indian crafts and cell phones

The Customer Experience Company

Indian Crafts & MobilesNamrata Rana

This is Jessore - a remote village, in West Bengal, also known as village of Kumbhakars

(Potters)

Mina Kumbhakar, one of the potters, he makes beautiful terrcotta pots. He works only for 3 months in a year. “We make these products on order basis. Mostly orders are erratic and the city buyers unreliable.”

http://www.flickr.com/photos/meanestindian/361371568/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/judepics/2369961720/

“My family is part of my production teamVisits to Delhi and Calcutta help me get some new orders

while also enabling me to buy new things.”

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mckaysavage/342091584/in/set-72157603822434767/

“I had taken loan from the money lender to complete a large order 2 years ago. I am still trying to repay it as we

had 50% rejection.”

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mckaysavage/342091584/in/set-72157603822434767/

“This is my existing system of selling my products…”

I design my own products

1

I sell in the local market & supply to a few stores in

Kolkata & Delhi

2

Participate in Dilli Haat & Surajkund mela annually

3

Mina Kumbhakar had better opportunities to sell ?

What if… He could earn more during the year?He could be better trained?

What are we talking about ?

SUPPORT NETWORK

MARKETING

PRODUCTION

New marketing activities will help Mina to increase his sales and profits.

His production increases and so does his regular flow of income.

Newer alliances, better technology to sustain his business.

DESIGN + TRAININGDesign development + training inputs

HELPING Mina

FrameworkThe Power of Mobile Information

Mina Wants Information

• in his language + ability to make decisions

• about different SHG’s (self help groups)

• about grameen banks and schemes.

• about their craft and the related materials

• about other artisans in their vicinity

FrameworkThe Power of Mobile InformationMobile database

• Database of Artisans

• Database of Skills • Quality Standards

• Training Undertaken

• Ordering, Software • Financing needs

Available on SMS

Designskill development Information on training institutes and government initiatives

Type of TrainingHow can you attendDate / Fee if any

Design

Available on SMS

Productionproduct development Developing market driven products.

Type of Material availableCost of MaterialSupply TimeTop selling products

Available on SMS

Capacity building

October Total Pots 1000

Currently Mina works for 3 months in a year

November December+ + =

Capacity building

We can gradually increase the total number months by another 3 months

and so on

Jul, Aug, Sept

Oct, Nov, Dec+ + = Total Pots

2000Total Period

6 months

Capacity building

Mina Kumbhakar when he is not making pots he is teaching his craft

Can we also make him a resource ?

Mina updates his availability

and skill level regularly on his

cell phone, so that he can get

relevant work when he is free.

MarketingLinkages

Stores - requirements

Fairs - dates and participation info

Exhibitions - dates and participation info

Available on SMS

- India and overseas

SUPPORTNETWORK

The handicraft sector requires sustained support to strengthen it’s needs and enable it to deliver.

A need based approach is the key to integrated development where the artisan is involved in each stage of intervention.

A ground level mechanism needs to be created to provide single point approach in providing solutions and support

Futurescape, Delhi

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Futurescape, Mumbai

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Telephone: +91 9910201783

+91 (11) 6654 4196

Email: innovate@futurescape.in

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Twitter: @futurescape