Batik and tie-dye production and merchandising in Ghana

Abstract

The primary focus of this study was to get a snug look at batik and tie-dye as a small scale industry in Ghana with a critical look at the production and merchandising challenges. The purpose of the study was to investigate the operations/activities of small-scale batik and tie-dye production and merchandising, identify and examine the challenges confronting the industry, analyse factors contributing to the challenges and examine the impacts of production and merchandising challenges on the local batik and tie-dye industries in Ghana. The research is based on qualitative research approach which employs interviews and observation for data collection. In all sixteen (16) participants were sampled through purposive techniques. The population studied comprises one technical institution, one tertiary institution, six small scale industries, six retail shops and two government institutions which have direct dealings with batik and tie-dye industry within Western, Central and Greater Accra regions of Ghana. Data collected were transcribed, classified and analysed through thematic and descriptive analysis. The principal findings of this study revealed that, access to finance, smuggling and importation of clothes, pirating of Ghanaian symbols, multiple taxation, access to international market, products standardisation, packaging and labelling are the challenges of production and merchandising. It is therefore concluded that, small businesses are sole proprietorship which do not adhere to managerial structures and proper book-keeping which make them collapse within the first five years of operations and the government not making enough effort to promote small-scale enterprises. It is therefore, recommended that producers and merchandisers should be given basic book-keeping and business management courses and need of the government to support SMEs to revamp the collapsing industry.