Working Capital for Tender Loving Empire

Woman-owned business
12 Jobs created or retained
$131,000 Other project funds leveraged
Business minimizes environmental impacts

Craft3 has worked with Portland's Tender Loving Empire twice to facilitate their expansion on NW 23 in and, more recently, at Bridgeport Village just southwest of the city.

Craft3 has now worked with Portland’s own Tender Loving Empire twice to facilitate their expansion on NW 23rd in and, more recently, at Bridgeport Village just southwest of the city. The loans helped provide the business with working capital, equipment, and inventory.

Tender Loving Empire, a retailer of handmade goods and local music, now operates five retail stores in the greater Portland area. The stores carry a wide selection of handmade and locally-made apparel, jewelry, housewares, music, food and beverages, and a signature line of Tender Loving Empire products.

Since its founding in 2006, the company has grown significantly. Its second location on SE Hawthorne location opened in November 2014. But because owners Brianne and Jared couldn’t show a full calendar year of that store’s performance, banks were reluctant to loan to open third location. That’s when Craft3 stepped in, helping facilitate their expansion onto NW 23rd.

Then, in 2018, we extended the relationship, helping Tender Loving Empire open its fifth store in Tigard’s Bridgeport Village, an outdoor shopping destination just twenty minutes from downtown. Our investments in Tender Loving Empire strengthen economic and ecological resilience by increasing entrepreneurship, supporting economic growth, and minimizing impacts of business on nature.