Go&Sell

Crafting Europe, a European project founded in 2019, had an ambition to develop the skills and connections of their respective craft businesses to build a global economy for craft. It developed two trade schemes:

  1. testing the market to see its viability of craft on an international stage;
  2. researching into viable markets for the brand of craft businesses.

The suitable platform to test market viability for trading craft was «Maison et Objet» (Paris, France – September 2022): 16 craft businesses were selected from 8 European countries (Georgia, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, UK, Ukraine; 2 representatives from each country, you can view the list of participants clicking here). Each of the selected businesses needed to demonstrate they were ready for international trade by having trade products market ready and some experience of trading overseas.

A curator was contracted to liaise directly with Maison et Objet team and pull together a comprehensive display that will enhance each of the 16 selected Crafting Europe brands on show. Represented was:

  • jewellery
  • lighting
  • furniture
  • ceramics
  • textiles
  • product design
  • wood

With 8 countries, there were a variety of different cultural references, and the whole display was under the country banner of Ireland. This was an unusual opportunity for being a group from multi nationalities.

We asked each of the craft businesses exhibiting at Maison et Objet to complete a feedback form to respond to their experience of this trade show. This helps Crafting Europe estimate the level at which the craft businesses are at in regards to their exporting experience and to offer a sharing opportunity that the rest of the craft sector could benefit from.

 

For Crafting Europe, it was good to offer an introductory offer to craft businesses to show at an International Trade Fair. From an organizational point of view, with such a different variety of mediums and cultures, it was hard to show individualism. If this opportunity arises again, we recommend that a stand presents a collective medium, such as all textiles, all ceramics, all jewellery.

Buyers buy into a brand, therefore you would need to present a cohesive brand.

This event was not suitable for all that were selected and in some cases the participants identified they were not ready for exporting despite demonstrating this on their respective applications.

This opportunity fulfilled the majority of its objectives, by providing a supported introduction for craft businesses form their respective countries at an international trade fair. It helped build networks, generate sales and provide an experience of trading with all the associated logistics included.

You can find the feedback about the experiences of participants in the report.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE COMPLETE REPORT FROM THE CRAFT COUNCIL UK