As a part of our “Costa Rica Inside Out 2022” edition, we’re introducing “My Next Step”—stories where members of our entrepreneurs community share the next rung on the ladder they’re hoping to reach as they grow. We hope that by sharing these goals with our readers and with colleagues, members of Entrepreneurs 506 can gain connections and suggestions that will help them move forward. This week, we spoke with artisan Ariana Díaz Núñez, of Manotica.
The next step for this artisan-entrepreneur: placing her work in more public spaces. But she’s not sure how to make that happen.
Ariana Díaz Núñez, of Nicoya, Guanacaste. has always loved creating art with her hands. She created Manotica, literally “Costa Rican Hand,” because she loves the pride of putting a piece of Costa Rican artisanry into a client’s hands.
When she first became an entrepreneur 15 years ago, she says, “being an entrepreneur wasn’t like it is now. Now, we’re respected more; we’re given a place.”
At this point, she is creating macrame designs for clients who request them; she’s grown based on the number of orders she receives. These include handbags, coasters and other little designs—but what she likes the most is creating larger pieces such as lamps. She also works in partnership with a welder to create chairs. At this point in the growth of Manotica, she wants to focus more on those pieces and on placing them
“I travel a lot for my other business,” she says, referring to Fuxion Calidad de Vida, where her family sells a Peruvian sugar- and gluten-free nutritional drink line that they brought to Costa Rica. “I find spectacular lamps and designs in macrame, and one day I said: how beautiful it would be if one day something like that had been made by me.” The desire was born to sell her pieces to hotels so that they can be viewed in lobbies or other more public spaces.
“I want to make lamps and chairs to decorate a lobby or another space worthy of photographs,” she says.
But how can she make that happen?
“It’s not easy to become a part of those things—to be taken into consideration,” she says. “It’s usually reserved for close contacts, or people with money who get their way in there.”
At the same time, she has some concrete steps in mind that she can take now to improve her chances of making those connections.
“I think I need to keep creating, and taking nice photos so I can reach [people] through visuals,” she says. “There are always obstacles, but with faith and a good attitude, we can get their attention.”
Are you, like Ariana, interested in learning how to take better photos to promote your business—with your own phone? Join us for a free coaching session with photojournalist Mónica Quesada on Thursday, August 25th at 3 pm. To participate, simply create a free profile on our national Directory 506 and you’ll receive an exclusive invitation.
Do you share the questions Ariana is raising? Or do you have suggestions for her? Let us know at 8506-1506 or join Entrepreneurs 506 here to be a part of the conversation!
