November 30, 2004: Headlines: COS - Venezuela: Small Business: Business: Imports: The Santa Fe New Mexican: Venezuela RPCV Martha Egan owns Pachamama, a wholesale/retail import business in Albuquerque

Peace Corps Online: Directory: Venezuela: Peace Corps Venezuela : The Peace Corps in Venezuela: November 30, 2004: Headlines: COS - Venezuela: Small Business: Business: Imports: The Santa Fe New Mexican: Venezuela RPCV Martha Egan owns Pachamama, a wholesale/retail import business in Albuquerque

By Admin1 (admin) (pool-151-196-36-89.balt.east.verizon.net - 151.196.36.89) on Friday, December 10, 2004 - 7:36 pm: Edit Post

Venezuela RPCV Martha Egan owns Pachamama, a wholesale/retail import business in Albuquerque

Venezuela RPCV Martha Egan owns Pachamama, a wholesale/retail import business in Albuquerque

Venezuela RPCV Martha Egan owns Pachamama, a wholesale/retail import business in Albuquerque

WELCOME TO THE WORLD OF LATIN AMERICAN FOLK ART, ANTIQUES

Nov 30, 2004

The Santa Fe New Mexican

by Cindy Bellinger, Photo By Jane Phillips

Caption: From left Barbara Mayfield assists Diane White on choosing a pair of earrings at Pachamama on Wednesday afternoon. Pachamam is celebrating its 30th year in business.
Spanish Colonial antiques & Folkart from Latin America. Dolls, Milagro's. photos by Jane Phillips/The New Mexican
Photo Daily-biz


Tin stars, finger puppets, candles, jewelry, fabric, dolls, chairs, trunks, tables, you name it -- the items at Pachamama, a longtime gift and import store in town, are colorful, fun, affordable and reflect everything the owner believes in.

Martha Egan got her start in the wholesale/retail import business in Albuquerque 30 years ago, when she opened a store with her sister and brother-in-law. "I bought it from them in 1978 then opened my first Santa Fe store in Sena Plaza in 1988," said Egan.

She operated the two stores for about three years, closing the Albuquerque store in the early 1990s. She bought some property on Canyon Road, a house built in 1950. Egan says the place was "just ugly" and it turned into "a remodeling project from hell." But it got done, and today the 1,400-square-foot Santa Fe store is turning into a landmark.

The name of her store comes from Pachamama, an ancient Inca deity that personifies the earth. Many of the items in the store are antiques, and all come from South and Central America or Mexico. Egan has a degree in Latin American history from the University of the Americas in Mexico City. She was also a Peace Corps volunteer in rural Venezuela for two years. As a result, she is well-versed in folk traditions of those cultures.

When she goes on buying trips, Egan likes dealing directly with the artisans. "We get better deals all the way around," she said. "I feel like it's my personal foreign-aid program."

She also assures customers that her antiques are real, not replicas. "There is a lot of dishonesty in the antique business now," Egan said. "A lot of dealers misrepresent things and don't care. People are passing off new silver jewelry as antique."

For awhile Egan gave up traveling because of problems at the border. She shares those experiences in a new novel called Clearing Customs. But she is traveling again and bringing back things people are looking for. Some popular items are saints and crosses from home altars.

"People actually ask if I steal them out of churches. No, I don't steal them. There is a long tradition of home altars in the Latin countries, and that's where I get my things from," she said.

Judy Espinar is a long time customer at Pachamama. "I'm an avid folk-art collector, and I love the low-fire ceramics Martha sells," she says. Espinar owns Clay Angel and collects saints and retablos, both of which Pachamama sells.

"I've been shopping there forever, and the more I shop there, the more addicted I get," Espinar said.

Besides running the store, traveling and buying, and writing books and articles, Egan lectures at museums and cultural organizations in Italy, Mexico and around the states. She has five part-time employees.

"I ran the store by myself for 20 years. Retail is just too hard to do every day," she said. "It stays fresh if you only come in two or three days a week. You're up for the customers then."





When this story was posted in December 2004, this was on the front page of PCOL:

Is Gaddi Leaving? Is Gaddi Leaving?
Rumors are swirling that Peace Corps Director Vasquez may be leaving the administration. We think Director Vasquez has been doing a good job and if he decides to stay to the end of the administration, he could possibly have the same sort of impact as a Loret Ruppe Miller. If Vasquez has decided to leave, then Bob Taft, Peter McPherson, Chris Shays, or Jody Olsen would be good candidates to run the agency. Latest: For the record, Peace Corps has no comment on the rumors.

December 4, 2004: This Week's Top Stories December 4, 2004: This Week's Top Stories
Correction: PC to get 3.6% Budget increase 3 Dec
What if Chris Matthews interviewed Bob Dylan? 3 Dec
Bellamy addresses mine-free summit 2 Dec
Donna Shalala says Protect families from HIV 1 Dec
RPCV mentioned as candidate to head NAACP 1 Dec
Bill Moyers wins Environmental Citizen Award 1 Dec
RPCV is designer of Humane Trophies 1 Dec
RPCV Chris Matthews interviews RPCV Chris Shays 30 Nov
RPCV Bruce Anderson is town muckraker 30 Nov
Tony Hall calls for more pressure on Sudan 30 Nov
Peace Corps Census up for Second Straight Year 29 Nov
Peace Corps gets chance in Mexico: 28 Nov
more top stories...

The Birth of the Peace Corps The Birth of the Peace Corps
UMBC's Shriver Center and the Maryland Returned Volunteers hosted Scott Stossel, biographer of Sargent Shriver, who spoke on the Birth of the Peace Corps. This is the second annual Peace Corps History series - last year's speaker was Peace Corps Director Jack Vaughn.
Vote "Yes" on NPCA's bylaw changes Vote "Yes" on NPCA's bylaw changes
Take our new poll. NPCA members begin voting this week on bylaw changes to streamline NPCA's Board of Directors. NPCA Chair Ken Hill, the President's Forum and other RPCVs endorse the changes. Mail in your ballot or vote online (after Dec 1), then see on how RPCVs are voting.
Charges possible in 1976 PCV slaying Charges possible in 1976 PCV slaying
Congressman Norm Dicks has asked the U.S. attorney in Seattle to consider pursuing charges against Dennis Priven, the man accused of killing Peace Corps Volunteer Deborah Gardner on the South Pacific island of Tonga 28 years ago. Background on this story here and here.
Your vote makes a difference Your vote makes a difference
Make a difference on November 2 - Vote. Then take our RPCV exit poll. See how RPCV's are voting and take a look at the RPCV voter demographic. Finally leave a message on why you voted for John Kerry or for George Bush. Previous poll results here.
Kerry reaches out to Returned Volunteers Kerry reaches out to Returned Volunteers
The Kerry campaign wants the RPCV vote. Read our interview with Dave Magnani, Massachusetts State Senator and Founder of "RPCVs for Kerry," and his answers to our questions about Kerry's plan to triple the size of the Peace Corps, should the next PC Director be an RPCV, and Safety and Security issues. Then read the "RPCVs for Kerry" statement of support and statements by Dr. Robert Pastor, Ambassador Parker Borg, and Paul Oostburg Sanz made at the "RPCVs for Kerry" Press Conference.

RPCV Carl Pope says the key to winning this election is not swaying undecided voters, but persuading those already willing to vote for your candidate to actually go to the polls.

Take our poll and tell us what you are doing to support your candidate.

Finally read our wrap-up of the eight RPCVs in Senate and House races around the country and where the candidates are in their races.

Read the stories and leave your comments.






Some postings on Peace Corps Online are provided to the individual members of this group without permission of the copyright owner for the non-profit purposes of criticism, comment, education, scholarship, and research under the "Fair Use" provisions of U.S. Government copyright laws and they may not be distributed further without permission of the copyright owner. Peace Corps Online does not vouch for the accuracy of the content of the postings, which is the sole responsibility of the copyright holder.

Story Source: The Santa Fe New Mexican

This story has been posted in the following forums: : Headlines; COS - Venezuela; Small Business; Business; Imports

PCOL15250
49

.


Add a Message


This is a public posting area. Enter your username and password if you have an account. Otherwise, enter your full name as your username and leave the password blank. Your e-mail address is optional.
Username:  
Password:
E-mail: