Tough challenges facing craftsmen

Artisan Vuong The Cuong said that over the past four years, for the occasion of Tet (lunar New Year) festival, he and other craftsmen in Bat Trang gathered together for the production of pottery products in shape of the zodiac sign of the New Year.

Artisan Vuong The Cuong working on a pottery pig sculpture.

It might take them several months to complete the production as every step must be carried out carefully from sketching design, making mould, to choose proper material and glaze. Not to mention the detailed and strict requirements from customers when they made the order, Cuong said.

Cuong admitted that the most challenging obstacle for Bat Trang and other craft villages, in general, is how to find the market for their business ideas. It is a result of the lack of proper investments in exploring customers’ liking and diversifying product’s designs, making Vietnamese craft products less attractive than those made with the support of modern technologies in other countries in the region. Therefore, it is difficult for Vietnamese products to get access to potential markets such as Europe and the US.

Sharing the same view, Pham Dat, who was born in a family with three consecutive generations making pottery in Bat Trang, said that in the past, the design and making of new products were slow in pace because of the lack of market information and huge challenges from counterfeit and fake goods. Thus, the villagers used to focus their operations on following customers’ orders rather than fostering innovations in production.

In the era of international integration and Industry 4.0, it is crucial for Vietnamese craft villages to stimulate innovations in production technology and products’ designs at competitive prices while fostering e-commerce in order to expand their markets and win the interest of customers at home and abroad.

It is also necessary to establish a strict scheme on controlling and registering the trademark and product designs to protect the artisan copyrights.

The project facilitates breakthroughs for the fame of Bat Trang

To address such challenges, the Project 1102 was launched as an initiative of the Hanoi Cultural Fund with an aim to provide support for Bat Trang craftsmen in getting access to the market and the designs and pricing of their products.

Visitors admiring Bat Trang pottery products on display at the Group 1102's exhibition centre.

The project helps to develop a system of marketing, branding and sales solutions based on communication and e-commerce networks in order to introduce and promote high-end Bat Trang pottery products to the community.

A centre for market research, customer taste analysis, and sample designs was also established to help producers keep up with the changing market trends and customer preferences.

In addition, the 1102 group have worked with functional agencies to boost the use of technology in the prevention and control of counterfeiting, fake and untraceable goods, thus protecting the brand of Bat Trang pottery.

By digitalizing Bat Trang products on the internet, the project targets 10% of the country’s handicrafts market, which is estimated at around US$500 million).

Most recently, the Bat Trang Family Mart was inaugurated in the centre of Bat Trang village, marking it the first one in the chain of 300 stores to be launched nationwide to bring authentic Bat Trang pottery products to customers and facilitate the export of Bat Trang products to the world market. As scheduled, the chain will increase online sales on the world's leading e-commerce websites, such as Amazon or Alibaba.

It can be said that by embracing a range of drastic IT-based measures and a sound marketing campaign, the project has contributed to lifting the quality and promoting the brand of Bat Trang products, spreading the fame of Bat Trang to domestic and international markets while tightening the linkage among businesses, artisans and craft villages.

Young Hanoi craftsman helps preserve traditional music

Duong Minh Cuong makes traditional musical instruments, which are becoming increasingly rare since most others make guitars and mandolins instead.

 

Hue festival honours traditional crafts

The quintessence of Vietnamese traditional crafts will be honored during the Hue Traditional Craft Festival, which is scheduled to open in Hue city, in the central province of Thua Thien-Hue on April 26.

 

Craft villages busy preparing for Tet

(BGO) – In these days, the atmosphere in craft villages making fine arts furniture, incense and rice papers ... in Bac Giang province have become more bustling. This year, traditional handicraft products have drawn the interest of consumers and been sold at higher prices.

 

Bamboo Airways receives first aircraft, to take off earlier than planned

Vietnam's newest airline, Bamboo Airways, has advanced its maiden flight by two days to December 27, its CEO said Sunday.

 

Craft villages shine in Hoi An’s Tet programme

Craft villages are at the centre of a series of lunar New Year (Tet) activities, which are taking place at the Hoi An Impression Theme Park in Hoi An city, a World Heritage site in the central province of Quang Nam, from January 11 to February 11.

 

Source: NDO