Well-stocked Art 2 Craft ensures consistent supplies |08 August 2005

The raw materials shop, which is based at the Camion Hall building in Victoria, is now being run by a private business after it was put on tender. The opening of Art 2 Craft initially planned for May, was delayed as a result of disruptions in shipping schedules.  The opening of the shop has been welcomed by artisans who have over the past few years been finding it difficult to get consistent supplies of raw materials they needed to work with.

The co-owner of Art 2 Craft, Roy Noel, said the items were being imported based on requests and samples received from artisans. 

"We are trying to make maximum use of the foreign exchange allocated to us by importing only items that are in demand. We cannot afford to bring in unnecessary stuff that will remain in the shop for longer than required," Mr Noel said.

Mr Noel noted that for the moment the shop is packed with supplies mainly for artisans involved in artwork or painting and pottery, but the plan is to eventually cover all craft sectors. Given the money allocated, Mr Noel said, it was not possible to ship in materials for all sectors at one go.

He said he had gone for the art products first, because they were less bulky to ship in.
 
"We are placing monthly orders and in six months’ time we hope to have brought supplies for all artisans. We hope to meet the requirements of all sectors," he said, adding that the next consignment will carry a batch of textile materials.

Art 2 Craft also plans to import small carpentry tools for artisans who are doing handicraft or woodwork.

The shop is at the moment selling products only to artisans who have registered with the Small Enterprise Promotion Agency (SEnPA), but Mr Noel has plans to in the future expand his clientele to include other people interested in craft. This, he said, could however be done only when he has been able to sustain market demand for fully-fledged artisans.

"There a lot of talented people out there who are just waiting for the right tools to work with and I believe they should not be left out. Children, especially those interested in art, should be allowed to develop their potential. We have to allow them to start at a young age if we want this sector to keep on producing in the future," Mr Noel said.

Among the materials on sale are dye, pastel chalk, tempera powder, paint for printing T-shirts, glue, cutters, clay, carving tools brushes, tracing paper, paper pulp, canvas board, drawing pads, macramé strings,  real and artificial rafia, beads, varnish, glass and batik wax and tools.

Art 2 Craft is importing these materials from countries in the Far East, Mauritius and Madagascar. Mr Noel said he was also negotiating with the overseas suppliers to get credit facilities so that he could ensure consistent supplies for the artisans. He said he was happy to be investing his capital in the country's craft development, so as to generate creativity among the people, especially since the craft business has over the past few years experienced a downturn in production.

"I want to bring back the sense of creativity among our artisans and get them to start producing again," he told Business Nation.

With regard to quality, he said he would be guided by feedback from the artisans themselves.

Initial response received from artisans, he said, indicated that they are satisfied with the quality of this first stock of items and with the selling prices.

Mr Noel is running the business with the support of his wife, Beryl.