Browsing by Subject "käsityöyrittäjä"

The aim of the study was to find out what kind of view on product quality dressmaker and customer have, how the views differ from each other and how the difference affects dressmaker's work as an entrepreneur. The research data consists of eight thematic interviews: four dressmakers and four customers were interviewed for the study. In the core of customised dressmaking is a relationship between a maker and a client. The product of a dressmaker, a unique dress, is created in an immediate interaction between a dressmaker and a client. Also the quality of a unique dress derives from this interaction. In the results of this study, the views on quality are linked with six themes: dress, process, dressmaker, customer, interaction and enterprise. The dressmakers and the customers agree that the quality of a custom-made dress is based on unique fit. Describing the process the dressmakers insist on the quality of manufacturing. The clients' view on process insists on those phases where they themselves take part: designing and fitting. The personality of the dressmaker is part of quality in both the dressmakers' and the customers' points of view. The dressmakers and the customers are also aware of the customers impact on fulfilling the expectations. The immediate interaction between dressmaker and customer is a key to the unique dressmaking. At its best the interaction is followed by a trusting relationship. Entrustment derives also from a good reputation, which is essential in dressmaker-entrepreneurs marketing strategy. The dressmakers' views on quality are product- and manufacturing-based. According to the results of the study there can be seen different types of dressmakers, that emphasise different aspects of quality. At the other end is a manufacturing-based, even transcendent view on quality, which rests on the values of the dressmaker. At the other end lies a customer- and value-based approach, which is founded on fulfilling the expectations and needs of the customer. In their views on quality the customers emphasise the immediate interaction between dressmaker and client.

The aim of this study is to examine, how milliner entrepreneurs have built their business activities and what kind of similar commonalities there is possible to find. According to former studies you can see that handicraft entrepreneurship differs of other businesses, even though the principles of the businesses remain the same. The handicraft entrepreneurs start their businesses usually because of the want to provide themselves with the work they feel as a passion. In this situation, the focus of the business is making crafts, not the company. Milliners are marginal group of artisans, whom are not researched previously. This is the reason why it is important to research, if there is similarities between craft and milliner entrepreneurs businesses. In this study, there were interviewed nine milliner entrepreneurs from Helsinki, Tampere, Hämeenlinna and Turku. The material for this study was collected with half structured theme interview. During the interviews, there were also an drawing assignment, where were intended to draw the significant moments of their own entrepreneurships. The aim of this assignment was to find out more information from the features of milliner businesses. Material was analyzed with qualitative theory based content analysis. The milliner entrepreneurs thought that making hats and other accessories is their passion and having a company is mainly the way to enable it. Part of the milliner entrepreneurs were making and selling only hats, but it was common to make and sell other handcrafts as well. The most common company form was sole trader and most of the milliner entrepreneurs were started their businesses as a half-time job. The good parts of the entrepreneurship were decision making power and the freedom to do what they want to. Among other things the challenging parts were financial insecurity and economics. The aims of this study follow the former studies of handcraft entrepreneurship.