Frosso Bora is a great example of a female tourism entrepreneur – one who has created a successful and profitable business in a traditionally patriarchal country. Despite having the additional disadvantage of being a non-local in a ‘closed’ island community (Rethymno, Crete), Frosso’s determination, business acumen, and artistic talent have seen her establish a successful enterprise.
Frosso is a potter who has her studio-shop-home in the Old Town of Rethymno, close to the old Venetian Fort dominating the town. She has been potting for about twenty years and was able to open her studio with the help of a small loan from EOMMEX (a now-defunct Greek organisation for handicraft SMEs). During the summer months of May to October, as well as potting and selling her wares, she rents out four rooms and two small apartments to tourists. Frosso keeps herself busy, teaching pottery in a local art school during the winter and accepting Leonardo Da Vinci students for three-month periods in the autumn, teaching them her craft as well as about her business.
Her approach to her art as well as commerce has been determined and self-reliant – she seeks out new training and skills constantly, having previously created her business from scratch and grown her entrepreneurial venture to withstand traditional tourism seasonality. Not one to rest on her laurels, she continues to learn new pottery techniques, taking inspiration from international artists and traditions. Her next venture – jewellery making – is well underway, and we wish her the best of luck and much success!
Frosso’s website can be found here: http://frosso-bora.com/rooms/uk/home.html – though the atelier pages are currently in progress.
