Upgrading and adding value to the silver handicraft businesses from local wisdom to a high-value creative economy of Ban Khlong Toei, Khlong Lan District, Kamphaeng Phet Province.

Abstract

This research aimed to analyze the identity and needs of product development and upgrade and add the value of the silver handicraft businesses from local wisdom to a high-value creative economy of Ban Khlong Toei, Khlong Lan District, Kamphaeng Phet Province. As for the quantitative research, a questionnaire was used to collect the data from 400 tourists. The data were analyzed by using percentages, means and standard deviations. In terms of the qualitative research, the 28 key informants were silversmiths, members of the Ban Khlong Toei, Khlong Lan District, Kamphaeng Phet Province, hilltribe silverware craft group and people involved in silverware craftsmanship. The data were collected by using an interview schedule and group discussions and analyzed by content analysis. The results showed that the identity of the product was the original patterns imitated from nature and surroundings used to make a living in everyday life. It was suggested that they need to develop new patterns and create a variety of products to reflect the ethnicity of Kamphaeng Phet Province. The opinions towards upgrading and adding the value to the silver handicraft business from local wisdom to a high-value creative economy were generally at a high level, with the highest mean on beauty, utility and uniqueness/identity, respectively. The aspect with the lowest mean was worthiness.