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Learn, Create, Grow
Craft Your Commerce, a program by Mountain BizWorks, is designed for artists, craftspeople, makers, designers, and creatives of all kinds. Whether you’re starting, growing, or scaling your business, Craft Your Commerce offers workshops, networking events, coaching, and peer-to-peer learning opportunities to support you at every stage of your entrepreneurial journey. Developed by creatives in business for creatives in business, our programs are tailored to meet the unique needs of creative entrepreneurs.
Support Resources for Creatives
A New Monthly Series for Creatives
Join us for Craft Your Commerce Connect, a monthly gathering designed for artists, craftspeople, and creative entrepreneurs. This learning series provides a space to connect with peers, exchange insights, and grow your business skills in an inspiring, supportive environment.
Each session offers focused discussions, practical tools, and collaborative opportunities to help you navigate the unique challenges of running a creative business. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to refine your approach, Craft Your Commerce Connect is your chance to learn, share, and thrive in community.
January Connect: Looking Back + Re-orienting | Reviewing Your Business with Deanna Lynch
The close of the calendar year is the perfect opportunity to pause, reflect, and reset. In this workshop, we’ll take a deep dive into the past year, examining your finances (both business and personal), sales trends, customer data, and time management practices. Together, we’ll assess your progress toward annual goals and identify areas for growth in the year ahead.
Friday, January 31, 2025
11:00pm -1:00pm ET
IN PERSON | Center for Craft
Register Here
February Connect: Website Framework and Best Practices with Cami Leisk
This 2-hour session with website strategist Cami Leisk will help you create a more effective and user-friendly website and ecommerce layout. Cami will cover key principles of navigation and website flow, giving you a solid framework to design or redesign your online presence.
Friday, February 21, 2025
11:00pm -1:00pm ET
IN PERSON | Center for Craft
Register Here
February Connect: Website Framework and Best Practices with Cami Leisk
Take the stress out of marketing with this 2-hour session led by marketing expert Liz Kantner. This workshop will break down the essentials of creating a clear, actionable marketing plan with templates for creating your own marketing strategy plan.
Friday, March 21, 2025
11:00pm -1:00pm ET
IN PERSON | Center for Craft
Register Here
Business Coaching
Craft Your Commerce has a dedicated creative coaching team available for you to work with! Access coaching for personalized support from accountants, grant writers, marketing pros, HR specialist, web developers and ecommerce experts, who all understand the needs of creative based businesses. Click the link below to complete the coaching form and check out our creative coach team. You can request to work with a specific coach or multiple coaches to meet your business needs.
Complete the Coaching Form Here
Meet our Creative Coaches
Craft Your Commerce Book Club
Resilience Roundtable: WNC Business Pivot Chats
Thursday, February 20
3:00 – 4:00pm ET
Virtual via Zoom
Register
WNC businesses: group discussions on new approaches, marketing ideas, & practical strategies to sustain your business during recovery. Join Alyssa Downey Phillips and Nicole McConville for this monthly discussion.
Survey: We Need Your Voice
ArtsAVL is working with WNC Arts, Mountain BizWorks, and Land of Sky Regional Council to ensure that WNC artists and arts organizations have the wrap around support services they need to rebuild and recover after Hurricane Helene. Please complete this short survey by January 31, 2025 to help us understand what services are currently available in your area and what services are needed/ desired.
If you have a question(s) about this survey and/or you are a service provider interested in being added to list of specialists, please email us at hello@artsavl.org.
Choose Your Path
Craft Your Commerce is here to stand with WNC creatives, providing support and resources to help you navigate the recovery journey from Hurricane Helene.
Get Funding
Mountain BizWorks' WNC Strong: Helene Business Recovery Fund helps small businesses close the gap between when the disaster strikes and when federal loans, insurance payouts, and other disaster relief funds are approved.
WNC Strong Recovery Resources
The WNC Strong website serves as a regional hub for Hurricane Helene recovery. Visit for the latest grant, loan, and recovery resources, including workshops and additional technical assistance.
ArtsAVL Resource Database
ArtsAVL is maintaining a database of resources geared toward artists and the creative community. Visit to view grants, disaster resources, and stay up to date with the latest for creatives.
Read Success Stories from Creatives
Attend an orientation session
Not sure where to start?
Join us for an online, interactive information session to discover what resources are available at Mountain BizWorks that will help you start, grow, and thrive in your business. Hosted by our Learning Department, this session is a great opportunity to learn more about Mountain BizWorks’ small business lending and learning programs.
RESOURCES FOR ARTISTS
Grant-Making Organizations
Business Assistance
Workshops and/or Residencies
THANKS TO OUR SUPPORTING PARTNERS
THANKS TO OUR SUPPORTING PARTNERS
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