Formalization moves the patchwork and related arts market
Source: SEGS - National Insurance & Health Portal - 09/09/2012
Since July 2009, the Federal Government's Individual Microentrepreneur (MEI) program has been in place, which has been providing significant increases in revenue for more than half of the entrepreneurs who are formalized. According to data from the Brazilian Institute of Economics of the Getúlio Vargas Foundation (Ibre / FGV) and the Brazilian Institute of Ethics in Competition (ETCO), the Brazilian informal economy decreased for the eighth consecutive year.
For the consultant at Sebrae / PR, Claudinei Guilherme, this change in the economic scenario can be explained by the facilities that formalization has on the micro-entrepreneur business. “The sharp reduction in informality is due to the increase in the letter of credit made available by financial institutions. To have access to the system, it is necessary for the entrepreneur to formalize ”, he explains.
The expansion of formal employment is not only characterized by easy access to credit lines, but also by the collection of taxes at reduced rates and social security benefits. "The entrepreneur's greatest concern is to be able to expand his business and this is motivated by added values, such as being able to issue invoices, sell his products to other companies and collect INSS", says Guilherme.
Craft market
In the last 10 years, the national craft consumption market has been expanded and has become a benchmark for business opportunities. “Before, the profile of quilters was that of a person passionate about manual arts. However, nowadays, many become artists on occasion, starting activities without commercial interest, just for the purpose of distracting and meeting people. And, in the end, with the encouragement and appreciation of family and friends, they become professional and become entrepreneurs in the segment ”, explains Emília Aoki, promoter of the Quilt & Craft Show.
Patchwork and related arts are no longer just hobbies and have started to contribute to the good economic indexes in the country. An unofficial survey carried out with the exhibitors of the 2nd Quilt & Craft Show pointed to a 20% growth in the segment, in South Region, compared to last year. Despite this, high demand suffers from the scarcity of domestic industrial production. “The market for patchwork and other art techniques with fabric, grew rapidly and Brazilian industries were unable to keep up with this pace. To meet demand, it is necessary to import foreign products ”, declared Emilia Aoki.
The formalization of small artisans, in this sense, would not only benefit the entrepreneur, but would heat up the production of inputs on a large scale. "Getting out of informality is important for the small business owner, as it facilitates the acquisition of raw materials, at wholesale, and develops the industry itself, increasing the number of suppliers", says Aoki.
Change of plans
It was by following other paths that the businesswoman Eliane Castelan left the primary dream of being a nurse to become an artist in the patchwork technique. After a period of five years, living in France, Eliane got to know manual arts and developed her skills. "In 1988, I went to live in France and started taking patchwork classes, an activity that, since then, has been part of my life and is my main source of income".
Upon returning to Brazil, the businesswoman informally taught classes and marketed her products for a long period. However, seven years ago, she started her own company and today she generates jobs for 14 people, directly and indirectly. “From the moment I formalized my business, I had a significant return on sales and attracting students and I was able to expand my staff. I know that I can't stop because other people depend on this job ”, he concludes.
To learn more about how to formalize a business, Sebrae will maintain a stand throughout the 2nd Quilt & Craft Show, which takes place from September 05th to 08th, at Expo Unimed Curitiba. More information on the website: www.quiltshow.com.br.
