Digital and Innovative entrepreneurship in the Handicraft sector during economic Calamities: Challenges and Opportunities of New Craft Entrepreneurs

Abstract The purpose of this study is to examine factors that encourage and inhibit digital innovation and entrepreneurship in the Handicraft sector as a part of Small enterprises during an economic slowdown. From the viewpoint of Indian young craft entrepreneurs, it is fact that digital technology will be essential for navigating the recovery and eventually will support the growth of the handicraft industry and artisanal transformation as entrepreneurship by surviving in the crisis and even thriving in the long run. 50 online Handicraft business owners having their own craft skills were interviewed in-depth using a qualitative methodology by researcher, who then used inductive(Qualitative) content analysis to identify themes from the transcripts. Results showed that entrepreneurial and digital innovations of moving handicraft businesses to digital platforms are reinforced by the pandemic's negative effects, which were classified into intrinsic and extrinsic. It has been found that the responded mentioned that the unavailability of high-quality digital infrastructures, pandemic restrictions, market concerns with digital platforms, and knowledge and IT skills needed for operating an online business were some of the challenges. The results of the article add to the body of digital knowledge on innovative ideas about entrepreneurship and point to potential topics to do quantitative research in order to develop programs that assist handicraft business owners during downturns in the economy. This would act as a benchmark when government policies and strategies for economic recovery and for the development of the handicraft sector through digital and Innovative entrepreneurship were being developed.