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Rede Asta has entered into a new partnership to drive improvements in Brazil's handmade sector. From May to December 2023, we will work side-by-side with Grupo Ultra to foster recognition and professional development for 120 Brazilian artisans.
With thousands of people turning to craft entrepreneurship, the country is seeing a growing consumer demand for handmade products. Whether for home decor, fashion and accessories, or parties and events, there is a clear rise in the search for art rooted in popular culture.
Official data from the Brazilian Craft Registration Information System (Sicab) shows that the number of artisans more than doubled between January and August 2022 alone.
That is why Rede ASTA empowers Brazilian artisans by boosting their professional, social, and economic standing, while also promoting craft-based businesses. Beyond transforming waste into high-quality, beautiful, and ethical products, we aim to turn artisans into entrepreneurs.
With over 80 years of history, Grupo Ultra has a track record defined by pioneering spirit and innovation in products, operations, and processes, as well as the development of new market niches, always prioritizing sustainability as a fundamental element in all its business models.
Through its various businesses, Grupo Ultra is present in almost every Brazilian state and the Federal District: Ipiranga, which distributes and markets fuels and lubricants; Ultragaz, the leader in Brazil's Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) distribution market; and Ultracargo, a liquid bulk storage company.
It is the perfect partner for us to create value and bring investment to the handmade market!
The Artisans' Business School is an entrepreneurial training program for handmade professionals, featuring accessible language and in-depth, relevant content for those who want to treat their craft as a business.
The key differentiator is that it was built by a company that has been selling handmade products in the Brazilian market since 2005. All of this experience has been transformed into lessons on management, finance, formalization, pricing, design, marketing, and much more, with a focus on the potential of the handmade economy. We believe this knowledge is essential for increasing sales, improving products, building brand positioning, fostering customer relationships, and transforming artisans into entrepreneurs.
The project focuses on training 120 artisans from 11 Brazilian cities through the Rede Asta Business School. The project lasts 5 months and includes online classes and live sessions on topics related to business management, product design, and social media. We will also develop a product catalog for the entire class, provide scholarships for active students, and hold the Entusiasta contest, which awards 12 artisans with seed capital of R$1,000.00 (one thousand reais) each! That is R$12,000 in total for artisans to invest in their small businesses.
The project will operate in 11 Brazilian cities:
Fortaleza/CE
Cabo de Santo Agostinho/PE
Ipojuca/PE
Betim/MG
Canoas/RS
Macapá/AP
Manaus/AM
Belém, PA
Araucária, PR
Barueri, SP
Rio de Janeiro, RJ (Caju region)
Any artisan living in Brazil. According to the latest PNAD survey, there are approximately 10 million artisans in the country. Our dream is to reach every single one of them.
The answer is NO; male artisans can join and are very welcome. The Artisan Business School is open to anyone who wants to be an entrepreneur in the handmade world, regardless of gender, sexuality, or beliefs.
We chose to use the feminine form because 77% of professionals who identify as artisans in Brazil are women. Since they are the majority, we use the feminine gender as a linguistic convention.
The project region is defined by the area the sponsoring company wishes to impact and the number of people the project can support.
The selection of artisans for the classes is usually handled by Rede Asta. Being on the Asta Platform is essential so we can get to know you and have a way to invite you to join a class. During the selection phase for new projects, we look at the artisans registered on the Asta Platform in the region where we will be holding classes and conduct an interview to see if there is interest in participating and availability to attend the classes on the scheduled days and times.
Based on the information above, it is clear that completing your registration with all the required details is essential for us to review artisan profiles and invite them to future cohorts.
The Artisan Business School is available on the Asta Platform, and you can get started by registering on our website www.plataformaasta.com.br or via the Asta Platform app, available for Android and iOS devices.