About
About Soto
Soto began six years ago after a father received Christmas presents from his son in Thailand. This sparked the idea that other people might also love, but not be able to find, good quality handmade Asian goods.
Soto’s suppliers have a wide range of backgrounds, from well financed modern businesses, to small start-up companies, to village co-operatives and tribal assistance projects.
Our aim is to form strong partnerships with people, businesses and groups that share our concern for the environment and for doing business ethically. This includes using ethically sourced materials, ensuring that the labour that goes into the making of our products is well paid, and that we buy all materials and products at fair prices. When we find like minded people and businesses, we work to build long lasting relationships, in the hope that we can actively assist the growth and success of projects which aim to improve the lifestyle and self-sufficiency of the makers of our products.
One of SOTO’s most valued associations is with Sop Moei Arts, a company founded as a project to generate income and support healthcare for the Pwo Karen people, many of whom live a precarious stateless existence on the Thai-Burmese border. Their exceptional traditional weaving skills have been combined with the talent and marketing know-how of European designers to produce a superb range of exquisite textiles and home decorative items, including hand stitched cushions and table runners, no two of which are identical.
We were also fortunate to meet our gifted Thai designer, Prapai Sairien. The beautiful beds, dining sets and conservatory furniture he designs are made from a variety of sustainable natural materials, combined using his unique sense of style.
All our teak is re-used and not a product of felling virgin rainforests. Other materials include water hyacinth, mango wood, rattan and bamboo. Our furniture is made to order and as a result can be adjusted to fit exactly your requirements at no extra charge.
The combination of local skills and both local and international design has resulted in our unique range of exceptionally well made, affordable and beautiful products for the home and garden, and superb gifts and accessories, many of which are exclusive to SOTO.
About this blog
This blog has been created to help share our passion for all things Asian and ethically sourced. We want to share our news, views and ideas with you and see what suggestions, recommendations and feedback we can get from you.
Blog authors
David Sugars
The driving force and principal strategist, a natural entrepreneur who has run his own businesses for many years. Has a wide range of sales and management experience much of which was gained in the motor trade, including the conception and development of a market-leading online car sales business.
Imaginative, creative and visionary, David is now totally committed to the principles of SOTO from its ethical stance to its growth and development in partnership with his son Paul, and long term friend and former business partner Stephen Colling.
Paul Sugars
Philosophy Graduate of Bristol University, son of David.
Paul has lived permanently in Chiang Mai in Northern Thailand for twelve years, and is totally fluent in Thai language, which gives SOTO a very significant advantage over most other traders who rely on agents and middlemen. He is also competent in Vietnamese, where many beautiful items especially lacquerware are uniquely sourced for SOTO.
Furthermore, Paul also has mastered the technology of the web and web marketing and has developed the excellent highly regarded website and back office systems.
He also organises shipping and monitors production quality control, having built up excellent long term working relationships with our suppliers.
Stephen Colling
Economics Graduate of Reading University
Business administrator and major investor.
Formerly sales director for leading Yorkshire based wine merchant then innkeeper/restauranteur in rural North Yorkshire for many years before joining David to launch the aforementioned online car sales business. Lived in France for 6 years developing property before returning to UK in 2006 to help re-launch SOTO inspired by David’s enthusiasm for a new kind of ethical trading prospect. Has spent time in Chiang Mai with Paul, meeting craftsmen and women, silk weavers, furniture and ceramic manufacturers, hill tribes people and verifying the ethical sourcing and use of environmentally sound natural materials and methods.
Lisa Norton
Lisa is our business development and marketing manager all rolled into one. She helps to organise the team and ensure we are on track with delivering a first class customer service.
Joe McClelland
Business Organisations Graduate of Heriot Watt University
National Franchise Manager
Business consultant with eight years of business consulting experience gained in Online and Indirect Sales organisations, with a wealth of experience in many other direct sales roles.
I joined David and Stephen at the start of Wundercars, back in 1999. After working with the guys for a great 2 years, I perused my own consultancy career, before returning to work with David and Stephen again in 2009 to help launch the SOTO at Home franchise.
Chris Norton
Chris is a specialist word of mouth marketing, social media and public relations consultant. He has more than ten years’ experience in the public relations industry having worked both in-house and in a number of consultancies. He is listed in the UK’s top 15 PR bloggers and his blog posts on social media have appeared marketing titles such as PR Week and Revolution. You can check out his blog here: www.chrisnorton.biz.
