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HANDMADE BUSINESS: SELLING BIJOU THOROUGH ONLINE SOCIAL NETWORKS BECOMES POPULAR TREND IN ARMENIA
NAZIK ARMENAKYAN
ArmeniaNow
18.10.11 | 14:42
By Gohar Abrahamyan
ArmeniaNow intern
Online social networks, particularly Facebook, that have grown to
have their own place in Armenia in recent years, have become a unique
business platform where many youngsters take their first steps.
There are more than two dozen pages and groups of people on Facebook
who deal with handmade works, and present their collections, making
them accessible for potential consumers.
Enlarge Photo
Though there is a special place in Yerevan, called Vernisage, an
open-air market of handmade items, however, many young people prefer
to do their small business on online social networks, which is free
from taxation and other problems of different nature.
"About a year ago I started making and painting earrings, armlets,
necklaces and posting their photos on Facebook. There were many
responds. Now I have more than 30 orders a month, and my works are
priced from 1,500 drams (about $4) to 8,000-10,000 drams (about $
21-$26) depending on the size and complication of the order," says
22-year-old Alla, who is a trained specialist in international affairs.
Wooden and clay necklaces, armlets and other accessories presented
online have evoked some great interest. On the one hand they promote
the demand in handmade works, and on the other hand by their existence
they push poor quality, artless and sparkling jewelry out of the
market.
"About seven-eight years ago very few people made bijouterie, because
it was not properly appreciated here, there were very few people who
were interested in it. Many people saw no value in works made of wood,
plastic materials, and they did not 'waste' their money on them.
However, recently, maybe because of the Internet's being so accessible,
this work has become more appreciated, and the business has become
quite profitable," says 24-year-old architect-designer Mariam, who
now makes puppets instead of handmade bijouterie.
Mariam, who made her first puppet for her friend leaving for the
United States, has already made more than 100 puppets, which are
unique souvenirs.
Prices of her puppets range from 3,000 drams (about $8) to 20,000
drams (about $53) depending on the size and complication of the
presented character.
Lusine Ghazaryan, 36, resident of Armenia's remote Artik town,
started making pillows and bed accessories, painting them herself
when her first baby was born.
"When my baby was born, I decided to make her pillow and coverlet by
my own hands. First, I did it to get self-satisfaction, but later
I saw that people are interested in what I make, and I decided to
expand my activities," says Lusine, who is a painter by profession.
Currently many people are into making handmade objects, and in spite
of the fact that from the very beginning they all have done it for
their pleasure and self-expression only, now they can earn money
applying the talent of their own hands. They sell their creations
both through new and modern channels (Internet and social networks)
and old and traditional means (at shops).
There are shops of handmade works in Yerevan; the Univermag shopping
center opened in one of Yerevan's central streets joined them just
a few months ago. This two-story small shop was founded when a few
friends were united around the idea of "creating an art platform". All
samples put up for sale in the shop are handmade and created in
Armenia.
"There are quite interesting handmade works here, which cannot be
found in common shops. This shop is a unique place for exhibiting
and selling works created by people who are interested in handmade
objects. This shop also develops taste," says Melik Karapetyan,
director of the Univermag shopping center.
The shopping center, which cooperates with about 60 authors, has a
so-called 'author's day', when every Wednesday the shop hosts one
of authors who collaborate with it, giving them an opportunity to
present their works personally and communicate with visitors.
NAZIK ARMENAKYAN
ArmeniaNow
18.10.11 | 14:42
By Gohar Abrahamyan
ArmeniaNow intern
Online social networks, particularly Facebook, that have grown to
have their own place in Armenia in recent years, have become a unique
business platform where many youngsters take their first steps.
There are more than two dozen pages and groups of people on Facebook
who deal with handmade works, and present their collections, making
them accessible for potential consumers.
Enlarge Photo
Though there is a special place in Yerevan, called Vernisage, an
open-air market of handmade items, however, many young people prefer
to do their small business on online social networks, which is free
from taxation and other problems of different nature.
"About a year ago I started making and painting earrings, armlets,
necklaces and posting their photos on Facebook. There were many
responds. Now I have more than 30 orders a month, and my works are
priced from 1,500 drams (about $4) to 8,000-10,000 drams (about $
21-$26) depending on the size and complication of the order," says
22-year-old Alla, who is a trained specialist in international affairs.
Wooden and clay necklaces, armlets and other accessories presented
online have evoked some great interest. On the one hand they promote
the demand in handmade works, and on the other hand by their existence
they push poor quality, artless and sparkling jewelry out of the
market.
"About seven-eight years ago very few people made bijouterie, because
it was not properly appreciated here, there were very few people who
were interested in it. Many people saw no value in works made of wood,
plastic materials, and they did not 'waste' their money on them.
However, recently, maybe because of the Internet's being so accessible,
this work has become more appreciated, and the business has become
quite profitable," says 24-year-old architect-designer Mariam, who
now makes puppets instead of handmade bijouterie.
Mariam, who made her first puppet for her friend leaving for the
United States, has already made more than 100 puppets, which are
unique souvenirs.
Prices of her puppets range from 3,000 drams (about $8) to 20,000
drams (about $53) depending on the size and complication of the
presented character.
Lusine Ghazaryan, 36, resident of Armenia's remote Artik town,
started making pillows and bed accessories, painting them herself
when her first baby was born.
"When my baby was born, I decided to make her pillow and coverlet by
my own hands. First, I did it to get self-satisfaction, but later
I saw that people are interested in what I make, and I decided to
expand my activities," says Lusine, who is a painter by profession.
Currently many people are into making handmade objects, and in spite
of the fact that from the very beginning they all have done it for
their pleasure and self-expression only, now they can earn money
applying the talent of their own hands. They sell their creations
both through new and modern channels (Internet and social networks)
and old and traditional means (at shops).
There are shops of handmade works in Yerevan; the Univermag shopping
center opened in one of Yerevan's central streets joined them just
a few months ago. This two-story small shop was founded when a few
friends were united around the idea of "creating an art platform". All
samples put up for sale in the shop are handmade and created in
Armenia.
"There are quite interesting handmade works here, which cannot be
found in common shops. This shop is a unique place for exhibiting
and selling works created by people who are interested in handmade
objects. This shop also develops taste," says Melik Karapetyan,
director of the Univermag shopping center.
The shopping center, which cooperates with about 60 authors, has a
so-called 'author's day', when every Wednesday the shop hosts one
of authors who collaborate with it, giving them an opportunity to
present their works personally and communicate with visitors.