Professional Craft Artist Business Summit

Experience a one-day Summit at Haywood Community College specifically designed to address the needs and challenges faced by current and prospective craft artist business owners. Arts-based businesses are unique ventures and require special business planning methods. This event will provide you with the tools needed to move your business forward.

9:00-9:15- Registration 9:15- Welcome and Introductions

9:30-10:45- Opening Plenary Session #1- Making a Good First Impression What if you could increase your sales significantly without spending any additional money? It’s very possible, simply by understanding what your customers are drawn to and improving your display! Making the most of a retail sales area and giving your customer a great experience means being strategic about how you design your space and organize your merchandise. Explore your products through the eyes of your customers, determine what grabs their attention and create a layout system that effectively highlights your products and makes people want to buy them.

11:00-12:15 #2- Using Social Media to Build Your Artist Brand Many creatives have found a way to make a living by promoting their products on social media and you can too! Learn how to make social media work for you and your creative talent without feeling like you’re trying too hard and getting it all wrong. You’ll learn the top social media strategies that you can use today to help you grow your followers, engage your audience and take your marketing to the next level.

#3- Pitching to Impress Have you ever been asked to describe your product or business and not been exactly sure what to say? You may have rambled on and probably lost their interest in the process. Start putting together a well-crafted “pitch” and you’ll be much more likely to make a lasting impression. It’s important that people walk away from your first interaction not only having a basic understanding of what you do and who you are, but also interested in your business. Learn tips and tricks for developing a pitch to impress!

LUNCH (12:15-1:15)

1:15-2:30 #4- Selling Strategies That Work for Artists

Having a great product or studio is only half of the equation to successful selling. At the end of the day, customers must be willing to BUY from you and you must know how to SELL. Selling is a skill and learning to sell yourself and your work is an art form all by itself! You don’t need gimmicks or tricks, but you will need to listen and understand what your customer really wants. Learn how to listen to your customers and communicate clearly what you have to offer.

#5- Creating Your Own Marketing Pieces & Promotional Designs

Would you like to have sharp and cleverly designed graphics for your business? Good news, you don’t need experience in graphic design or even an investment in expensive software to do so. This session will show you how to use Canva, a free, web-based resource that will allow you to go from being a beginner to a master at graphics overnight! Learn how to create and publish professional and creative marketing designs that include brochures, flyers, social media graphics, logos, labels and more that would normally cost you a fortune. Turn your imagination into finished designs in minutes! *This is a beginner-level session in Canva.

2:45-4:00 #6- Pricing For Profit Numbers might sound scary to some creative entrepreneurs, but part of any successful business model includes turning a profit. Knowing how to price your work can be one of the most challenging parts of getting your business off the ground, and if you’ve ever questioned yourself on this, this session is for you. Learn how to measure the most important numbers of your business that will help you price confidently and set you up for financial success.

#7- Telling Your Story to Connect with Customers What makes your work stand out? What is it about your business that connects with consumers or buyers? No matter what or where you sell, communicating your story is critical for success in local markets and for tapping into consumer demand for authenticity. Learn more about key components to include and work to begin crafting or further hone your story.