Is NYNOW Right for Me?
In this webinar session, Allison Garafalo shares an overview of the largest temporary gift show within the US and Handmade Collection to see if exhibiting at NY NOW is right for your business.
Are you looking for an international market to increase exposure to your brand and sell your products to top buyers? Look no further than NY NOW, the Market for Home, Lifestyle + Gift! In this webinar session, Allison Garafalo shares an overview of the largest temporary gift show within the US and Handmade Collection to see if exhibiting at NY NOW is right for your business. During this session, we focus on the Artisan Resource® and Handmade® Global Design sections of the market, both of which are dedicated sections for global import resources with a focus on good design, traditional craftsmanship, and community building through global artisan workshops.
Artisan Start Up Strategy: The Nuts and Bolts of Creating and Growing an Artisan-Made Company
In this Digital Learning Series session, Harper Poe shares major learnings from running her online marketplace Proud Mary. She dives into successful strategies for starting and growing an artisan business, and introduces her new consulting business, the Business of Craft.
In this Digital Learning Series session, Harper Poe shares major learnings from running her online marketplace Proud Mary. She dives into successful strategies for starting and growing an artisan business, and introduces her new consulting business, the Business of Craft.
Are you interested in connecting with the Business of Craft to strengthen your artisan business? Contact Harper at harper@proudmary.org.
Entrepreneurship and the Creative Economy: A Conversation with José Andrés
At The Creative Economy Matters forum, Chef José Andrés invited participants to "be creative in solving the emergency of now." Andrés, interviewed by Artisan Alliance board member Pat Mitchell, spoke of his latest efforts to provide more than three million meals in the wake of last year’s devastating hurricanes in Puerto Rico. He started with a simple idea to feed a neighborhood that steadily grew as he was able to identify new partners to expand – always informed by the changing needs on the ground.
On February 8, 2018, the Artisan Alliance hosted a forum on the value of the creative economy, welcoming members, partners and friends to the new Aspen Institute headquarters in Washington, DC. What is the creative economy? It includes all the cultural and creative industries practiced in the United States and across the globe, whose principal purpose is production or reproduction, promotion, distribution or commercialization of goods, services, and activities of a cultural, artistic, and heritage-related nature.
At the forum, titled The Creative Economy Matters, Chef José Andrés invited participants to "be creative in solving the emergency of now." Andrés, interviewed by Artisan Alliance board member Pat Mitchell, spoke of his latest efforts to provide more than three million meals in the wake of last year’s devastating hurricanes in Puerto Rico. He started with a simple idea to feed a neighborhood that steadily grew as he was able to identify new partners to expand – always informed by the changing needs on the ground.
He also spoke about his work in Haiti, touring an orphanage with President Bill Clinton following the earthquake. After his first visit, he helped them build a bakery. The bakery helped to solve the immediate issue of feeding children and employees, while also creating something that they can sell to generate profits that can be re-invested in the children and school over the long-term. And while he encouraged all in the creative economy to go vertical when possible, he also cautioned: “make sure before you build the house, you have a very good foundation. That’s what the creative economy should always be."
Watch the full interview with Pat Mitchell above.
Lessons Learned from Artisan Connect
In this Digital Learning Series, Amanda North of Artisan Connect shares learnings from running the online marketplace Artisan Connect. Her case study explores the issues of market access for artisans the company was formed to address, its business model and organizational structure, as well as the challenges it faced, which ultimately led to its merger at the end of 2016.
In this Digital Learning Series, Amanda North of Artisan Connect shares learnings from running the online marketplace Artisan Connect. Her case study explores the issues of market access for artisans the company was formed to address, its business model and organizational structure, as well as the challenges it faced, which ultimately led to its merger at the end of 2016. Read her full case study on LinkedIn here.
Secrets to Building a Successful Import Business
In this Digital Learning Series, Elaine Bellezza of Bellezza Global Consulting takes participants through key strategies to build a successful import business, and how to avoid common pitfalls for artisan businesses. Elaine is a handicraft veteran with more than 25 years of experience working with thousands of artisan businesses across Africa.
In this Digital Learning Series, Elaine Bellezza of Bellezza Global Consulting takes participants through key strategies to build a successful import business, and how to avoid common pitfalls for artisan businesses. Elaine is a handicraft veteran with more than 25 years of experience working with thousands of artisan businesses across Africa.
Improving Your Design Process with Angel Chang
In this month's Digital Learning Series, womenswear designer Angel Chang shares her creative process and discusses steps artisan organizations can take to make their product lines stronger. In this one-hour webinar session, Angel walks through defining your consumer, testing the market, and product innovation.
In this month's Digital Learning Series, womenswear designer Angel Chang shares her creative process and discusses steps artisan organizations can take to make their product lines stronger. In this one-hour webinar session, Angel walks through defining your consumer, testing the market, and product innovation.
Brand Building & Storytelling with Robin Albin
In this one-hour session, brand strategist Robin Albin discusses the basics of building strong personal and business brands, alongside tips to effectively tell your story. Robin discusses the value in honing your brands, mistakes to avoid, and the value of repetition.
In this one-hour session, brand strategist Robin Albin discusses the basics of building strong personal and business brands, alongside tips to effectively tell your story. Robin discusses the value in honing your brands, mistakes to avoid, and the value of repetition.
Interested in learning more, or have specific branding questions for Robin? Contact Robin at robin@robinalbin.com! A presentation including branding guidelines tailored to artisan businesses is coming soon to download.
Am I Ready for a Kiva Loan?
Kiva is the world's first online crowd-lending platform, connecting entrepreneurs around the world (like you!) with over one million individual lenders. Leveraging the Internet and a global network of Field Partners (including the Alliance), Kiva lets individuals lend as little as $25 each to help create opportunity. Hundreds of people fund each loan on the Kiva website.
Kiva is the world's first online crowd-lending platform, connecting entrepreneurs around the world (like you!) with over one million individual lenders. Leveraging the Internet and a global network of Field Partners (including the Alliance), Kiva lets individuals lend as little as $25 each to help create opportunity. Hundreds of people fund each loan on the Kiva website.
Through the Alliance loan program, your organization may receive a no-interest loan between $200 and $20,000 tailored to your artisan business. Artisan businesses are often overlooked by traditional lenders; Kiva allows your to bypass banks and secure capital to buy raw materials, access markets and trade shows, invest in equipment, and more!
In this Digital Learning Series, the Alliance for Artisan Enterprise team introduces the online Kiva lending platform, reviews the Alliance-Kiva Artisan Loan Program process and requirements, and answers questions from potential borrowers like you! Find more information about the Alliance-Kiva Artisan Loan Program and complete an application here.
Unlocking the Power of Handmade
Now more than ever, we need to think about how to integrate artisans into global commerce, recognize the makers behind our products, and recognize what ties together people, cultures, and places around the world. In this Digital Learning Series, hear from Alliance for Artisan Enterprise Director Peggy Clark as she discusses the diverse meanings of what is means for something to be "handmade."
"Handmade reveals our deepest humanity," Peggy Clark posited on December 2, 2016 to launch this year's annual meeting of the Alliance for Artisan Enterprise, Handmade is Human at the Aspen Institute in Washington, DC. Now more than ever, we need to think about how to integrate artisans into global commerce, recognize the makers behind our products, and recognize what ties together people, cultures, and places around the world.
In this Digital Learning Series, hear from Alliance for Artisan Enterprise Director Peggy Clark as she discusses the diverse meanings of what is means for something to be "handmade."
Every year, the Alliance hosts a gathering of members and friends in a vibrant, welcoming space to explore key learnings and innovations in the artisan sector. On December 2, 2016, over 75 artisan business leaders, partners, and advocates joined the Alliance team at the Aspen Institute in Washington, DC for Handmade is Human.
Watch the full day of keynote remarks and panel discussions here.
Building Artisan-Retail Partnerships for Success
In this Digital Learning Series, Creative Director Meg Koglin shares Mercado Global's story, and introduces how the organization has learned to build mutually beneficial partnerships between artisan organizations and large retailers. Large retailers are becoming excited about working with artisans - learn how to best meet their demand while promoting your story, uniqueness, and quality!
Mercado Global has been working in the artisan sector for over 10 years, focusing on empowering indigenous women in the highlands of Guatemala. The organization has grown immensely in the past 10 years, building some extraordinary partnerships along the way!
In this Digital Learning Series, Creative Director Meg Koglin shares Mercado Global's story, and introduces how the organization has learned to build mutually beneficial partnerships between artisan organizations and large retailers. Large retailers are becoming excited about working with artisans - learn how to best meet their demand while promoting your story, uniqueness, and quality!
Please note the audio is slightly distorted for the first half of this session. Please use the slides for reference, or fast forward for the highest quality audio. Thank you!
Hosting Your First Pop-Up Shop
TO THE MARKET: Survivor-Made Goods economically empowers vulnerable women through artisan enterprise - the organization showcases handmade goods made by artisans who have overcome the perils of abuse, conflict, and disease. TO THE MARKET provides a market platform and works with local partners to host over 40 pop-up shops every year! The second Digital Learning Series with the Alliance and TO THE MARKET covers tips for planning, hosting and making a profit in your first pop-up shop! The webinar covers all aspects of the pop-up process, from pitching the event to maximizing sales.
TO THE MARKET: Survivor-Made Goods economically empowers vulnerable women through artisan enterprise - the organization showcases handmade goods made by artisans who have overcome the perils of abuse, conflict, and disease. TO THE MARKET provides a market platform and works with local partners to host over 40 pop-up shops every year! The second Digital Learning Series with the Alliance and TO THE MARKET covers tips for planning, hosting and making a profit in your first pop-up shop! The webinar covers all aspects of the pop-up process, from pitching the event to maximizing sales.
Learn more about TO THE MARKET, and contact Jane Mosbacher Morris at jane@tothemarket.com with any questions regarding pop-up shops!
Handmade Trends in the Global Market
ByHand Consulting is a founding member of the Alliance for Artisan Enterprise. Its experienced team hosts Incubator at Artisan Resource / NYNOW, provides one-on-one artisan business consultations, and hosts product and business development workshops for artisans around the world. The ByHand team hosted the first-ever Alliance Digital Learning Series, covering the top trends affecting the unprecedented desire for artisan goods, and how entrepreneurs can capitalize from it.
ByHand Consulting is a founding member of the Alliance for Artisan Enterprise. Its experienced team hosts Incubator at Artisan Resource / NYNOW, provides one-on-one artisan business consultations, and hosts product and business development workshops for artisans around the world. The ByHand team hosted the first-ever Alliance Digital Learning Series, covering the top trends affecting the unprecedented desire for artisan goods, and how entrepreneurs can capitalize from it.
To learn more about ByHand Consulting services or the NYNOW Artisan Resource Incubator program, contact Colvin English at colvin@byhandconsulting.com.