Perthshire Artisans
Perthshire Artisans is a community of creative businesses based in Perth & Kinross, Scotland, launched by GrowBiz Scotland in 2020. The community exists both in-person and online. Artisans apply to a professional panel to join, and once selected, they pay a subsidised monthly membership fee to participate. Members gain access to a dedicated online forum and can attend events to connect with peers. Throughout the year, showcase opportunities are organised. Each artisan has a profile on the Perthshire Artisans website, displaying their background and creative process, and can list up to 30 products on the ecommerce platform.
Objectives: To build a strong brand and community of members who share information, knowledge and provide peer to peer support; to promote the artisans, their creative processes and products; and to provide a curated ecommerce platform for the artisans.
Results: Becoming a Perthshire Artisan boosts confidence, offering creative credibility and recognition. Members feel valued, supported, heard and connected. Getting to know fellow members reduces the anxiety of isolation, developing collaborations widens their creative interest and knowledge. The support of fellow members and from GrowBiz is extremely important and valued in their day to day running of their creative business practice.
Practical notes: Initially, the platform hoped to provide a fulfilment service for the artisans, however, this option incurred a larger membership cost and also tied up their stock with no guarantees of sales. During the initial 6-month pilot phase and operating during the pandemic, this was re-evaluated, and members were given the option to do their own fulfilment for a lower membership fee, which in turn enabled them to retain stock which could be made available at events etc. The community element of membership has been the core focus, ensuring the artisans feel connected, valued and part of a supportive collective and to retain membership.
Additional information
The Perthshire Artisans brand, e-commerce platform and membership were created and developed by GrowBiz Scotland as a way of supporting a growing number of small creative businesses in the Perth & Kinross area. Because of GrowBiz Scotland’s role as an enterprise support agency, the GrowBiz Scotland team was aware of the challenges faced by these businesses, and their unique support needs. Initially it was set-up as a 6-month pilot, and due to the pandemic was extended for a further 6-month period. The initial 6-month pilot was supported by the Perth & Kinross LEADER programme.
The Perthshire Artisans business model for the ecommerce platform is an existing, D2C model, providing customers with a directory of artisans and an online shop from which to purchase products. The artisans pay a monthly membership subscription (2 tiers of subscription are available) to be part of the Perthshire Artisans community and to list their products on the ecommerce platform. The artisans pay a 10% commission + processing fees on each sale.
Empowering rural communities to act for change
Ongoing | 2023-2027
- Main funding source
- Horizon Europe (EU Research and Innovation Programme)
- Geographical location
- Italy, Spain, Germany, Finland, Belgium, Austria, Greece, Croatia, Ireland, Netherlands, Sweden, Cyprus, United Kingdom, Switzerland, Ukraine