Busy times ahead

The Agency is preparing for a busy fall. Professional skills development workshops, retail shows, promotional and marketing trip, and a new website are some of the projects and initiatives the Agency has planned for the fall of '11.

Over the past 4 years, through funding from the Northern Strategic Plan, the Agency has provided professional skills development workshops throughout all regions of Labrador. Some of these have been duffel and hide moccasin, caribou hair tufting, baby booties, parka dolls and beginner carving. In 2010 a local producer was contracted to develop a new series of dolls related to Labrador. The Labrador settler doll, Labradorable, and doll in a tote bag were introduced with great success on the wholesale market. This led to the first workshop in the dolls in the spring of 2011.

This year, through continued support from the Northern Plan, the Agency will be tentatively offering 2 more development workshops. Another in the Labrador doll as well as a beading and embroidery embellishment workshop. The embellishment training will primarily serve as a means for producers from past workshops to increase their skills and add value to their work.

On October 29th Labrador Traditions will be holding their 9th annual Christmas Craft Fair at the College of the North Atlantic gymnasium from 10 until 4. The finest handmade crafts from Labrador will be available from over 25 exhibitors. From November 9 to the 13 the Agency will be attending the Craft Council of Newfoundland and Labrador Christmas Craft Fair in St. John's at the Arts and Culture Centre. From November 15 to 20 the Agency will be exhibiting for the first time at the Signatures Christmas Show in Ottawa The show is being held at the Ottawa Convention Centre.

Also this fall the Agency is planning another promotional and marketing trip to Nain. The Agency will meet with producers from Nain and other areas or Labrador's north coast to present how the Agency operates and the benefits of marketing through the Labrador Craft Marketing Agency. This will be the third such trip to the north coast.

The fall of 2011 promises to be a busy time around here, and with plans of a new website falling into place the future is looking bright for the Labrador Craft Marketing Agency.