New World Handicrafts Trade Show in Guatemala

As in the previous two years, Counterpart International and USAID co-hosted the third annual New World Handicrafts Central American Trade Show. The event, organized by the Guatemalan Exporters Association’s (AGEXPORT) Arts and Crafts Commission, was held at Casa Santo Domingo in Antigua, Guatemala on September 8th and 9th, 2010.

This year’s show featured:

A showroom filled with 100 stands selling high quality handicrafts from all over Central America;

Seminars hosted by international experts covering topics such as “Participation in International Trade Shows,” “Fashion Trends of the American Market,” and “AZO Dyes and their Implications for the Export Market”; and

Seven conferences held during the trade show that touched on important design trends and market intelligence topics, in order to provide market intelligence information to artisans and exporters.

The two day event generated on site sales worth $350,000 for the 100 artisans, while sales from negotiations and orders following the event are projected to generate well over $700,000.

Each year Counterpart introduces innovations to the Trade Show based on feedback from artisans and exporters. This year, Counterpart included workshops in the months leading up to the Trade Show, in order to better prepare artisans and exporters on event expectations and what types of products and commercialization materials to showcase to increase revenue. Each year the event becomes increasingly popular, which has allowed Counterpart to better tailor the show to the vendors’ needs, thus maximizing the experience for all.

The Trade Show provides a boost for local Central American handicraft producers, securing a more stable livelihood. The producers can also use this opportunity to extend their reach, linking their small business in Central America to larger, international designers and buyers. For example, this year, Counterpart and AGEXPORT provided technical assistance in design improvement and process mainstreaming to the Association of Parents and Friends of Handicapped People (ADISA), a special group from the Lake Atitlan region in Solola. ADISA is a group of disabled young men and women who have endured different challenges due to their condition and, after completing basic education, generate income for the organization and their families through handicraft production. Through Counterpart’s support, a group of international designers worked with ADISA members to produce a new line of products, which was showcased at the New World Crafts and other trade shows by local exporter and now partner in business, La Casa Cotzal.

Counterpart has been working in Guatemala since 2003, teaming with local communities to create economic opportunities around tourism – one of the country’s key drivers. We work closely with AGEXPORT, international design firms, local universities and handicraft designers and exporters to produce and sell new products in international markets. Counterpart’s programs have helped create more than 2,100 jobs, train nearly 5,000 people and strengthen 800 tourism businesses and organizations.

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