**Due to the risks and challenges posed by COVID-19,we have postponed the remainder of the Craft Your Commerce Spring 2020 Workshop Series. We are working on adapting the events for online delivery or providing suitable alternative, web-based programming to support our crafters and makers in navigating this new economic landscape.**
Craft Your Commerce is a Mountain BizWorks entrepreneurial program designed to connect, elevate and advance creative and craft-centered companies through a series of business training workshops and classes designed by makers for makers. The program is offered in partnership with Center for Craft, UNC Asheville, and area creative entrepreneurs.
The theme for the 2020 Spring Workshop Series is “Financials & Operations for Makers”. Though some may view the topic of financials and operations as “serious business,” these workshops are designed to be accessible, informative and engaging for artists and makers, even at the earliest stages of business development.
The CYC Spring Workshop Series will feature the following:
- A networking event to kick off the series
- 3 separate workshops on preparing for the upcoming tax season, positioning your business to scale and how to work with buyers
- The series will then conclude with Alpine for Makers, an intensive 5-week course for existing businesses facilitated within a cohort learning environment
This Craft Your Commerce Workshop Series will be a comprehensive and practical learning journey aimed to improve the financial and operational management capabilities of creative businesses.
Events and workshops are offered à la carte but we hope you will take advantage of the Series Pass and journey through the entirety of this integrative learning experience.
Learn more about the Craft Your Commerce 2020 Spring Workshop Series events and get your tickets below!
Kickoff Event
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February 13, 5:30-7pm – Craft Your Commerce: Makers Mixer A relaxed networking event for makers and creative entrepreneurs. The event will begin with a brief introduction and presentation that will offer a glimpse of the upcoming 2020 Craft Your Commerce Workshop Series. Fun networking games and light refreshments to follow. |
Workshops on Financials & Operations
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March 12, 2-5pm – Taxes for Makers & Creative Entrepreneurs with Hannah Cole of Sunlight Tax This 3-hour workshop is an empowering, jargon-free session that will cover a high-level understanding of key tax concepts and address arts-specific tax concerns. Learn about the basic tax equation, self-employment tax and the estimated quarterly tax system, audit concerns for the working artist, and general guidelines for good record keeping, followed by a question and answer period. |
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March 20, 1pm-4pm – Scaling Your Craft Business with Brett Binford of Mudshark Studios Hear the story of how Mudshark Studios, a craft manufacturing company in Portland, Oregon, started in the basement and grew to a 17,000 sq. footage studio with 33 full time employees. Brett will share his tips on Lean Manufacturing techniques and how to cultivate a strong company culture to take your business from being a solopreneur to an employer. |
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April 02, 4pm-6pm – Crafting the Built Environment: How to Work with Developers and Designers What do buyers look for when working with local makers? How do you position your hand crafted business to take on large scale commercial projects? This speaker panel discussion will shed light on the process of working with buyers by bringing together a group of designers, architects and real estate developers to discuss how they connect with and go about working with local makers. |
Craft Cohort Course
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Alpine for Makers 5 Sessions over 5 Weeks Facilitated by Lisa Zahiya of Zahiya Studios. This 5-week cohort experience will aid existing makers and creative entrepreneurs in integrating learnings from the workshops into their business practices. The course will guide participants through a comprehensive assessment of their experience producing and selling to date, while also addressing the opportunities and challenges currently at hand. |
Pricing & Ticket Packages
The Craft Your Commerce 2020 Workshop Series involves a networking event, three separate workshops, and one intensive courses suited for existing makers. The program offerings are available a-la-carte, but they’re also designed to thematically complement each other and we encourage you to consider participating in the full series.
Individual Tickets
- Feb 13 Maker’s Mixer – Free!
- Mar 12 Taxes for Makers – $35 Early Bird | $45 Regular Price
- Mar 20 Scaling Your Craft Business – $35 Early Bird | $45 Regular Price
- Apr 02 Crafting the Built Environment – $25 Early Bird | $35 Regular Price
- Apr 23 Alpine for Makers- $300 Early Bird | $375 Regular Price
Series Pass Breakdown
- The Series Pass gives you access to all Workshops (Taxes for Makers, Scaling Your Craft Business, Crafting the Build Environment)
- $80 Early Bird | $105 Regular Price
- The Series Pass + Alpine gives you access to all Workshops AND the 5-week Alpine for Makers course
- $350 Early Bird | $375 Regular Price
Get your tickets early and take advantage of discounted Early Bird Pricing available only until Feb 20, 2020!
Scholarships
Limited financial need-based scholarships are available. To apply for a scholarship please continue to this form. UNC Asheville students are also eligible for scholarships; contact Brent Skidmore for details.
