Who is this class for? ​
 

• Artists, makers, & designers offering either handmade or small production goods that looking for tools to expand and manage their creative small business
   

• Small businesses who offer services, for example herbalists or wellness practitioners 
   

• Both those who are in the beginning phases of opening a shop or have been offering services or products for many years
   

• Both those who work direct-to-customer or offer wholesale/consignment

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What is this workshop about? 

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This 2 hour Zoom workshop is about supporting artists and makers of all mediums to successfully structure their offerings, and streamline a creative small business. Through lecture, exercises, and conversation you will gain tangible tools to manage and expand your business, whether you offer services, goods, wholesale or direct to customer. You will gain pdf handouts to work on after class for further study and have time to ask questions in the last half of the class.

 

Who is your host?  My name is Lise (A Portuguese nickname, pronounced just like "Lizzie") have experience as a maker in handmade production, working in direct-to-consumer online retail, freelance, confronting design theft, hiring assistants, wholesale, consignment, custom commissions, craft fairs, working under contract, and publishing a craft book in 2020. I pass on the wisdom I have learned from study and experience for over 10 years as an independent freelance artist, small business owner, artist, and author. 

 

After a 45 minute lecture, we will have a group discussion with our special guest, artist, small business owner, and author Melanie Abrantes. Melanie Abrantes Designs is a Bay Area-based design studio and purveyor of handcrafted, heirloom objects using sustainable materials and packaging. Working with a variety of unique materials, predominantly cork and wood, Melanie creates home goods that are both beautiful and functional, handmade in her Oakland studio through the process of lathing. She authored a book in 2017 called, “Carve: A Simple Guide to Whittling”and was named by Country Living’s 100 Most Creative People. Her work has been featured in Dwell Magazine, Martha Stewart, NY Times and more. 

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The workshop, including an open Q & A. will last approximately 2 hours. You will leave with a pdf for further study.

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(You can see the other classes in the Workshop Series on the series page HERE -- Classes are discounted when enrolling in the Lecture & Library package HERE

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Class Goals:

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• Discuss strategies for how to expand your business through varying your offerings, focusing, and marketing
   

• Gain ideas and tools to help you manage the big picture of your creative small business
   

• Work through exercises to help you think about restructuring your offerings
   

• Discuss our obstacles and share resources, through a Q&A conversation with our guest​

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Logistical Notes:

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1. You will be sent the Zoom Link and any other necessary class details via email a few days before class begins

2. Recordings of the class are sent within 48 hours after the live class and only made available for 30 days after the live class.

3. There are no class refunds unless the class is cancelled due to unforeseen events, please familiarize with Zoom prior to the class because refunds are not given if you have technical difficulties. It is recommended to use Zoom on your laptop not a mobile device because the mobile app does not give you full capabilities to view/participate. 

4. Although classes are structured interactively, you do not have to have your camera on during class. You can choose to interact or just observe. 

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These super affordable workshops for artists can only continue with support!

Share this class page with someone you think might like to join us!  Thank you <3