Berta Lozano Interiors — Artisan Furniture Supply Chain from West Africa
End-to-end import supply chain built from scratch. Artisan furniture sourced directly from rural communities in Burkina Faso, Mali and Senegal, delivered to a Barcelona interior design studio over 4 to 5 years.
Berta Lozano Interior Design Studio
2000–2005
Berta Lozano, an interior design studio in Barcelona, wanted to offer clients something genuinely different — handcrafted furniture made by local artisans in West African villages. There was no supplier, no logistics infrastructure, no precedent. And no import/export experience on either side.
Full import supply chain designed and operated over 4 to 5 years. Direct sourcing relationships established with artisan communities in Burkina Faso, Mali and Senegal. Quality framework developed to bridge traditional craftsmanship with European import standards. Fair payment model built for artisans in communities without formal banking infrastructure. Logistics and customs process managed end to end, from rural village to Barcelona studio. Commercial and business development advisory for Berta Lozano Interiors beyond the import operation.
There were no established suppliers, no freight forwarders with experience in this specific corridor, no banking infrastructure for payments at village level, and no template for quality control on handcrafted one-of-a-kind pieces. Every part of the chain had to be invented. It ran for 4 to 5 years, which means it worked. The fact that I had no prior import/export experience at the time makes it a different kind of credential: the ability to navigate ambiguity, build trust across cultures, and make a complex operation function through persistence and problem-solving rather than existing knowledge.
"Oriac guided us through the full import process of artisan furniture from Burkina Faso and Mali: logistics, supplier relationships, and commercial strategy. Beyond the import work, he became a trusted advisor on how to run and grow the business." Berta Lozano, Berta Lozano Interior Design Studio, Barcelona
Consulting & Supply Chain
Building an artisan supply chain from communities with no formal banking infrastructure requires an adapted payment model, not just logistics. For a Barcelona-based interior design studio, direct sourcing of artisan pieces was built from scratch across communities in Burkina Faso, Mali, and Senegal, with a quality framework designed to meet European import requirements for unique handcrafted items. A fair payment model guaranteed income for artisans despite the lack of formal banking infrastructure in their communities. Logistics and customs were managed end to end, and the operation stayed active for 4 to 5 years, including business development advisory for the studio beyond the import operation itself.