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Offering Advice for Graduating Artists in a Rough Economy

Offering Advice for Graduating Artists in a Rough Economy

Artisan Entrepreneur, NextFab Stories

July 15, 2020

From job opportunities to studio space, a creative spirit will be key for art school graduates in the coronavirus economy. There can be opportunities in disruption. That’s an important piece of advice that experts have for this year’s class of college graduates, and it is especially true for the thousands of young artists and artisans […]

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6 Tips for Scaling Up Handmade Production

6 Tips for Scaling Up Handmade Production

Artisan Entrepreneur

July 2, 2020

Many artisan entrepreneurs react to growth rather than preparing for it. But when you “plan big,” you’re ready for every opportunity and have the systems in place to handle the increased volume. Here are six expert tips for shifting your process from one at a time to batch production, saving money, and becoming more efficient. […]

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Monthly Maker: Greg Fridman

Monthly Maker: Greg Fridman

Member Stories

June 18, 2020

Meet our Monthly Maker: Greg Fridman Website: aaplasma.com Social Media: @gregfridman TELL US ABOUT YOURSELF I am Dr. Greg Fridman, owner and founder of AAPlasma LLC. I was born into a family of plasma physicists and grew up with grad students for babysitters—playing “air hockey” with a drop of liquid nitrogen on an optical table was […]

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5 Questions to Ask Before You Grow Your Handmade Business

5 Questions to Ask Before You Grow Your Handmade Business

Artisan Entrepreneur

June 11, 2020

Have you reached a point where the quality and uniqueness of your handmade product have become an obstacle to growing your business? Perhaps demand has picked up and you’re struggling to fill orders. Or you want to make this your livelihood but you’re not sure if it’s profitable enough. This is a critical juncture for […]

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NextFab’s Hardware Accelerator Goes Digital Due to COVID-19

NextFab’s Hardware Accelerator Goes Digital Due to COVID-19

Venture Services

May 20, 2020

The RAPID Hardware Accelerator program that provides early-stage startups with funding and product development support switched from in-person to completely virtual until NextFab’s facilities reopen to the public. After the City of Philadelphia announced restrictions on commercial activity in March, NextFab closed its facilities to the public but decided to move forward with its 12-week […]

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Monthly Maker: Susan Murphy

Monthly Maker: Susan Murphy

Member Stories, NextFab Stories

May 14, 2020

Meet our Monthly Maker: Susan Murphy Website: jawnaments.com Instagram: @jawnaments TELL US ABOUT YOURSELF I am Susan Murphy, owner and founder of Jawnaments.com, Philly’s hyper-local ornament company.  I teach full-time undergrad business at the University of Delaware and previously owned Viv Pickle Custom Handbags in Old City (where I retired in the mid-2010s). I’m a late bloomer at […]

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Start with the Problem, Not the Solution

Start with the Problem, Not the Solution

Product Development

May 6, 2020

Have you ever had that “Eureka!” moment?  Perhaps a new product idea comes to you in a flash of insight. Or you’ve created something on the fly to solve a problem and realized it had potential. If you’re like most people, you want to get started on hardware prototyping right away. You can see it […]

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How to Price Your Custom Work

How to Price Your Custom Work

Artisan Entrepreneur

April 30, 2020

Do you feel like you’re shooting in the dark when it comes to pricing your custom artwork?  You’re certainly not alone.   With something as personal and unique as art, many artisan entrepreneurs struggle to develop a pricing model that generates consistent sales, reflects the time and effort invested, and turns a healthy profit.  The truth […]

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Monthly Maker: David Rozek

Monthly Maker: David Rozek

Member Stories

April 20, 2020

Monthly Maker: David Rozek Website: pandemicdesignstudio.com Instagram: @pandemicdesignstudio TELL US ABOUT YOURSELF I received my formal education in design from North Carolina State University, earning a Bachelor’s of Architecture. In 2017, after graduating, I launched Pandemic Design Studio. With my prior education in digital design and computer-aided manufacturing, I quickly utilized NextFab’s resources, which include expert […]

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3D Printing and the COVID-19 Crisis

3D Printing and the COVID-19 Crisis

Product Development

April 3, 2020

On Thursday, March 26th we invited participants to listen in and inquire, as we sat down with Dr. Evan Malone, founder and president of NextFab, during our first NextFab Webinar. Evan and team are immersed in Philadelphia’s efforts to supply resources for the medical industry during the COVID-19 crisis.  Evan’s background in engineering, 3D printing, […]

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