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The conference designed for makers by makers is back! Craft organization CraftNOW and makerspace NextFab have partnered again, welcoming new partner LaserPhilly, to present the second annual Tools of the Trades, a four-day hybrid conference focused on connecting artisans to business resources in Philadelphia and beyond. From March 22nd to 25th, tickets will unlock access to experts, resources, and peers working in the craft and business community.
Experts will deliver a variety of programming and materials – lectures, resource directories, and a collaborative event – to address the needs voiced by our creatives running small businesses. The conference strives to emphasize approachability, affordability, and a supportive environment where everyone can come together and no question goes unanswered.
After welcoming over 300 attendees to their inaugural conference in 2022, this year’s theme is focusing on connection, collaboration, and commerce – delivering all the tools you need to add fuel to your creative passion and make educated business decisions. Unique to this conference, it focuses on a diverse range of topics and experiences, from members of regional craft communities and seasoned fabricators.
Topics range from conversations such as “Daydream to Day Job” and “Collaboration as Commerce”, which allows our experts to share stories of successes and failures that helped shape them, to practical presentations on “Taxes for Creators: Self-Employment and the Schedule C,” and “Crowdfunding Strategy for Artisans”, which provide tangible solutions and templates for your business.
Whether you can attend in-person or online, we’d love to see you there!
Access to all digital sessions plus entry to our in-person networking event, optional workshops, and happy hour at NextFab, 1800 North American Street, Philadelphia
Access to all digital sessions, including speaker Q+A, panel discussions, and peer networking sessions.
Entry to our in-person networking event, optional workshops, and happy hour at NextFab, 1800 North American Street, Philadelphia
Click here to see the schedule of events!
9:00 AM – ❑ In Person – Building Your Creative Business: A Defining Innovation Panel, kickoff breakfast and watch party hosted by the Arts and Business Council, 200 South Broad Street, Suite 700, Philadelphia
9:00 AM – ❑ Creative Business Handbook: Alicia Puig, PxP Contemporary, and Sharif Pendleton, Laser Philly
10:30 AM – ▶︎ Crafting Your Business Model Canvas: Tim Daniel, Widener University SBDC
12:00 PM – ▶︎ Price Your Work for a Profit: Jessica Abel, Autonomous Creative
2:00 PM – ▶︎ Taxes for Creators: Self-Employment and the Schedule C: Hannah Cole, Sunlight Tax
3:30 PM – ◉ E-commerce Essentials: Kim Robinson, 3pts (“three points”)
9:00 AM – ❑ Daydream to Day Job: Mark Kuhn, Oat Foundry and Nicole Haddad, Lobo Mau
10:30 AM – ▶︎ Creating Multiple Revenue Streams: Joy London, Project Joy Studio, and Alecia Dawn Young, YOGAMOTIF
12:00 PM – ❑ Collaboration as Commerce: Nick Vicente, Twice Measured and Maria Eife, Maria Eife Jewelry / JV Collective
2:00 PM – ▶︎ Crowdfunding Strategy for Artisans: Katie Johnson, Bridgeway Capital’s Creative Business Accelerator, and Khai Van, Techarge
3:30 PM – ◉ How I Built My Social Media Brand: Erik Curtis and Larissa Huff, Furniture Makers
9:00 AM – ❑ Don’t DIY Everything: Erika Tapp Duran, Temple University’s Small Business Development Center
10:30 AM – ▶︎ Trademarks and Copyrights: Protecting Your Work, Why and Why Not: Ken Metzner, Philadelphia Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts
12:00 PM – ❑ Making Materials Matter: Cody Hughes, Untitled_Co and Kate Leibrand, Artist
2:00 PM – ◉ Getting into Galleries, Retail Stores, and Wholesale Markets: Sara McCorriston, Paradigm Gallery + Studio and Margaux DelCollo, TWEE
2:30 PM – 4:00 PM – In-Person: How to Approach Galleries, Wholesalers, and Store Owners Workshop: Margaux DelCollo, TWEE, and Zindzi Harley, Zindzine, Curator & Creative Consultant
2:30 PM – 4:00 PM – In-Person: Product Photography Workshop: Tatiana Mullin, As Seen by T
2:30 PM – 4:00 PM – In-Person: Product Pricing and Strategy Workshop: Jessica Abel, Autonomous Creative
2:30 PM – 4:00 PM – In-Person: Craft Fair & Market Display Workshop: Anne Cecil, ONO made in the 191
4:00 PM – 7:00 PM – In-Person: Happy Hour Closing Celebration with CraftNOW Trunk Show and NextFab Tours
New this year, the conference will kick off with the Arts + Business Council hosting a networking and creative innovation discussion on March 21st. After three days of digital content, it will conclude this year, with a limited number of in-person workshop tickets available to turn learning into action at the NextFab makerspace on Saturday, March 25th. From 2 pm – 4 pm, guests are invited to bring in products and participate in one of four workshops, and starting at 5 pm, all participants are welcome to the in-person Happy Hour and CraftNOW Trunk Show to network, shop, and tour the NextFab makerspace.
In Partnership with FORMATION. Media
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