Bamboo Handicraft Wisdom of Phon District, Khon Kaen Province

Abstract

The objectives of this mixed-method research were: 1) to study the bamboo handicraft wisdom of Phon district in KhonKaen province; and 2) to study guidelines to develop and promote a bamboo handicraft products’ marketing channel. Data were collected both quantitative and qualitative. A focused-group discussion was also arranged. The study found that the bamboo handicraft wisdom of Phon district in KhonKaen province is the wisdom that has inherited from the ancestors and is developed for a commercial purpose that create a career for people within a community. Now, bamboos from other places are imported for a production of bamboo handicrafts. There are several types of bamboo handicraft products. However, styles of products are still the same style as in the past. Generally, the marketing activity of the group of bamboo handicraft manufacturers was at moderate level ( = 3.06). However, when each issue was considered separately, product had the highest mean score ( = 3.49) follow by price ( = 3.36), distribution (= 3.25), and marketing promotion ( = 3.06) respectively. On the other hand, generally, there is a marketing problem of the manufacturer of bamboo handicraft products at a moderate level ( = 3.20). When each issue was considered separately, the marketing problem in term of price had the highest mean score ( = 4.01) follow by marketing promotion ( = 3.20), product ( = 3.13), and distribution ( = 2.86) respectively. According to guidelines to develop and promote the bamboo handicraft products, it is recommended to develop an earthen steamerthat presents a community identity for internationalization, create a specific brand for bamboo handicraft products of a community, establish a bamboo handicraft cooperative to be a distribution center, arrange activities related to bamboo handicraft products of a community in the annual events of community, district, or province, and develop more marketing channels to promote the bamboo handicraft products.