Preparation of a plan for the promotion of handicraft products and investigation of the creation of a cluster of handicraft enterprises.

MADE Consultants undertook with the Educational Development company PLOIGOS the preparation of the study entitled “Preparation of a plan for the promotion of handicraft products and exploring the possibility of creating clusters of handicraft businesses” which is being prepared in the context of the project “Establishment of a support unit for women’s handicraft business” which is financed by the Region of Crete and the Ministry of Development and Investments.

The aim of the study was to create guidelines regarding the ways and methodology that artisans must follow in order to promote their products.

At this study:

• the current situation is presented,
• the handicraft products produced in Crete by craftswomen are listed,
• the existing actions for the promotion of the handicraft are listed and evaluated,
• a SWOT analysis is presented,
• the strategy is proposed with which the handicraft producers should “place” their products in the market,
• the action plan for the promotion of handicraft products is also presented, which is based on modern advertising media, as well as the conduct of public relations actions,
•  the cost, the schedule as well as the monitoring of the marketing program is analyzed.

The present study is characterized as important for the promotion of the ancient arts of Crete, which create elegant products of high quality and aims to promote women’s handicrafts by keeping “alive” the traditional professions of Cretan culture.