Hi all - My girlfriend (Clo) and I are big readers of this forum and thought I would share our story of the experience of starting up a business in Argentina and hopefully get some other expats to do the same!
Our business, ECEL started over a year ago - with the idea of designing and making unbranded luxury leather bags here in BA.
I will be the first to admit that we had no idea how ambitious we were being and that along the way we have discovered more than one good reason as to why we had never seen the Made in Argentina label while shopping at home.
We have had our fair share of nightmare moments - like coming to the realisation that there were no fittings nor vegetable leathers on the market that we wanted to use and we were going to have to make our own! However, anyone else who is thinking of setting something up here should take strength in knowing that with a little patience and pragmatism Industria Argentina is full of amazing artisans and possibilities!
The learning curve has been steep - but as many of the other threads will attest we really don't think there is a better way to get to know a country that doing business there - the friends we have ended up making and the elation felt from even the smallest steps forward has totally made the entire process worth it.
There are so many people on this forum that have gone above and beyond in helping us and we would definitely not be where we are today without the knowledge and support of BAExpat community! And would happily like to announce that as of this week we are making our own leathers and well on our way to producing season one!
If you're interested in seeing the range - we have made a promotional video (filmed at Coghlan Train Statio) to crowd fund our project here: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/ecel/ecels-quest-to-make-its-own-argentinean-leathers otherwise PM me about our Christmas party![Wink ;) ;)](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7)
It would also be great to get some feedback from BA expats as to which designs you like the best and what you think of our idea and also to hear other peoples experiences (hopefully positive) of getting something off the ground here.Doing business in Argentina - our quest to make leather bags
Our business, ECEL started over a year ago - with the idea of designing and making unbranded luxury leather bags here in BA.
I will be the first to admit that we had no idea how ambitious we were being and that along the way we have discovered more than one good reason as to why we had never seen the Made in Argentina label while shopping at home.
We have had our fair share of nightmare moments - like coming to the realisation that there were no fittings nor vegetable leathers on the market that we wanted to use and we were going to have to make our own! However, anyone else who is thinking of setting something up here should take strength in knowing that with a little patience and pragmatism Industria Argentina is full of amazing artisans and possibilities!
The learning curve has been steep - but as many of the other threads will attest we really don't think there is a better way to get to know a country that doing business there - the friends we have ended up making and the elation felt from even the smallest steps forward has totally made the entire process worth it.
There are so many people on this forum that have gone above and beyond in helping us and we would definitely not be where we are today without the knowledge and support of BAExpat community! And would happily like to announce that as of this week we are making our own leathers and well on our way to producing season one!
If you're interested in seeing the range - we have made a promotional video (filmed at Coghlan Train Statio) to crowd fund our project here: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/ecel/ecels-quest-to-make-its-own-argentinean-leathers otherwise PM me about our Christmas party
It would also be great to get some feedback from BA expats as to which designs you like the best and what you think of our idea and also to hear other peoples experiences (hopefully positive) of getting something off the ground here.Doing business in Argentina - our quest to make leather bags