Crafteekart Born in Crisis
In 2023, I registered the domain Crafteekart.in after personally visiting several artisans across Bengal. What I witnessed during those visits deeply moved me—many of these incredibly talented artisans had been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic. With little to no online support or income, some were forced to abandon their craft and seek work in other industries, often in different states. This wasn’t just a personal tragedy—it was a cultural loss. Handicrafts and heritage are deeply intertwined in India, and we were watching them slowly disappear.
That’s when I decided to create Crafteekart—a platform that not only promotes authentic handcrafted products but also ensures that artisans receive the support and recognition they deserve. Our mission is to bridge a two-way gap: helping artisans reach the right customers and giving buyers access to truly authentic handmade crafts that are often hard to find or misrepresented on other platforms.
The Struggles Behind the Scenes
Over the past two years, building Crafteekart has been anything but easy. I had no technical background, no knowledge of coding, and no budget for hiring developers. Initially, I started with WordPress after purchasing a domain and hosting from Hostinger. It was a difficult experience filled with plugin issues, backend errors, and the constant fear that my website might crash at any moment. Shopify seemed like a better option but was too expensive, especially considering their transaction fees and restrictive policies.
Then I discovered Odoo in December 2024—a comprehensive, integrated platform that made managing the backend much easier. Since switching to Odoo, both my team and I have found it more efficient to upload and manage product listings, saving us time and energy.
But even with a functioning platform, there are bigger challenges:
1. Cataloging Products
Creating a catalog sounds simple, but every artisan has unique product sizes, shapes, and needs. Crafting professional images, writing accurate descriptions, and managing metadata is a long, manual process. The biggest hurdle? Convincing artisans to collaborate. Many are reluctant or too busy, and some simply don’t understand the value of going digital. But persistence has helped—we’ve slowly begun building meaningful relationships and documenting their creations.
2. Funding Constraints
We’re burning through funds just cataloging products. Each artisan visit involves a multi-day trip by a team of three, making this phase expensive and time-consuming. We haven’t even begun full-scale sales yet. With more funding, we could scale faster—reach more artisans, speed up the onboarding process, and start making a bigger impact.
3. Limited Team
Crafteekart is not a solo mission—it’s a community-driven project. We need passionate individuals who believe in preserving handicrafts and cultural heritage. Whether you love photography, writing, or simply want to volunteer, you can contribute. Head to Crafteekart.in and explore the "Work With Us" section. We’d love to have you on board.
What’s Next for Crafteekart?
I’ve always believed that those who love handicrafts also appreciate travel and culture. That’s why we’re expanding into a travel segment—offering curated homestays in North Bengal and Northeast India. Travelers will be able to stay with local families, eat homemade meals, and experience rural life firsthand. We’re also planning hiking and trekking programs to promote cultural immersion while boosting local economies.
By merging travel with traditional crafts, we aim to create a sustainable ecosystem—benefiting both the customer and the artisan.
Join the Movement
Crafteekart is more than an e-commerce platform. It’s a cultural initiative—a heartfelt effort to preserve India’s intangible heritage and empower the artisans who carry it forward. If you believe in what we do, subscribe to our updates, share our story, or better yet, become a part of it.
🌐 Visit us: https://www.crafteekart.in/work-with-us
📩 Contact: hello@crafteekart.in
Join us in crafting a better world
