Internationalization of Finnish handicraft businesses : a Turku region business case study

Abstract

Handicraft businesses present potential to increase the number of exporting firms in Finland. Internationalization is a great effort for microsized enterprises, where the decision-maker often has to allocate time and resources between different tasks. Internationalization projects and networks of handicraft/design businesses have come to meet these businesses halfway. Joining a project however is no guarantee of success in international markets. Certain prerequisites need to be met before internationalization can take place. This study takes a closer look at five microsized handicraft/design enterprise’s efforts towards internationalization. It observes the methods and different factors that affect internationalization decisions, implementation and their success. In this study five factors were identified that affect a handicraft enterprise’s motive for internationalization. Six factors were identified that affect the success for internationalization.