On design and marketing of handicrafts

Ethno Network partnered with National Alliance for Local Economic Development (NALED) to organize the seminar entitled \\\'Handicrafts as a vehicle for branding and promotion of Serbia\\\', implemented in the framework of the project \\\'Cultural heritage as a source of income\\\' which is supported by the Embassy of the United States in Serbia. The seminar was attended by representatives of producer associations and cooperatives within Ethno Network (Negotin, Pancevo, Belgrade, Veliko Gradiste Indjija, Odzaci), students majoring in textile design, representatives of partner organizations (Chamber of Commerce of Serbia, local tourism organizations) and selected trainers.

In the introduction, attendees were welcomed by Iva Radic, Ethno Network Manager, and explained the importance of connecting women as craft producers and young designers attending the master studies at the University of Applied Arts in Belgrade. The attendees were also briefly addressed by Tatjana Bakraclic as a representative of the United States Embassy in Serbia, who expressed great satisfaction that the institution she represents supports this initiative and Ethno Network as an organization that was established with the assistance of USAID.

As Ethno Network Coordinator, Sofia Arsic started her presentation entitled \\\'Roadpath to a good product\\\' with a brief review of the current work of the organization emphasizing the importance of implemented projects that have provided thorough insight into the current situation in Serbia in terms of production of handicrafts and preservation of cultural heritage. In the introductory lecture Sofija presented the national framework to open handicraft shops as the question of tradition preservation is closely linked with the efforts to develop entrepreneurship among youth. Sofija said that the key to business success in this sector is maintaining a constant quality production within a business entity that places handicrafts to the market. Jasna Vujcic from the association \\\'