Craft Zoo is a wholesaler of unique hand made African art. Their products are made mainly from wood and stone and their product range consists of candleholders, coasters, animal sculptures, chess sets, masks and jewellery. Skilled African craftsmen genuinely handcraft all products. These ethnic products are currently supplied to various independent gift shops, market traders, garden centers and other organizations, across the UK.


Over the past few years, Craft Zoo has successfully established retailers throughout the UK and recognized further opportunity for growth in Europe, particularly Germany. As the existing workforce were unable to speak German, extensive research into this new market was essential.


With a clear objective - ‘research the German market with a view to achieving sales by supplying independent gift retailers’ - ISPO provided a German Marketing student, Birgit, who was able to research this market and offer an insight into how Craft Zoo should approach potential German customers. “This insight was invaluable, without it we would have made some classic mistakes’” - Darshit Shah, Managing Director.

Birgit has enabled Craft Zoo to achieve sales in the German market place, and to develop relationships with potential customers who are currently considering Craft Zoo in their purchasing strategy.

Craft Zoo was confident in Birgit’s abilities and decided to drop her in the deep end to run the company for 2 weeks while the Director went to visit Africa.


“Derbyshire Chamber was very helpful in setting up the ISPO placement. ISPO looked after the company’s interest so that we could find the right candidate to fulfill the objective” – Darshit. The ISPO program allowed them to utilize the skills of a highly motivated, professional, creative and enthusiastic individual. Birgit was also flexible in her approach to working with the company. This was important, as they are a small Company where everyone has to do the job at hand.

“We cannot say enough good things about working with a student who has joined us via the ISPO program. It is important however, that Companies define their objectives carefully so that students joining them can make full use of their creativity and skills. We have just had our second ISPO placement and we are now on the lookout for a 3rd placement!”