Christmas is one of the most important dates for commerce, and entrepreneurs are well aware of this. According to the 2023 Christmas Survey by the National Chamber of Commerce, this holiday has a positive impact on the economy, presenting an opportunity to boost the sluggish sales of the last period. The report reveals that 84% of respondents will buy gifts, and 21% say their purchases, in terms of quantity, will be higher this year.
With the aim of supporting micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) during these dates, Fundación Luksic has launched a new initiative to allow entrepreneurs who have gone through its programs to sell their products through a free and secure digital channel. This initiative, called Made By Entrepreneurs, is a digital fair developed in collaboration with the technological startup apanio, which enables the creation, management, and operation of online markets without the need to build all the technological infrastructure from scratch.
In this first edition of the digital fair, around 50 national brands that have benefited from the Foundation’s programs will participate: Impulso Chileno, Impulso Inicial, and Despega Mujer, covering more than 12 categories including food and gourmet products, home and decoration, garden, accessories, jewelry, clothing, toys, furniture, stationery, among others.
“For this Christmas, we want to promote choosing local products from entrepreneurs. Thus, consumers, in addition to giving original and unique products as gifts, will support the growth of the local economy, communities, and thousands of families in Chile,” comments Cristián Schalper, Director of Entrepreneurship at Fundación Luksic.
Elegance in Wood from El Maule
The Curicó-based venture, Muebles Rauque, is a manufacturer of exclusive custom-designed furniture. Shelving units, racks, display cabinets, corner units, and wine cabinets made of seasoned pine are among the products offered by Nathalie Pacheco, winner of Impulso Chileno, at this fair.
“We work with all kinds of household furniture with a completely professional carpentry and quality materials. We started this business 10 years ago with my husband, who is a mechanical engineer and began creating furniture with his friends. They started inviting him to fairs, and today we have become a company,” says the entrepreneur.
Nathalie mentions that she has high expectations for “Made by Entrepreneurs” because she believes they will be able to meet the public’s requirements. “We work a lot in a personalized way, it’s a kind of collaborative workshop with our clients, from the moment they arrive with an idea, we focus on it, help them, they can participate in the design process, in the definition of colors, etc.”
Among their flagship products is the corner bar, a multifunctional piece of furniture that can hold glasses, various types of glasses, decorative elements, and fit into a small space. “I would like everyone to be able to buy Muebles Rauquén because they are heirloom pieces, of quality, can be restored over time, personalized designs can be made, with a touch of classic avant-garde, and of course, support Chilean entrepreneurs,” says Nathalie.
This venture will sell on www.hechoporemprendedores.cl, and also through its website mueblesrauquen.cl and Instagram account @mueblesrauquen.
Made by Entrepreneurs aims to reach every corner of Chile, operating with various modalities including home delivery via Chilexpress, in-store pickup by the entrepreneur, or delivery arranged between buyer and seller. Regarding payment methods, it can be done through credit cards, debit cards, prepaid cards, OnePay, and other digital wallets.
The digital fair will be available until December 31 on www.hechoporemprendedores.cl.
