NIFT invites Corporate for collaboration on the Cluster Development Initiative
Background
In the third steering committee it was felt that this initiative needed to be sustained and made profitable even beyond the stipulated time of the project. It was felt that it is very important to have a corporate anchor for the same, and NIFT will work in a public private partnership with the corporate. Currently talks are on with some of the leading corporate houses of India for such alliance.
Alliance Framework
NIFT – CORPORATE partnership to institute a mutually beneficial business model in the Indian handicraft sector. Entailing design, manufacture and sales of identified products in the domestic and international market, with strategic intervention at the grass root level, ensuring rural up-liftmen of artisans in the sector. The corporate can enter into new field of Indian Handicrafts which is not organized at this stage, NIFT will aid in organizing the same at the grassroots level.
Strategy
To create world class products with Indian heritage.
To create a strong brand, which reflects the character of the initiative.
Synergize competencies for processes and systems enhancing quality and productivity.
Leverage front end – retail & sales competencies of the corporate partner – creating a demand in the domestic market
Enhance supply chain efficiency by leveraging the existing back end model of the partner
Export competency to enable the brand's foray into the international market
Deliverables from NIFT
Design studio of NIFT to work as a center point of the business model deploying expertise in:
Design intervention – seasonal forecasts.
Product range and architecture development.
Grass root intervention at the artisans level
Formation of sub clusters and clusters and manages the same.
Breaking down processes to create specialists amongst artisans.
A joint R&D laboratory for the handicraft sector.
Deliverables from the corporate partner
Collaborate in setting up the supply chain – inventory system, production planning etc
Set up world standard quality systems.
Provide front end sales and retail support, giving shelf space and visibility for the brand in the retail chain / partner stores
To put incentive systems in place for Design Studio, Students and faculty to sustain the clusters and model beyond the stipulated time of the project.
Corporate can also aid the artisans with working capital requirement at the initial stages .
On the completion of the project the Corporate to adopt the cluster on a Social Responsibility note and treat the Design studio as the research and development unit cum marketing intelligence.