About Us
Our story:
In April 2025, two visionary organizations—2nd Story Goods (est. 2011) and Haiti Design Co. (est. 2014)—completed a historic transition to become a fully Haitian-owned and operated business under the management of Gonaives Manufacturing Company (GMC). This milestone represents the culmination of years of intentional work to create a sustainable business that connects Haitian makers to global markets.
Our journey began when 2nd Story Goods was established in 2011 as a nonprofit social enterprise under MUCH Ministries, creating a pathway for Haitian artisans to reach international markets. In 2014, Haiti Design Co. was launched in Port au Prince with a similar mission. In 2022, Gonaives Manufacturing Company was born when Ariel Dorval and Valery Hyacinthe—with over 20 years of combined experience in Haiti's manufacturing industry—established a locally-owned enterprise to take over 2nd Story Goods' Haitian operations. In 2024, 2nd Story Goods and Haiti Design Co. joined forces, with Haiti Design Co's local operations becoming an independent business known as Lokal Atizan.
Today, we proudly operate as a fully Haitian-owned and managed business—handling everything from production to storytelling, marketing, and order fulfillment. This transition represents the fulfillment of our founding vision: to build a reliable economic road to be used by artisans, for artisans, with leadership firmly rooted in Haiti.
We create beautiful, high-quality handmade products that our customers love, in a safe work environment where staff feel valued and inspired, and where well-paying jobs provide dignity and opportunity. We use the strength of our infrastructure to help makers develop their goods, bring them to market, and tell their stories for a healthy and fair economic return.
Culture is everything. Ours is one of mutual respect, continued curiosity, and kindness, with a strong bent toward helping young leaders rise. We believe that great leadership creates more great leaders, not just in the work we do but in the communities where we live.
Our Values
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People First : We believe in people over numbers and pay a living wage (approximately 5x Haiti's minimum wage) for the time artisans spend making goods.
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High Quality : We constantly work to improve our products, incorporating locally sourced and upcycled materials whenever possible.
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Customer Service : We value relationships with our customers and believe that the lowest price is not always the best price.
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Community Building : Our impact goes beyond our walls. We believe in building a company that benefits the community where it is planted.
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Local Leadership : We believe that people who live within a community are best suited to bring positive change, model leadership qualities, and empower upcoming generations.
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Culture of Respect : We foster mutual respect, continued curiosity, and kindness, with a strong emphasis on helping young leaders rise.
What We Make
We specialize in handcrafted:
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Kitchen Goods: leather, sewn, metal, wood
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Home Decor: metal, wood, sewn items
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Bedding: sheets, pillowcases
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Gifts: jewelry, bags, wallets
Most of our products are made in Haiti, with many coming from Gonaives and the developing community of Jubilee on the outskirts of Gonaives.
Our Leadership
Ariel Dorval, Co-founder and CEO
Ariel brings his background in accounting and passion for entrepreneurship to GMC. Beyond his business acumen, he serves as a community coach and as the president of Proleads, having trained hundreds of young people he is dedicated to fostering a culture of personal growth and leadership, and Entrepreneurship in the community.
Valery Hyacinth, Co-founder and COO
With his studies in law and business administration, Valery brings strong leadership skills to the company. He's passionate about building trust within the team and helping each individual reach their full potential. Beyond his work, Valery is a devoted husband and a proud father, finding inspiration and motivation in his family every day.
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Our Community
Our operation includes a full-time management staff overseeing more than 100 artisans in our Gonaives facility and throughout Haiti.
Our Impact
As Nelson Mandela said, "Overcoming poverty is not a gesture of charity. It is an act of justice." At our core, we believe in hope, dignity, and connectedness. By creating well-paying jobs and establishing sustainable business practices, we're working to be a stabilizing economic force in Haiti.