A few short years ago, a candle was a candle, a bar of soap was a bar of soap, a necklace was a necklace, and a cookie was a cookie. There was little variety, and the products looked pretty much the same. Fortunately, those days are gone. Today, high quality consumer products are available from artisans nationwide. This article highlights some of the reasons to love artisan made products and why you deserve to have as many of them as possible in your life.
10 Best Things About Artisan Made Products
1. Artisan products are freshly made
Artisans do not make products in huge manufacturing facilities, which tend to pump out thousands of products per minute in an assembly line fashion. Instead, artisans work “bench” style, which puts them in close and intimate touch with the products they are creating. They may employ mixers or power tools, but ingredients and components are prepared and measured by caring hands, not pre-programmed machines or robots.
Human beings touch artisan products at every stage. This freshness is delivered to you, and translates into an incredible feeling when you use the products.
Artisans love to showcase their personalized making process — like in this video from Stella Chroma in Indiana.
2. Artisan products are made with a high degree of “hands on” care
Artisan products are made in small quantities. This means that the utmost care and attention to detail is taken along every step of the making process. Errors caught by discerning eyes are promptly corrected. Artisans stand confidently behind their wares, and if a mistake slips through, they cannot fix it fast enough. The artisan's goal transcends making and selling a product. Artisans want to take care of you.
That type of personal investment in your wellbeing is not available from traditional brands, and you deserve it.
3. Artisans appreciate you, so their products are personally satisfying to buy and use
When you purchase an artisan product, you are investing in yourself by choosing a product that has meaning beyond the commoditized nods provided by big box stores. Artisans take the time to show how much they appreciate you, as demonstrated here.
4. Artisan products are cruelty-free
Artisans generally think globally while they live locally. While their products are made in communities on a “small batch” level, their views about the world and their place in it are anything but small minded. They tend to work overtime to source naturally occurring ingredients and components that can be extracted with little to no harm to the physical environment and the people and animals in it.
5. Artisan products tend to use the most eco-friendly packaging
Artisan products are frequently packaged and shipped in eco-friendly containers and packaging materials. Often times, artisans maintain eco-friendly refill programs. For example, New York's Scrubz Body's Sugar Scrub Prepay Refill Program invites you to return your clean, dry sugar scrub jars and they will pack them with your favorite scrub scents and send them back to you.
6. Artisan products are crafted with intention
This is a big one, but it is hard to describe in words, so I'll show you several examples. These artisan brands ooze intention. Look at the pride they take in the products they so lovingly make for you!
Lodestone Candles in Maryland
The custom designed labels are printed on a genuine restored antique printing press.
Arbria Creations in California
The Matcha Tea Mask featured is being demonstrated by the person who designs and crafts it with her own hands.
Aromaleigh Cosmetics in South Carolina
The mineral makeup is worn by the person who designed and made the products.
Nature Boy Grooming Products in California
The beard wash is being demonstrated on the beard of the person who designs and makes the beard wash.
7. Artisan products are uniquely experiential
When you buy, give, and/or use an artisan product, you enjoy an experience that is hard to put into words but which undoubtedly enhances your life. Just knowing for sure that real live hands touched your product at every stage of the making process is a satisfying reality that has ripple effects across multiple channels.
When you purchase an artisan product, you are not only supporting a small business, you are allowing a small business owner to support you with a one-of-a-kind contribution to enhance your life.
One of the best examples of this is artist and herbalist Rachel Beyer of Portland, Oregon. She designs the products, including the beautiful artwork on the labels. Just look at these candles being made and labeled with Rachel's artwork.
8. Artisan products are made with ingredients and components that are carefully curated
While minimizing costs are just as important to artisans as to traditional businesses, artisans tend to buy ingredients and supplies based on quality and not on price. Of course they have an interest in protecting you from harmful ingredients. Because they make products with their own hands, they have just as much interest in protecting themselves. This dual incentive motivates artisans to choose the highest quality supplies available. This quality is transferred directly into the product you buy and use.
Artisans make high quality products from high quality ingredients and components. You deserve that.
9. Artisan products can be customized to suit your particular tastes and desires
While it is not always possible, artisans are more likely to consider customizing a product exclusively for you. For example, Wisdom Body and Soul makes jewelry using high quality and very beautiful gemstones which she sources from around the world. In addition to her core line, she can customize products using stones representing your zodiac sign, favorite colors, or other special meanings. Check out some of her work here.
10. Artisan products support local communities
Your purchase of an artisan product bypasses multiple middle companies so more of your money goes straight to the product maker and the people who directly support the maker's business. When an artisan product is purchased at a retail store, everything after the retailer takes their share goes directly to the product maker to reinvest in their brand and support their ability to make more of the products we love to love. The purchase supports you and your family, and the maker and the maker's family on a micro level.
Do you love buying and gifting artisan products? How do you feel when you buy and use a product made by a real person instead of a mindless machine? Can you put it into words?
