(Editor’s note: This is the 27th installment in a monthly series speaking with minority business owners and leaders. Each is asked their views on minority-business conditions in the state and for ways to improve those businesses’ chances for success.)
When founding Ohanga Inc., an artists’ marketplace and gallery, Subham Sett and Yuping Wang wanted to forge connections, whether it was between artists and the public, technology and art, or large retail and independent galleries.
When Ohanga launched after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic as an online platform, lockdowns and other restrictions meant that artists, like most people, had limited opportunities to connect with others face to face. Co-founders Sett and Wang, a husband-and-wife team, wanted the digital marketplace to help fill this void.
“We thought it would be good to not just connect the community to the art but connect the community to the story and the artist,” Sett said. “Unlike just writing up the artist’s bio, the whole idea was to create a personal connection with the artist, to talk about why they got into the arts, what motivates them, what challenges they face.”
Sett, who grew up in India, and Wang, who is Chinese, both have a technology background and hadn’t worked in the arts prior to launching Ohanga. But they felt that their skill sets would complement the sphere and give them the tools to help artists get started and grow.
“I felt that as technology people, we could contribute to this space and do something that brings in the elements of not just the arts, but the business behind it,” Sett said, “and how to conduct and run a business.”
They chose the name “Ohanga,” the Māori word for nest, to reflect this support for artists at all stages.
“We wanted Ohanga to be a home for the artist,” Sett said, “a place where they can grow. And if they become big, they can leave.”
The business began moving into the in-person market as COVID-19 restrictions eased. Initially, a small shop was set up in Newport. But the location meant that many visitors were tourists, and Sett had wanted to foster a connection between Rhode Islanders and local art.
Sett and Wang found a better fit for their business last fall when a location opened at Garden City Center in Cranston.
The outdoor shopping center was ideal not just for attracting more locals, but for bringing art to a new audience, Sett says. While some may think of the artists’ sphere and galleries as completely separate from traditional, large retail outlets, Sett wants shoppers to see that these worlds don’t have to be so far apart.
Eventually, he hopes other galleries will follow in Ohanga’s footsteps.
“I would love it if at some point there are shops or locations around the world, or in the community,” Sett said. “The main difference, going into a place like Garden City, is to make it more mainstream, and not just on Main Street.”
1. Do you believe racism is keeping minorities from starting businesses in the Ocean State or succeeding when they do? At Ohanga, we work with a diverse group of artists from all backgrounds. Most of the artists are women-led microbusinesses, including people of color. We have received tremendous support from our community based on our mission and vision to empower the local creative economy. I would say that, for the most part, Rhode Island does give a lot of chances to the artists to thrive and grow.
2. How dependent is your business on the support of other minority groups? Is that a sustainable business model? We have had the privilege to operate our business through our own investments while working with our partners, including the artists, to create a sustainable business model. The support for us, I would say, has come to us and our artists from Rhode Island-based government [Rhode Island State Council on the Arts] and nonprofit organizations such as Hope & Main in Warren, Warwick Center for Arts Inc. and others.
3. What one thing could Rhode Island do to boost the odds for minority-owned business success? Rhode Island is very unique in how we embrace local. However, being able to compete with national brands means not only having a space on Main Street, but also having a platform where the major retailers are. There are parts of the world where state and local funding support local artists to have a presence in busy corridors by subsidizing rent. Any benefits of this nature here in Rhode Island would certainly help minority-owned businesses to get to some level of financial independence before they can scale.
4. Have you had to turn somewhere other than a bank for a loan? Do you believe the state’s lending institutions generally treat minorities fairly? At a personal level, I have not faced any direct issues on investments. And I am sure there are cases where minorities have faced issues on this. In my view, the processes for investments is quite onerous, which likely makes it difficult for minority business owners to clear the check boxes to secure the funding they need.
5. If another minority entrepreneur asked you where they could turn to for support for their business, where would you direct them? We have some excellent support from several local institutions that I’ve worked with. If one wants to be a food entrepreneur, Hope & Main is highly recommended. The R.I. Commerce Corp. is another great asset, as they have programs suited to microbusinesses, and I would not hesitate on researching their programs. Finally, for the arts, RISCA does a fantastic job in upskilling artists on how to take their passion and make this a business.
