Name & role within the business:

Ali Coulibaly, Owner

Name of business:

Mande Goods

Industry:

Home goods

Brief description of the goods/services you provide:

We offer ethical handmade goods, ranging from home decor items to fabrics, and jewelry.

Location & markets you serve:

5901 Bramble Avenue, Cincinnati 45227.  I serve the Madisonville market, but also Oakley, Mariemont, and Hyde Park area.

Any notable achievements you are proud of (both personal & business):

I was honored to be nominated by Best of Cincinnati in the category Best New Shop.  We did not make it to the final list, but we’re very proud to see the shop’s name on that list.

Is this your full-time job currently? If not, describe your current job and any tips/tricks on how you balance both:

I work as a billing analyst for Sun Chemical.  Planning in advance seems to work for me, but also asking for help when needed is also important.

What drives your passion for this business?

I am passionate about culture and history.  This business gives me the opportunity to share about African culture in general, but also the stories of artisans’ work.

Favorite small/local business you frequent:

Joseph-Beth Booksellers, Just Qin BBQ

What are you most hoping to take away from this program?

I hope to better communicate to customers and other people about my business and also learn how to grow a business in the long term.