Tools of the Trades Conference: Day One

Our second annual Tools of the Trades hybrid conference focuses on connecting artisans and makers to business resources in Philadelphia and beyond. This four-day event provides a concentrated period for creative learning to help craft-focused businesses accelerate growth and find success however they choose to define them. This conference delivers 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.

Tickets to the four-day interactive conference will give attendees access to:

• 20+ expert presenters drawing from their lived experience as makers and artists to break intimidating topics down into practical steps
• 14 interactive webinars and digital panel discussions with dedicated time and space to engage with presenters and audience members
• Virtual and in-person networking with a community of like-minded makers and crafters actively working in the field
• An invitation to promote your products, practice or small business in our Post-Event Directory shared among registrants and in CraftNOW and NextFab media
• Our Digital Tool Kit with discounts at suppliers and organizations, recommended resources from speakers, and registration links for one-on-one office hours
• All recordings of the sessions are made available only for ticket holders on the days that follow the conference.

Day One Schedule:
9:00 AM – Creative Business Handbook: Alicia Puig, PxP Contemporary, and Sharif Pendleton, Laser Philly
Alicia Puig will discuss her upcoming book “The Creative Business Handbook,” and how artists and other creatives can apply it to their own practice. She’ll speak about how she started, where she is now, and how to create a mindset as a creative. Sharif Pendleton, owner, and founder of LaserPhilly, will moderate and provide his own insights on growing his business, using a mix of traditional handmade techniques and innovative technology, growing into his brand-new retail store, opening in Northern Liberties in 2023.

10:30 AM – Crafting Your Business Model Canvas: Lenin Agudo, Widener University SBDC
Breaking down the basics of the business model canvas, Lenin Aguido of Widener University’s SBDC will speak about how makers and crafters should be thinking about the building blocks of their businesses. He’ll review how to discover your customer personas, develop your brand and value propositions, and by the end of it empower small businesses to create their own business model canvas. Erika provides consulting services to pre-venture and start-up businesses as well as teaching the center’s business planning courses. She’s also part of the faculty of the Social Enterprise Program at the Villanova School of Business working with teams of students providing pro bono consulting for social enterprises. She came to Temple with a decade of experience in community and economic development in Philadelphia. Erika earned her EMBA at Villanova University, her MA at the University of Pennsylvania, and BArch at Cornell University.

12:00 PM – Price Your Work for a Profit: Jessica Abel, Autonomous Creative
Now that you have a product you’re proud of, it’s time to get profitable. Jessica Abel of Autonomous Creative has built a business helping mid-career creatives build financially sustainable businesses without burning themselves out or sacrificing their creative integrity. In this talk, she’ll discuss different methods of pricing your work, how to consider all the costs and creating a mindset of confidence in pricing your products. In the end, she’ll invite audience attendees to showcase photos of their work.

2:00 PM – Taxes for Creators: Self-Employment and the Schedule C: Hannah Cole, Sunlight Tax
Hannah Cole of Sunlight Tax School will be delivering a high-level understanding of key tax concepts including the basic tax equation, self-employment issues, the estimated quarterly tax system, and The Schedule C – what it is, who it’s for, and how to use it. Other arts-specific tax concerns, with a focus on artist empowerment, will include the artist stereotype and how it plays into an audit situation, what people can do to be prepared and counteract it, and the importance of running one’s creative enterprise as a business.

3:30 pm – E-commerce Essentials: Kim Robinson, 3pts (“three points”)
In this interactive session, we’ll demystify E-commerce, and focus on its fundamentals and best practices for attendees to sell their products online effectively. Kim Robinson is the founder of 3pts (“three points”), a platform that empowers creative entrepreneurs with confidence, clarity, and direction to run and grow a successful business. His passion is connecting with, understanding, and helping ambitious creative entrepreneurs build the business of their dreams. By the end of this talk, attendees will have a clear understanding of E-commerce, knowledge of best practices, and the confidence to do it on their own terms.