Mercedes Rodriguez

I am an interior designer and leather craftswoman based in Valladolid (Spain). Currently I am starting my business.

I have come to this new profession, crafts, looking for a complement to my work. I make functional and sustainable leather goods.

My business objectives are:

• Start the professionalization of my work.
• I want to apply the knowledge learned and put it into practice as soon as possible in my business.
• I would like to reach people with an ecological conscience and who choose my products for their sustainable quality.

My learnings from the Crafting Business Programme:

• I have learned a concentrated and general vision of what a business is and how I could start it. I can visualize all the steps to follow.
• I did not know anything about finance, marketing, internationalization…etc. I had very little knowledge of the business.
• I have developed my value proposal.

My 5 top tips that I have learnt on this journey:

1. You have to be very honest about what you want to do.
2. You have to know what your differential proposal is.
3. It is important that your product is sincere and personal.
4. You have to delegate certain jobs to other professionals.
5. If you are blocked, you can ask for advice from colleagues and teachers. We are not alone.