With the aim of reflecting on the challenges of depopulation in Spain and its possible solutions, as well as raising awareness of the potential of the rural environment, we’re promoting the project "Designing repopulation", developed by designer Andreu Carulla, which is on display at the Madrid Design Festival, at the Libre de Enseñanza Institution.
For the project, Carulla temporarily moved his studio to Gistaín. From this village of less than 150 inhabitants and rich artisanal heritage, he continued his creative work using tools from the Amazon store and elements from the environment, and worked with local artisans specialising in leather and wood.
"For us, design is not only a tool to make aesthetically beautiful products, but we strongly believe that it should have an intention and serve a higher purpose, it is our responsibility,” says Carulla. “This project demonstrates that this philosophy can be a reality and that design can and should play a crucial role in maintaining a country's cultural heritage and artisan legacy. Technology and e-commerce play a key role in the repopulation of rural areas and the survival of new businesses that may arise, by shortening distances, connecting communities and bringing people together... all while enjoying outstanding natural environments.”
Amazon's impact on SMEs in rural Spain
More and more rural small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are opting for e-commerce to sell their products internationally to a wider range of customers. Over 60% of SMEs located in rural Spanish towns use Amazon to export to other European countries and more than 40% sell globally.
SME spotlights: Tuquinos, Debosc, and Cestería Aparici
"Amazon has become one of the key elements in making us known outside of Spain," says Jana García, founder of Tuquinos, from her workshop in Granda de Arriba, a town near Gijón, Asturias, with 190 homes.
Jana combines two of her passions through Tuquinos: woodworking and education. Using certified wood she makes handmade toys that facilitate the development of coordination and mobility in children. She attests that her success is largely due to the logistics, visibility, and marketing opportunities offered by Amazon.
Debosc is a project developed by the Bosch Roura family in Anglès, a village of just over 5,000 inhabitants near Girona. Since 2018, they’ve used Amazon to sell their wood craftsmanship with technology-related products such as accessories for laptops, cell phones, and screens.
The Bosch Roura family, founders of Debosc, say: "Within two days of uploading the products, we got our first order from Germany.”
Cestería Aparici is a small family business in Aielo de Malferit, Valencia, with more than 40 years of experience in manufacturing, selling, and transforming natural materials such as wicker wood into products like baskets and furniture.
"Amazon has allowed us to reach different corners of the world where we dedicate much of our efforts," says Jose Aparici, head of Cestería Aparici.
Amazon's commitment to the Spanish rural environment
We’re firmly committed to rural areas in Spain. Since Amazon launched in Spain over 12 years ago, we have invested in infrastructure to reach every corner of the country, ensuring access for customers to millions of products. Through initiatives such as the Amazon Hub Delivery programme, we have generated new opportunities in rural environments, collaborating with local businesses to ensure faster and more sustainable delivery, while providing new avenues of income for them. With this initiative, Amazon provides access to all types of products in rural Spain and generates new opportunities for the 3,400 municipalities at risk of depopulation in the country.
