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  • Handmade Business: Selling Bijou Thorough Online Social Networks Bec

    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.

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