Help Guatemalan Women Market their Textiles

Feria Chapina Textile Market was held from August 23 -26 at Hollywood Park, in the city of Los Angeles, Ca. The festival had an average of 60 stands with diverse products such as, handicrafts, food, and services, as well as a variety of recreational entertainment surrounding this event. There were about 50,000 Central Americans in attendance.

With the support of the Agexport Craftsmanship Commission, Agros International, and donors to GlobalGiving, the craftsmanship project developing under the brand Concepto Ixil, had the opportunity to participate in Feria Chapina by exhibiting products in a shared stand.

There were a series of preparations for the event, from the organization of sales inventory, advertising, promotion, shipment of merchandise, and travel logistics.

A business conference was held by the Economy of Ministry, and their representatives for the United States, from which the Guatemalan women gained two contacts. The first contact is a travel agency interested in marketing handicrafts through the tourism packages they offer, and commercializing them to markets in Los Angeles. The second contact is an event organizer for Latinos that is hoping to carry out a festival in December, and was looking for other people interested in participating.

The exhibition stand, for sales and promotion was open for three days. Over the course of those three days, the women achieved $1,000.00 of sales from the personal accessories and decor lines that were brought to the exhibit.

After 40 percent of the product was sold, we were able to find a buying agent to represent us in Los Angeles for the 60 percent of remaining product. Many people are interested in being able to obtain the products or have the opportunity to market them. This represents an opportunity for us to gain a market in this area through commercialization.