How to Plan a Successful Artisan Sourcing Trip
Here at Casa Flor Designs, we pride ourselves on being a reliable resource for our clients on the ground. However, we absolutely love it when our clients visit! The artisan partners we work with also appreciate these visits. We encourage direct contact between the final client and the artisans because it fosters trust and builds long-lasting relationships.
We plan artisan sourcing trips for our clients months in advance to ensure we make the most of our time together. Here are the steps we take to plan each trip.
mAKE A list of artisan made products the client wants to source
It’s helpful to know ahead of time what kinds of new products the client is looking for and their sourcing budget. We work with 11 artisan groups and workshops, each specializing in a different craft or technique. With product ideas in mind, we can coordinate an itinerary that allows the client to visit the most relevant artisan groups, making the best use of their limited time.
Before the sourcing trip, we share these new potential product designs with the artisans to confirm feasibility and ensure they can execute the designs before the client arrives.
make a list of potential artisan vendors for each product
Casa Flor Designs Artisan Network in Guatemala
If a client wants to develop a product that cannot be executed within our existing artisan network, we research potential vendors ahead of their visit.
Recently, a client expressed interest in learning about traditional wood carving. At the time, we didn’t have any contacts for wood carving workshops, so we started our research! We always begin by asking people we know for recommendations—personal referrals save a lot of time. In this case, we didn’t have much luck, so we turned to Facebook and Google Maps.
If an artisan group has a Facebook page, it usually means they have experience managing orders and accounts, which is a big plus for us! Once we found potential contacts, we reached out via WhatsApp, our primary method of business communication in Guatemala. This is secretly our first test when exploring new artisan partnerships. We pay attention to how quickly they respond and whether they are open to a visit.
In the end, we found three workshops and scheduled visits with each of them. Meeting the managers in person helped us understand their strengths and potential challenges, allowing us to assess future collaboration opportunities.
Textile sample in progress
preapre A prototype of a new design TO REVIEW IN PERSON
We typically manage product development via photos and video calls, but nothing beats in-person collaboration! Being physically present speeds up the process and ensures that we can execute our client’s vision more efficiently.
During sourcing trips, we prioritize reviewing as many prototypes as possible. This allows us to confirm details like thread colors, design motifs, and measurements on the spot and along side the artisan.
DOCUMENT THE PROCESS
We often bring one of the many talented photographers we work with in Guatemala along on sourcing trips! Capturing the process is an amazing part of the story telling behind each product. Throughout the sourcing trip, we are also taking diligent notes for each artisan vendor so that we can come away with a complete summary of their capacity, strengths, and challenges we might face if we start working together.
plan the LOGISTICS
We really appreciate the time that our clients take to come visit us in person. We want to respect their time by being as efficient as possible. We book the the transportation and plan the routes that will be realistic within a day while leaving us time to connect with the artisans in each visit - that’s what this business is all about after all!
A meal with the artisans in Nahuala
Yum! Fried Chicken, Rice, and Tamales for Lunch
Ready to plan your sourcing trip to Guatemala?