Business opportunity for Guanajuato artisans: U.S. chain seeks local products to sell in its stores.

Published June 17th, 2021

Guanajuato’s handicrafts sector continues to position itself in the world thanks to the quality, diversity and colorfulness of its products.

In 2021, a very important commercial chain in the United States, which operates more than a thousand stores, is interested in acquiring handicrafts made in Guanajuato.

Jorge Godinez, Director of the Crafts, Decoration and Furniture Sector of COFOCE, gave more details about this commercial opportunity for artisans who wish to participate in the call.

“The opportunity is aimed at companies (from the State of Guanajuato) that manufacture Talavera-type ceramics, it can be gardening products, pots, decorative items and tableware. For companies that handle tableware, lead-free certificates are required, valid before the FDA; for decorative items, certification is not necessary,” said Godinez.

This call is also extended to companies that manufacture cold ceramic articles such as vases, flowerpots, etc.

There will be training for artisans

The Director of the Handicrafts, Decoration and Furniture Sector of COFOCE, emphasized that in order to participate, factories can be direct or indirect exporters and/or produce articles with export quality.

For this particular project, each of the artisans will receive training from COFOCE and instructions from the buyer on the type of product needed.

“The interested companies will be informed on how to operate; once they are selected by the buyer, they will learn how it works, the packaging, logistics and other documents that are necessary for export operations to be carried out”.

For the training, which is totally free of charge, the artisans will receive home visits, video calls and telephone calls.

The estimated preparation period will be from June to September of this year; after the training, purchase orders may be received to supply this company in the first quarter of 2022.

“The advantage that artisans have by joining these projects is the opportunity to scale their business, take it to a level of international competition and of course economic and social growth,” said Jorge Godinez.

This is a unique opportunity for Guanajuato’s artisans, therefore, it is important that artisans receive the necessary preparation that will take them to the next level, where innovation, differentiation, and quality will set them apart from the rest.

“Exporting is a determining factor for the growth of the company, with this we have the opportunity to not only depend on the national market. We are coming up against the demand for products that are manufactured here in our state and that product that is made is placed in the consumer’s taste, so we must take advantage of the opportunity and we have time to prepare ourselves and be able to enjoy the benefits of international trade,” he concluded.

In detail

Commercial chain in the United States (with more than 1,000 stores) is looking for products of all kinds made with: Talavera and Cold Ceramics.

If you are interested you can send your data (name, company, town, type of product you elaborate on, telephone), to the following email: jrgodinezm@guanajuato.gob.mx

Guanajuato’s handicrafts in figures

According to estimates by the State Foreign Trade Promotion Coordinator with information from the General Customs Administration, SAT, in 2019 Guanajuato recorded exports in the handicrafts sector for 12 MDD, while in 2020 sales were achieved for 12.8 MDD, representing an annual variation of 7%.

In 2020, there were 14 exporting municipalities:

-Dolores Hidalgo

-Silao

-San Miguel de Allende

-Guanajuato capital

-León

-Irapuato

-San José Iturbide

-Pénjamo

-San Francisco del Rincón

-Purísima del Rincón

-Apaseo el Grande

-Cortazar

-Celaya

-Villagrán

Dolores Hidalgo was the municipality with the highest participation in exports with 71%.

As for destinations, Guanajuato handicrafts reach 20 countries including the United States, Germany, Canada, Colombia, Australia, France, Poland, China, Great Britain, Panama, and Nicaragua.