Santiago Besteiro García

My name is Santiago and I am the manager of the Santiago Besteiro workshop. I live in a rural area of 14 inhabitants in Galicia, northwestern Spain.

When I finished my studies in Fine Arts and Design I decided to start a business where I could invest my time doing what I’m passionate about and what makes me feel good.

Santiago Besteiro is a creation and research artisan workshop, whose main  objective is to explore the aesthetic and material possibilities of leather in combination with wood and stone.

My business objectives are:

• Diversify the business model and grow as a brand.
• Increase sales and market through social networks.
• Open a market in Central Europe and establish new points of sale.
• Improve the brand image and create a new website with a better customer experience.

My learnings from the Crafting Business Programme:

In these months I have learned to analyze my business, I have learned to know where I am most valuable in my business and to create a strategy to be able to communicate the values
that I want to reflect with my work like quality, sustainability and honest business.

This training has allowed me to advance in aspects such as internationalization, to prepare myself to face it more safely thanks to the knowledge acquired. I have developed a new marketing strategy, searching for new channels and diversifying the sectors I am targeting. I have acquired new organizational habits that help me to have more control over my
business. In short, it has been a great learning experience thanks to the teachers and colleagues.

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

1.  Design while playing and have fun.
2. Quick adaptation is the key to survival of a business.
3. Apply prices well, this is a business, it is not a hobby.
4. Get to know your customers and let them know that you care about them.
5. Tell your story, your difference value begins there.