Good practice:

A master artisan - protecting their reputation by doing everything themselves

Facing the challenge of either working with partners to put his products on the market or taking the whole responsibility personally, the master artisan Valentin Dimitrov decides to protect his own reputation by working alone. He combines in a unique way craft and design skills, technological and marketing knowledge, respect for traditions and an instinctive feel of the new reality, a willingness to share and coach.
The artisan:
• manufactures his ceramic products from a clay with unique composition (without limestone), created by him for personal use only
• creates his own potter's wheel with an additional vacuum holding device to secure the product in place. This enables easier pottery decoration and attaching of additional elements
• the innovation in the potter’s wheel itself lies in the inverter motor, which is used to precisely regulate the revolutions
• manufactures furnaces for firing ceramic himself. They are economical and energy saving due to the use of high quality bricks and fasteners made of stainless steel
• manufactures furnaces for metal melting and glass heat treatment (fusing technique - the glass melting technique up to 850 °C and slumping technique - the technique that is used to shape the glass through mold)
• use of own multilingual website to sell craftwork: furnaces mainly abroad (Northern Macedonia, Turkey, Greece) and the handicrafts in Bulgaria.
• He organizes training for adults and children, provides accommodation for additional income.

To be completed

Many individuals and galleries in Bulgaria and abroad own the ceramic handicrafts, made by this master artisan, using the sgraffito technique, also the unique historical, cultural, and entertainment-educational park near Varna.

• Hundreds of furnaces and pottery wheels sold;
• Dozens of organized training courses;
• Preserved business identity for more than 30 years;
• No dissatisfied customer in his work experience;
• He considers good cost-benefit ratio.

The craftsman trusts only his own knowledge and expertise. By relying on an independent business cycle, the sole responsibility for the success of the business is borne by one person who is overworked with many and diverse activities, and the handicrafts offered are limited in volume.

The practice can be transferred to other European regions and can serve and be useful as an inspiration for start-up craft businesses by reducing some of the stages: the creation of raw material and equipment (ceramic furnace and potter's wheel). Taking on personal responsibility through the self-realization of the other stages of the proposed business model is a great challenge, but also a very good opportunity to create an own successful business.