"Handcrafted products produced by individual artisans could be a new kind of status symbol, and that bodes well for retailers that sell handmade products. According to
OPEN Book: Trends from American Express Open Small Business, luxury's new form consists of products and services based on "authenticity and exclusivity."
"In addition to the handmade nature of the product, the story behind the item is just as important. So if you're selling, say, handcrafted quilts, you emphasize not only the beauty of the quilt, but also the story of the person who made it, the materials used to produce it, the significance of its design and other elements.
"The new luxury consumer appreciates the time and effort that goes into the manufacture of such products," says the publication. Small businesses who sell handcrafted products are in a good position to provide their customers with their products' story and, the publication adds, such businesses "will find that promoting great craftsmanship can pay dividends."
(Published in Country Sampler's "Country Business," February 2010)
My dear artist friends, it looks like our time may have come!
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