To research the Italian handicrafts industry and export potential, you must go to Italy, right? That’s where a Center for Experiential (CEL) practicum team is this week and they are sending updates and photos to the blog so we can vicariously tag along on their travels. Here’s the first blog post from trip leader Brandon Smith, MBA’15.

Competition for the Spring Practicum program was intense with nearly 100 applicants vying for a handful of spots. Ultimately five students were chosen to spearhead a semester-long project for Artex, the Center for Artistic and Traditional Handicrafts of Tuscany.

The team includes Josie Gutierrez,MBA’15; Rebecca Lantner, MBA’15; and first-year MBA students Ben Evans and Ty Holden. We will be working, on a two stage project in support of the Artex “Tuscan Home” initiative that will take us to Florence, Italy during MBA travel week.

We started the first stage of the project in January. The goal was to understand the Italian handicrafts industry, the current U.S. market, and the current Artex export mode. Our week- long immersion in the Tuscan handicrafts industry in and around Florence will give us first-hand experience necessary to complete our research and final project. The team will spend time with the Artex staff and spend several days on-site with local artisans across Tuscany. Upon returning from Florence, the team will develop strategies/recommendations to improve the current Artex business model and pricing structure as well as increase the target pool of U.S. based retailers.

CEL Associate Director Daniel Bentle says, “The Artex practicum project allows students a unique opportunity to take what they have learned in the classroom and apply it in a real world environment with clients who have a vested interested in the success of the project.”

Check back often for more blog posts from Team Olin in Tuscany!