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The article offers a global microhistory of the years 1774-1792 at Nootka Sound, exploring exchanges that took place between European merchants and the indigenous people that resided there, the Mowachaht. Much of this commercial exchange was an exchange of sea-otter furs for iron and copper. The author describes what is global about this study: research into a long-distance trade of an individual commodity and what is a micro-analysis: the exploration of a specific locality.

Argues that imports of goods from the East made a difference to the subsequent development of European, but especially British, consumer markets and production technologies in the 18th century. Europeans' response to Asian luxuries by learning from their imports, developing knowledge of markets and adapting processes; Connection between global luxury, European consumerism and industrialization in the 18th century.