Inés Rodríguez

I am an Artisan Textile Designer and a trainer and consultant in the textile and crafts sector. I have an Artisan workshop in Galicia, in a rural area, where I make my own decoration and fashion products that I sell through my physical store and online channels. I have realized many collaborations and made designs for other professionals in fashion, cuisine, and architecture. Now I am in the stage of consolidating my company, making it grow, going out to international markets as well as consolidating myself as a trainer and consultant in programs related to crafts.

I came to handicrafts because of my love of fine arts and weaving, I am an official on leave of absence and this job allowed me to reconcile. I work from the knowledge of the textile tradition but with new designs and an innovative look. I am interested in new materials.

My business objectives are:

I hope to consolidate the company, in terms of brand and sales of my products, so that my workshop grows and allows me to employ other people. Continue the impulse of international and national sales to reach a new audience and increase my profits that will also allow me to carry out social projects in my rural area, as for instance, how to investigate in the recovery of techniques, materials such as wool, among others.

As for consulting, I would love to participate in projects related to crafts, its dissemination, knowledge, studies, and promotion, in my area and in other places to bring it closer to young people and that the public learns to value the craft processes. Helping other artisan entrepreneurs to continue carrying out research and collaborations with more professionals and even with artisans from other countries, is also one of my goals.

My learnings from the Crafting Business Programme:

I have understood my value proposition and how I differ from other artisans and companies. This allows me to make a better marketing strategy that makes it easier for me to search for my target audience and design products for this purpose. I know better the possibilities of internationalization and the steps to follow. I have better management tools for my company, to carry out the business plan I had, change things that I was not doing well, better calculate prices and direct them to the public I want to reach and who can buy my products. Now I know that I can also start a new business line, in the investigation of new artisan materials and as a consultant, cultural promoter and researcher within the crafts, to make proposals to the administrations and participate in programs or studies that promote contemporary crafts. Now I have a clear vision of which are the business lines in which I must work to grow and how to measure if my objectives are being met and which ones are more profitable.

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

1. I must design my products for my target audience without forgetting my inspirations, what I really want to show with my products, my culture, and values.
2. Creativity and innovation are my strength, in my current business model and in the future as a craft consultant.
3. Business training allows me to have more control over all processes and direct my efforts towards my goals, correcting mistakes and creating new opportunities.
4. I create my marketing plan and my communication of my work, the values and the rural world that surrounds me. The knowledge of the processes is essential to reach my customers, especially online and give value to my products.
5. I am the value proposition of my business, the ability to merge tradition and innovation, to have a new look at the interrelation of crafts with other sectors, collaboration with other artisans and the dissemination of my work, which may help grow the craft sector, based on my experience.