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The Artisans Boulevard (Bld. Popotla north of the Fox Baja Studios) was one of the bright spots of Baja. It was a thriving artsy scene with metal workers and furniture makers creating beautiful and interesting pieces. It even has it's own trade association. But sadly, the Mexican tourists have less interest in these items, or perhaps they feel similar items can be purchased from Guadalajara for less. Whatever the reason, they are closing their doors due to lack of business. The area is already starting to look blighted. It's very sad for Rosarito and the local artisans.

These business owners feel Rosarito does not understand them. Not only is this a failed business strategy ending in tragedy, it is a social one as well. The man who carved our wood front door is now a butcher. As people change jobs to survive the trades and skills they learned from their fathers vanish as well. After another generation those skills and the shops the family owned on Blvd. Popotla will be a distant and painful memory.

Agonizan muebleros de Rosarito




El Sol de Tijuana, April 23, 2013, by Yolanda Caballero Playas de Rosarito.

(Google translate)

Due to the severe economic crisis that cross manufacturers artisan furniture makers and blacksmiths, some have no alternative but to close their doors. "We are doing lousy, still going through a difficult time," said Rafael Crosthwaite, President of the Association of Furniture Manufacturers and accessories Rosarito (AFAMARO). Gradually reduced the number of places where it offers handmade Mexican art for decorating homes. AFAMARO statistics reveal that over 30 percent of establishments closed their doors last year. regretted that the municipal government of Javier Robles Aguirre and the state government headed by José Guadalupe Osuna Millán, not make a greater effort to achieve closure curb business. "They have the resources to promote Rosarito in a very strong, do not understand what happens," he said. And so the hand-carved furniture, figures made ​​outlandish giant blacksmith and the smell of fine wood were within establishments stopped working in the absence of customers. AFAMARO leader remembers the good times back in the nineties, the number of establishments grew, but slowly declined from 2008. "Now there are only about 200 businesses, including small and large workshops workshops." Some who are still in operation and are seeking financing sunk, "the truth is going too unwell to continue to support our business." concluded that the deterioration of Tourism is growing and this situation should be taken into account by the authorities and avoid business closures leading to jobless families leave.

Originally Posted by Woooosh

The man who carved our wood front door is now a butcher.

Did he learn to be a butcher while carving your front door?


Seriously now, folks....................maybe it's time for the remaining retailers to adopt a new business plan.........sell low....sell lots of it.
The owner of Ikea is one of the worlds wealthiest men. Do whatever he does.
Anyway....their furniture is over rated and gaudy. Who would want to spend big bucks on a couch or chair with a soft-wood frame? That's about all they can get here.

Originally Posted by DENNIS

Did he learn to be a butcher while carving your front door?


Seriously now, folks....................maybe it's time for the remaining retailers to adopt a new business plan.........sell low....sell lots of it.
The owner of Ikea is one of the worlds wealthiest men. Do whatever he does.
Anyway....their furniture is over rated and gaudy. Who would want to spend big bucks on a couch or chair with a soft-wood frame? That's about all they can get here.

Same with the $26 fried lobster dinners. Rosarito Beach is home to the Fish Taco- they should embrace and claim it. Serve them for a buck with a bucket of tiny beers like the old days. Baja needs to bet back to tourism basics and become value oriented again. That strategy will accommodate the current Mexican tourists and entice Americans to make the drive south again. Maybe in a few years they can become more aggressive in pricing- but clearly the current strategy of raising prices to make up for the slow times isn't working.

Originally Posted by Woooosh

Rosarito Beach is home to the Fish Taco-

Really?? I thought Ensenada was "Fish Taco Bethlehem." Does everybody get to claim it....like the Margarita?

We buy a lot of pottery along the Artisan's Boulevard in Rosarito Beach. We haggle over prices, as is the custom. But when Marshalls does all the haggling for you- why bother buying them in Rosarito?

It seems Mexican exports trump the Baja retail prices- which does not bode well for border area small businesses.

I agree completely with the comments. If business goes down, obiviously to most Americans, you don't raise prices but look for ways to offer incentatives to get customers in the door.

Originally Posted by Woooosh

...raising prices to make up for the slow times isn't working.

A true classic of Modern Mexican Commerce theory; summed up beautifully.

Natural Selection is a brutal process; how the culls still manage to pass on the falsehood is a prime mystery.

Originally Posted by Marty Cortez

Natural Selection is a brutal process; how the culls still manage to pass on the falsehood is a prime mystery.

Ignorance works in mysterious ways.

If it takes the sale of 4 items at $25.00 each to break even and you only sell 3, it's time to raise the price to $ 50.00 and you will make a $50.00 profit? Of course,now you don't sell any. Mexican merchandizing.
In the 70's you could buy all the Mexican pottery you could imagine at Sacramento's Denio's market ( a huge fleamarket) for at least 25 to 30% cheaper than at the outlets in TJ and Mexicali.
Go figure!!

Originally Posted by Marty Cortez

A true classic of Modern Mexican Commerce theory; summed up beautifully.

Natural Selection is a brutal process; how the culls still manage to pass on the falsehood is a prime mystery.

Rosarito holds seminars for small business owners, but I don't think retail pricing strategy is on their top ten list. I suppose it is "ignorance" in it's purest form- the lack of knowledge. I don't think it is stupidity it's a failure to embrace necessary change.

Originally Posted by Woooosh

I don't think it is stupidity it's a failure to embrace necessary change.

Stubbornness can be very stooopid at times.

Originally Posted by DENNIS

Stubbornness can be very stooopid at times.

indeed.