Overview
I contributed to a pivotal project for the Fundación de Artesanías de Chile, aiming to foster a cultural platform that emphasizes Chilean craftsmanship’s rich culture, history, and values. The initiative sought to enable fair trade commerce for over 2,200 artisans across Chile, offering a unique blend of cultural appreciation and commercial viability through an online marketplace.
Challenges
The primary challenge was to strike a delicate balance between the cultural and commercial facets of the foundation. It was imperative to drive sales while preserving the highest conversion rates possible without overshadowing the foundational cultural and educational values. Achieving this equilibrium required thoughtful integration of diverse elements into the platform to equally serve the foundation’s dual objectives.
Technology Use
The project’s technical backbone was built on WordPress with WooCommerce, leveraging a Learning Management System (LMS) plugin for online courses, a digital magazine, and a documentary repository. This comprehensive suite was augmented with third-party shipping rates, custom post types, and other plugins to enrich the platform’s functionality and user experience. Additionally, the server setup, launch activities, and ongoing improvements were meticulously managed to ensure optimal performance and scalability.
Result
The outcome was a robust e-commerce platform that facilitated the fair trade of artisanal goods and served as a vibrant educational and cultural resource. This digital hub successfully bridges the gap between traditional Chilean crafts and global audiences, supporting artisans financially while promoting cultural heritage.
My Responsibilities
My role encompassed the entire spectrum of technical implementation and oversight. I was responsible for integrating WooCommerce into WordPress, setting up the LMS for the online courses, configuring payment gateways, and managing third-party shipping tariffs. The development of custom post types to cater to the platform’s unique content needs was another critical aspect of my work. Beyond these tasks, I ensured the server was optimally configured for the platform’s launch and committed to continuous enhancements to meet the evolving needs of the foundation and its artisan community.