Our Story

The Spark Third Floor Traders was founded in the 1990s in a third-floor Seattle attic. While completing his graduate studies, founder Gerard Kuester launched the company as a capstone project—importing handcrafted housewares from Mexico City and Taxco to local boutique gift stores.

The Intermission As family priorities took center stage, Gerard paused the business to pursue traditional career paths. Over the next three decades, he built a distinguished corporate career in the building materials industry, holding leadership roles in sales, operations, marketing, and global distribution. Yet, his passion for international trade never faded.

The Revival Today, Gerard has returned to his entrepreneurial roots to revive Third Floor Traders. Armed with an Master of International Business from Seattle University and decades of experience scaling innovative products both domestic and foreign in North America, he leads the company from Northern California with the same spirit that started it all.

🔗 Want to learn more? Connect with Gerard on LinkedIn.