Nest, a nonprofit that works with makers to build a world of greater gender equity and economic inclusion, will host a free, two-day online workshop for Detroit makers from Jan. 28-29. This online two-day workshop—designed for artisans and handmakers—will provide resources about sales, marketing, networking and business planning and take place on January 28th and 29th. Registration is available here.
Supported by the Same Sky Foundation, Bloomberg Philanthropies and West Elm, roundtable discussions topics include: goal-setting, accessing capital and marketing for buyers. Founder, and Fashion Designer, Hope For Flowers, Tracy Reese, who grew up in Detroit, will be among experts reviewing submissions for the workshop’s elevator-pitch evaluation. Reese also serves on the Nest board of trustees.
“Through Nest’s Makers United program, we create concrete opportunities that may not have already existed for the amazing artisans in my hometown,” Reese said. “I also want to open their eyes to opportunities that were already here that, for some reason, they do not have access to.”
Ongoing workshops—along with marketplace activations and local partnerships—stem from the program’s previous analysis of Detroit’s maker landscape in Summer 2020, which provided insight into local maker communities and highlighted the unique challenges artisans face in small business development in the city’s distinct markets.
“Nest’s Makers United program is a multi-stakeholder initiative that connects and strengthens diverse communities of makers across the United States,” said Rebecca van Bergen, Nest’s founder and executive director. “We are committed to building a vibrant and inclusive maker population and excited to bring this program to Detroit and invest in being a part of the Detroit makers community.”
Rebecca and her work to create the Nest Makers United Program was recently honored by InStyle Magazine in their Badass Women issue, as one of 50 women who show up, speak up, and get things done, alongside so many influential women including Cori Bush, Bridgett Floyd, America Ferrera, and more.
In December, Nest Makers United hosted an online workshop called “How To Boost Your Last-Minute Holiday Sale,” which featured Jinal Shah, vice president of marketing at Feather; Victor Ramirez, lead product analytics engineer at The Knot Worldwide; and Eli and Valencia Morr, co-founders of Peacesake Candles & Co.
“I really appreciated the seminar,” said Detroit maker Archana Aneja. “Being a nascent business owner can be overwhelming, but I am very happy to see how Nest is, in fact, helping us wade through these uncharted waters.”
Makers interested in attending this month’s two-day workshop can learn more here.
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