Helping a clay modeling business shape its business model

Several years ago, Rachel Asheri-Cezana, 52, made a brave personal decision. She left a career in computer engineering to pursue her passion: crafting in polymer clay. With the help of MATI Business Mentoring she turned herself into a full-time artist, producing designer crockery, contemporary Judaica and home decorations which she sold to tourists, and on Amazon and Etsy. With three children to support, she supplemented her income by conducting workshops.

And then the pandemic hit.

Rachel’s business ruptured, and with it her livelihood. Immediate help was offered at MATI’s business accelerator for women business owners. Rachel joined to hone her financial management skills and shift focus to her e-commerce options, acquiring professional marketing, branding and pricing tools, as well as how to enhance her online presence. For ongoing support, Rachel enrolled in a MATI women’s training group where she connected with other women business owners in Jerusalem.

The result: Rachel has signifcantly increased her sales in 2020, and is now working with a MATI mentor on a business plan to re-launch her workshops as soon as the pandemic is behind us.