The business of your craft enterprise

Questions always to be asked are, am I charging the correct prices, am I you making a profit, am I applying healthy business practices. The CCDI’s Enterprise Development and Training programme is able to help you in many ways.

We can assist you to have a clear picture of the strengths and weaknesses of your business, i.e. where you need to grow and develop, through a business assessment. After you have had a meeting with the Programme Panel (see How we get to know you) you could request a business counseling session. The results of the assessment will be explained to you and suggestions made of where to strengthen your business processes, and in which other areas you need to develop.

Other business development services offered are:

• A Winter School is held during the 3-week June/July school holidays. This consists of a series of training modules covering topics such as running a business, how to organise production space, and marketing; also drawing, product design and inspiration.
• Various workshops are held throughout the year, dealing with the many issues that a craft business needs to master.
• A referral system links you to other specialist organizations who offer training, financing and mentorship.
• From time to time, learnerships and mentorship interventions are offered, which last from10 - 18 months. Crafters go through a selection process to be part of these programmes.

How we get to know you

To enjoy these services, your first port of call is to make an appointment with the Programme Panel.
Every Wednesday (except the first of each month) we convene a group panel of our enterprise development, product support and market access staff members, who meet with crafters on an individual appointment basis for 50 minutes.

This is an opportunity for you to show your products, talk about your business, have a discussion about your challenges and opportunities and get some ideas about how you could be addressing them. You will also find out more about our programmes and activities and which of these might be suitable for you.

Call 460-3982/3662 to register on our database and for an appointment with the Programme Panel. Registering your email on our database will ensure that you receive our monthly newsletter and are updated on activities and opportunities.

Are you in a rural area?

• visits the regions on a regular basis, and gets to know the crafters in each region;
• introduces the crafters to service organisations in their area which could assist them with business development;
• arranges workshops to assist crafters with product development and inspiration;
• helps crafters to take part in local craft markets, and regional and national shows.

From time to time a team of CCDI staff will visit the regions to meet the crafters to discuss their product, business and marketing needs with them.

To contact the Rural Outreach Officer call 021 461-1488

Targeting the correct market for your product

The CCDI can assist you in targeting the specific segment of the market you are making your product for – homeware, décor, fashion accessories, jewellery, gifts and novelties, craft-art, corporate gifts, outdoor, the Christmas market, etc.

It is better to aim for one market segment than to make many different products and not be sure whom you are making them for. Keeping your eye on only one market segment helps you research that market – looking at the right magazines, such as home and décor or fashion; walking through those specific kinds of shops and seeing what is on offer; and generally keeping an eye on what the tastes, colours, and trends are in the market segment that you are producing for.

Our Creativity, Design and Innovation programme runs workshops that target the different market segments. In addition, a resource library is available, where you can browse through books, magazines and the Internet to get ideas and inspiration.

To be part of the Market Access programme, you need to be prepared to work hard, be very flexible, and be committed.

One opportunity that is being developed is to attend craft markets with a group of crafters, which strengthens everyone's participation. Another opportunity to test your product on both the local and national level is to participate in shows and events. The CCDI is often requested to set up a Cape Craft shop at events such as the CT International Jazz Festival, Decorex or the national SA Handmade Collection. Your product must go through a selection process, but taking part does grow you in all the requirements of running an effective business.

Exporting? Export ready?