Craft And Strategic Entrepreneurship: Exploring And Exploiting Materiality, Authenticity And Tradition In Craft Based Ventures

Abstract

This work explores the intersection of strategic entrepreneurship and craftbased ventures, focusing on the integration of materiality, authenticity, and tradition in the creation of competitive advantage. Craft, historically rooted in artisanal, small-scale production, has evolved into "advanced craft," requiring high expertise while also engaging with modern economic goals such as scaling, technological adoption, and global value chains. Craft-based strategic entrepreneurship embraces creativity and innovation, alongside traditional values and high-quality production, to engage with the modern economy without the alienating effects of industrialization. We highlight how craft entrepreneurs balance the pursuit of innovation with the preservation of authenticity and heritage. By examining the materiality, authenticity, and tradition embedded in craft, our work contributes to the understanding of how these elements influence competitive advantage and the broader relationship between economy and society in entrepreneurial ventures.