Workshop Magazine

21/09/2023

https://www.workshopmag.com/how-to-get-grant-funding/

We're pleased to be partnering with Craft Ontario this fall to present a webinar on how to get grant funding. Come join us on October 25!

October 25, 2023 | Join Workshop and Craft Ontario as we welcome ceramicists Naomi Clement and Heidi McKenzie to share their expertise on applying for and receiving grant money.

15/09/2023

🫶🏼 Do you want to build an ethical handmade business that makes more money and reaches new customers?

Join Workshop and guest speaker Deb Alcadinho, founder of Business4SocialGood, for an inspiring presentation on the concept of a “higher purpose” and how defining it for your business can help you grow and evolve — and achieve your goals. 💪🏼

In this virtual webinar, Deb will dive deep into the “why” behind your creative business. She’ll discuss the role of “higher purpose” and in building an impactful, profitable and ethical business that creates meaningful connections with your customers. Get ready to be inspired and equipped with practical tools and strategies to take your business to the next level.

We’ll discuss:

✅ The “why” behind your business;
✅ The concept of “higher purpose” and what it means for you;
✅ Why social impact businesses have value for customers; and
✅ Steps to get you started on building an ethical, profitable, impactful business that customers want to support.

Find out more >> https://www.workshopmag.com/event-building-an-ethical-business/

17/08/2023

"I want other knitters and fibre artists across the country to understand all the amazing sheep breeds that are out there, how they’re connected to different land bases, and how that can inform their practice."

In her new book Sheep, Shepherd & Land, the yarn store owner turned farmer profiles people from coast to coast who are revitalizing the Canadian wool industry.

15/06/2023

https://www.workshopmag.com/featured-members-tracey-and-ali-infiknitlove/

We love our members, so every month we feature one of them on the site and in the newsletter. This month, our featured member is actually two members: Tracey Girma and Ali Smith, partners in knitted goods business Infiknitlove. Here, the pair gamely answer all our questions about their work and their life.

Workshop members Tracey Girma and Ali Smith chat about their path to business, their dream studio and their top-secret upcoming project.

01/06/2023

If you’re into embroidery, you know Kiriki Press. Owner Michelle Galletta has been in business for about a decade now, selling her adorable animal doll kits alongside necklaces, hoop art and supplies at both markets and retailers.

One aspect of Galletta’s business for a number of years has been her sampler club, a popular subscription business that sent quarterly embroidery kits to fans near and far. As she phases out the sampler club to focus on new projects, we thought it was a good time to get her perspective on the pros and cons of the subscription model and her advice for others who want to try it. Here’s what she said.

Michelle Galletta of Toronto’s Kiriki Press chats about her now-retired embroidery-kit sampler club and what she’s doing next.

18/05/2023

"When you get boxes or tape piling up, it’s not a good feeling," says Emma-Love Cabana of Three Sisters by Emma.

"I think anything to lighten that load helps people in a small way."

Beader Emma-Love Cabana from Three Sisters by Emma shares how she integrated compostable stickers, labels and tape into her shipping workflow.

11/05/2023

Markets are the lifeblood of many maker businesses, which often do most of their sales at these shows. To take full advantage of this vital sales channel, it’s important to create a space that draws customers in. Because let’s face it —if they just walk on by, they’re not going to buy.

To gather some inspiration for your next booth design, we walked the floor at Toronto’s One of a Kind spring show. Here are the booths we liked and what we liked about them, plus the Best Booth Design Winners as selected by OOAK.

Amidst aisles and aisles of sellers, how do you stand out from the crowd? These makers each created a craft market display that gets shoppers to stop and take a closer look.

20/04/2023

There’s nothing like a good podcast to keep your mind engaged while your hands are busy making product or packing orders. And there’s nothing like word of mouth for the best podcast tips. With that in mind, we’ve rounded up some favourite podcasts as recommended by members we’ve featured. Add your own suggestions in the comments!

Get tips on what to download next to fuel your busy days.

13/04/2023

Join us for Show & Tell, a casual meet-up to share what you’re working on, get feedback on business problems, chat about discoveries and insights, and meet other members.

13/04/2023

"Workshops are a huge tool for reintroducing and reclaiming our Indigenous art," says Dawn Iehstoseranón:nha Setford of the Indigenous Arts Council of Canada.

"A lot of our original art forms, anything from beadwork to clothing, are born out of needing tools or spiritual items, or for expressing our spirituality. This is a huge part of what goes missing when mothers are broken and children are broken. The family unit and the community fall apart, and that learning stops. That’s what I was looking to repair."

Dawn Iehstoseranón:nha Setford founded the Indigenous Arts Collective of Canada to help Indigenous women reclaim their culture, connect with each other and turn their artistic skills into a source of income. Here’s how she did it.

03/04/2023

Meet Vikki Wiercinski, this month's featured member!

Workshop member and graphic designer Vikki Wiercinski chats about her favourite podcast, her first-ever sale and the product she might bring back from the dead.

23/03/2023

As attendees of our February 25 event learned from lawyer Czarina Pacaide of Anahaw Law, there are several intellectual property rights that apply to handmade businesses. These laws can help you ward off copycats and thieves from stealing and profiting off your work.

Here’s the lowdown on what Pacaide discussed, with some extra details from the very informative website of CIPO, the Canadian Intellectual Property Office.

Here's an overview of the Canadian intellectual property laws we learned about during our February 25th virtual event with lawyer Czarina Pacaide. Plus, watch the replay!

16/03/2023

"If somebody claims to be anti-racist, it means that they’re actively donating to communities, or working with communities to help them rise," says Amrita Aggarwal of Bakau Consulting.

"A lot of the BIPOC communities — Black, Indigenous and people of colour — are the ones who’ve been disadvantaged. So if you have privilege, devoting some time to being anti-racist is actively working to give your power and privilege to somebody else."

Amrita Aggarwal of Bakau Consulting in Vancouver shares tips on how small businesses can build anti-racist practices into their everyday operations.

13/03/2023

Get a behind-the-scenes look at how to improve your DIY photo set-up from Tiu Tabak of Kinsfolk Shop in Guelph, Ont. >>

A behind-the-scenes look at how to improve your DIY photo set-up from Tiu Tabak of Kinsfolk Shop in Guelph, Ont.

02/03/2023

Is the one-person-show routine getting to be a burden? A virtual assistant might be able to help. Here’s what they do and what to look for when hiring one.

24/02/2023

Meet Edwin Fong, this month's featured member!

Workshop member and doodler Edwin Fong tells us about his dream studio seating, his reading recommendation and his biggest achievement of 2022.

16/02/2023

**** New event alert! ****

Have you ever been scared that someone will steal your work? Or that someone else will accuse you of stealing theirs? Or are you just curious what legal rights you really have as you design and sell products and build your business?

In this Zoom session, British Columbia–based lawyer Czarina Pacaide of Anahaw Law will walk you through the differences between copyright, trademarks and patents, and answer your legal questions about how to use them to protect your business. The session will cover:

- When and how to use copyrights, trademarks and patents in your handmade business and why you might want to.
- How to stay on the right side of the law when you’re “borrowing inspiration” from others.
- Things you can do if someone copies your work or (eek!) accuses you of copying theirs.
- Key steps to take toward getting your legal affairs in order so your work and your business is protected both in Canada and beyond our borders.

Plus, you’ll have the opportunity to ask your own questions!

More info at the link >>

February 25, 2023 | Join Workshop as we welcome lawyer Czarina Pacaide of Anahaw Law for a live virtual session on what you need to know about copyright, trademarks and patents as a small-business owner.

09/02/2023

How do you know if the One of a Kind Show is a fit for your business, and what’s involved in applying and getting in? We spoke with Valérie Roy, One of a Kind’s director of sales and recruitment, to find out.

Plus, we’ve gathered show tips from vendors who’ve been there.

Got suggestions of your own? Please share them in the comments!

Have you got this massive craft market on your list of potential sales venues? Our guide – and expert tips – will help you decide if it’s the right fit for you.