BN12-06: COMMUNITY FUTURES TO START MARKETING CORPORATION FOR PEACE

Jan. 5, 1999, By Daily News Staff

Craftspeople and giftware makers looking for a way to market their products outside northeastern B.C. may be getting some help this spring.

By late-March, the Community Futures Development Corporation of Peace Liard (CFDC-PL) will have assessed the feasibility of launching a marketing corporation to promote such items.

CFDC-PL general manager Carrie Schafer said that initially the corporation will focus exclusively on giftware products and charge its clients a fee to handle the sales, marketing, and follow-up functions. While most craftspeople prefer just to make their products, Schafer said that's only half the battle in realizing a successful business.

"What we've found is that people love just to make the product and it's aother skill set just to market the product," Schafer said. "This would be a good way for us to market their product and they can sit back and do what they want."

Potential clients may include potters, woodcrafters, jewelry makers, soapmakers, and agri-food producers. A marketing corporation would allow such producers to share the costs of such market development endeavours as research, transportation, agent fees and advertising.

A number of giftware products manufactured in the Peace Liard region will be selected as a sample product line and will be promoted at several 1999 fall gift shows.

Schafer said that those interested should submit a description of their product along with a picture or photo. The Dawson Creek office of the CFDC-PL is located at 10805-14th Street.