Global Potentiality of Bangladeshi Handicraft Part II

World demand for handicraft:

                                                              World demand of handicraft is increasing in great deal. The USAID published in a report the following table of the demand of handicraft and its growth.

Raw Material	Illustrative	Home Accessory	Top U.S. Retail Stores
		Market Segment
(as classified	Product		(2010 sales in $ millions and 2011 growth
		(2010 U.S. market
by ITC)	Examples		projection)
		share)
Basket, wicker,	Baskets		• Home accent/gift stores ($6,500; 4.2%)
and vegetable			• Direct-to-consumer channel ($2,500; 9%)
fibers	Handbags
			• Discount stores/off-price retailers ($2,275; 6.4%)
Metal	Picture	Accessories and	• Lifestyle stores ($700; 8.6%)
			• Department stores ($660; 0.8%)
	frames (of
		gifts (22%)	• Craft/fabric stores/chain ($445; down 3.4%)
Leather	wood and
			• Interior designers ($425; 2.4%)
	metal)
Paper			• Traditional furniture stores/chain ($320; 6.3%)
	Wall décor		• Home improvement centers and warehouse clubs
			($150; 2%)
Pottery	items
			• Traditional furniture stores/chains ($3,100; 6.5%)
Wood	Boxes
			• Lifestyle stores ($2,850; 7%)
Soap	Decorative		• Discount stores/off-price retailers ($2,175; 6.4%)
		Accent furniture	• Home accent/gift stores ($2,050; 6.1%)
	accessories
			• Interior designers ($1,120; 1.3%)
Textiles		(21%)
			• Home improvement centers and warehouse clubs
	Ornaments
Stone			($575; 3.5%)
	Vases		• Department stores ($535; down 0.6%)
Glass			• Direct-to-consumer channel ($450; 11.1%)
	Candles		• Discount stores/off-price retailers ($1,360; 4%)
Bone
	Candle-		• Home improvement centers and warehouse clubs
			($1,260; 4.9%)
Horn	holders
			• Lamp and lighting stores/chains ($1,180; 0.8%)
Shells	Ceramics	Portable lamps	• Home accent/gift stores ($952; 2.2%)
		(11%)	• Lifestyle stores ($510; 5.3%)
Combination of	Sculptures		• Direct-to-consumer channel ($435; 5.7%)
			• Traditional furniture stores/chain ($410; 5.4%)
different
			• Department stores ($300; down 1.7%)
materials and	Masks
			• Craft/fabric stores/chain ($170; 0%)
techniques

		Home Accessory
Raw Material	Illustrative		Top U.S. Retail Stores
		Market Segment
(as classified	Product		(2010 sales in $ millions and 2011 growth
		(2010 U.S. market
by ITC)	Examples		projection)
		share)
	Bowls and		•  Discount stores/off-price retailers ($1,650; 4.2%)
			•	Lifestyle stores ($1,060; 2.8%)
	dishes
	Furniture		•  Home improvement centers and warehouse clubs
				($610; 3.6%)
	Embroidered	Area rugs (9%)	•	Traditional furniture stores/chains ($565; 3.2%)
			•  Floor covering stores ($509; 2.2%)
	and sewn
			•	Direct-to-consumer channel ($470; 4.3%)
	textiles
			•  Home accent/gift stores ($405; 2.5%)
	Papier mâché		•  Department stores ($305; down 1.6%)
			•  Discount stores/off-price retailers ($1,625; 4.3%)
	Jewelry		•  Home accent/gift stores ($785; 3.2%)
			•	Direct-to-consumer channel ($690; 4.3%)
	Musical		•	Traditional furniture stores $540; 5.6%)
	instruments	Wall décor (9%)	•	Lifestyle stores ($515; 3.9%)
			•  Home improvement centers and warehouse clubs
	Toys
			•	($445; 3.4%)
			•  Craft/fabric stores/chain ($355; down 2.8%)
			•	Interior designers ($155; 3.2%)
			•  Department stores ($118; down 1.7%)
			•  Home improvement centers and warehouse clubs
				($1,635; 3.7%)
		Lighting fixtures	•  Lamp and lighting stores ($1,505; 3.3%)
			•  Discount stores/off-price retailers ($415; 3.6%)
		(7%)
			•  Home accent/gift stores ($172; 1.7%)
			•	Interior designers ($153; 1.3%)
			•	Direct-to-consumer channel ($130; 3.8%)
			•	Lifestyle stores ($975; 1%)
		Tabletop and	•	Home accent/gift stores (820; 1.8%)
		tabletop accessories	•	Discount stores/off-price retailers ($775; 1.9%)
		(7%)	•	Department stores ($630; 1%)
			•	Direct-to-consumer channel ($615; 2.4%)
		Collectibles (6%)	•  Home accent/gift stores ($1,790; down 2.2%)
			•	Direct-to-consumer channel ($1,300; 3.8%)
			•  Discount stores/off-price retailers ($515; 1%)
			•  Discount stores/off-price retailers ($980; 3.1%)
		Soft goods (5%)	•  Home accent/gift stores ($630; 2.4%)
			•	Lifestyle stores ($555; 3.6%)
			•	Direct-to-consumer channel ($415; 3.6%)
			•  Department stores ($335; 1.5%)
			•	Craft/fabric stores/chain ($855; 1.1%)
		Permanent	•  Home accent/gift stores ($450; 1.1%)
			•  Discount stores/off-price retailers ($295; 1.7%)
		botanicals (4%)
			•	Direct-to-consumer channel ($203; 1.5%)
			•	Lifestyle stores ($140; 0.7%)

Export of handicraft from Bangladesh:

                                                                  Though Bangladesh is exporting handicraft in huge amount, still it is not satisfactory considering the export of neighboring countries. Export schedule of Bangladeshi handicraft is following:

Handicraft Export of different fiscal year

Fiscal Year (FY)	Export In Million US$
2002-2003	5.90
2003-2004	4.21
2004-2005	5.12
2005-2006	4.30
2006-2007	8.16
2007-2008	5.49
2008-2009	6.44
2009-2010	7.41
This is a list of Handicrafts, excluding textile handicraft goods.

Some suggestions to overcome the problems-

In accordance of the discussion with the craft-peoples, some craft-exporters and BANGLACRAFT the following suggestions has made to make a way for the development of Handicraft’s business in Bangladesh- 

1.      Setting up of design development center is urgently needed for producing new product and product diversification. Crafts men to be trained for better performance, innovation and technology to be provided for overall development of the sector in a design development institute.

2.      Set up handicraft industrial park/ handicraft village/clusters of producers linked with lead exporters to ensure sustainability

3.      Enhance capacity of the exporters for getting market information.

4.      Develop fund for identifying new markets and new products.

5.      Access to finance be made easy.

6.      Facilitate exporter participation in trade fairs, designing catalogues and preparing for exhibition.    

7.      Continued and focused attention has to be given to handicrafts for up-gradation of skill, creation of better work environment and development of cluster for specific crafts with common service and improvement of infrastructures and market development.

8.      Quality raw materials to be ensured for product diversification.

9.      Branding Bangladesh is very essential at this moment because some of the buyers sell our quality products in their brand which is preventing our market growth.

In our country the handicrafts are mainly regulated by non-technical persons who possess very little technical knowledge and there is no involvement of textile engineers. The workers are mainly un-skilled women and children. We can develop this sector as a wide earning sector to contribute to our national economy by involving Textile Experts in this sector and by developing manpower skill. Finally it should be helpful to introduce our tradition or culture to the globe.