic incentive for indigenous populations to help protect wood resources. The company is arranging small-group treks via canoe and other low-impact transport into the highland rain forests of Amazonian Peru.
"We're working to help the Yanesha develop an ecotourism infrastructure that benefits them," said Einar Elsner, who is organizing the trips for South Cone.
The trips, limited to 10 people due to the sensitive environment, cost $2,500 per person, excluding airfare. "The first trip is scheduled from June 25 to July 6, and we already have seven people signed up," Elsner said. "We'll be visiting some incredibly beautiful regions, and spending time getting to know the local people."
Over the past five years, South Cone has invested more than $500,000 in its Giving Back programs, and plans to keep contributing around $150,000 a year. The company recently received a $165,000 grant to identify new hardwood species for use in furniture manufacturing.
