Catalan craftsmanship is already taking its first steps to integrate into the value chain of local industry. It is doing so hand in hand with the Consorci de Comerç, Artesanía i Moda (CCAM), an organization dependent on the Department of Business and Labor of the Generalitat. The starting point took place in Barcelona on October 10, within the framework of Crafts2B, a meeting between some twenty companies and another twenty artisans to foster collaborations between both groups. Since then, contacts and agreements have already been made between both parties.
This first edition of Crafts2B, which took place at the Roca Barcelona Gallery space, in Les Corts, was conceived as a pilot test with the aim of ensuring its continuity and serving, mainly, as a platform for artisans. These are professionals with great talent and very powerful products, but who, with some exceptions, generally lack the muscle for a commercial strategy. Crafts2B was born to cover this deficiency.
The relationship between local industry and artisans has been an underexplored territory until now in the search for business opportunities, despite the fact that they can be very complementary, even if they operate very differently. The companies Tous, Bagués Masriera, Roca, Hispano Suiza, Lladró, Castañer, Munich, Sastreria Gimeno Chollet, Cluster Leather, Noumena Group, Marina Barcelona 92, Kave Home, Sullà Studio, Nani Marquina, Aina Barcelona, Petit Comité, Joidart and Blanca Jewels participated in the Barcelona meeting.
These are firms that are increasingly committed to the personalization of their products, with the aim of combining their internationalization and identity strategies, a link they can find in craft professionals. Among the members of this collective, Luesma&Vega, Cumella, Trinidad Contreras, VSB Barcelona, Cerabella, Font Design Grupo, ELIURPI, Nquart, Félix Lozal, Mosaics Martí, Taller Mosaics Artistics, Estudi Ribaudí, Museu Lolí Paperer, Grangel Produccions, BCN3D, ALTED, Tressera Collection, Concha Blanch, Rosa Cortiella, Hachazuela, Nutopia and 40 Plumas participated in Crafs2B.
Environmental sustainability is another aspect that acquires a dimension of interest on the part of companies, concerned with responding to customers who increasingly value the quality and aesthetics of products and are increasingly aware of the fight against climate change. In this sense, artisans can contribute to the product's value chain, either in the manufacture of some of its components or even in the packaging. It is about giving importance to zero kilometer, depending less and less on production from other countries —usually Asian— and that this translates into a reduction in transport and polluting emissions.
According to CCAM sources, Crafts2B is already bearing its first fruits, and in recent months several meetings have already taken place between industrialists and artisan companies, in search of knowledge exchange and synergy generation in fields such as fashion, accessories, furniture, and technology. Also in sectors such as nautical, automotive, landscaping, and interior design.
Although most companies prefer to keep discretion, Lladró and Tous are some of those that have already initiated contacts with some of the artisans they met at Crafts2B. From the CCAM, they trust that this event will consolidate as a space for exchange and a platform for craftsmanship to relate to the market and for this collective and industry to mutually enrich each other.