Alexandra Flórez Barrios

I am Alexandra Flórez, I have my workshop in Sargentes de La Lora, Burgos. I am dedicated to working with wood, which I consciously collected nearby. My business has been running since February 2022, my specialities are wooden trophies and I also make custom products.

Working with my hands is the way I find to communicate with the world, I studied industrial engineering and later wood sculpture techniques. I make unique pieces, mixing traditional crafts with new technologies, taking into account the needs of each client, and capturing their ideas on wood using techniques from hand carving to 3d printing, CNC router and laser engraving.

My business objectives are:

What I want is to be able to turn my work into my way of life, generating the necessary income to live and, over time, generating employment for other people who, like me, are passionate about wood and crafts.

My learnings from the Crafting Business Programme:

During the course, I have learned many things that I may have seen, but that I was not aware of. They taught me the path that I must follow and stay focused on my business if I do not want to have just a hobby.

Looking at the craft business as a business where the main objective is economic, most craftspeople see our work as something romantic, and we forget that, like any business, numbers must be taken into account.

I have changed several small details, paying more attention to the times, costs, and appropriate prices, focusing on face-to-face workshops and seeking to reach more people through digital means.

Be more aware of what I do, how I do it, who I sell to, and small things that I didn’t do before and that are changing the way we see the business and its results.

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

1. Look at the times and give value to your work, if they do not buy it, it is simply that you are in the wrong place.
2. If people close to you don’t buy from you, don’t be discouraged, trust what you do and get out of your comfort zone.
3. Learn from the best and from your fellow travellers, every day you will learn something new.
4. Looking for synergies, cooperation, and work with other artisans can be something wonderful.
5. Look beyond inspiration because it finds you while you are working.