Strategic Marketing Model for the Iranian Handicraft Based on Grounded Theory

Handicraft is considered as one of the most valuable national capital which has a high entrepreneurial and economic potential. Most of the handicraft artists are native and uneducated, who are the sheer producers and are not familiar with the competitive market. In some cases, lack of demand and economic inefficiencies led to the closure of manufacturing workshops. However, due to diversity, authenticity and inherency of handicraft in Iran and its performance, this industry has the capacity to revive. In this study, the researchers have tried to identify, categorize and modelling the functional approach and experimental factors affecting marketing and selling crafts using qualitative research method. Based on 28 interviews with some experts, manufacturers and retailers, 58 concepts among 20 main categories were identified. These concepts were directly or indirectly in connection with marketing of handicraft. Also these concepts are structured according to the paradigm model grounded theory in six dimensions including "causal conditions", "phenomenon", "strategies"," context ", "intervening factors" and "consequences".