Experience a one-day conference 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.

• March 15th: All-day workshops from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM.
• FREE to Attend & Lunch is Included!  Pre-registration is required.
• Join one session, or join them all, your single registration gets you an all-access pass for the day.
• Event will be held at the HCC Creative Arts Building in room 7105 on HCC’s main campus.
• Checkout the full workshop lineup and register today at NCSBC.net/Workshop.

This event focuses on training the "maker", an artist or a crafter, on how to position your creative business for profitability.  

With over 650,000 businesses involved in the creation or distribution of the arts, the creative industry employs more than 3.48 million people. Arts businesses and the creative people they employ stimulate innovation, strengthen competitiveness in the marketplace, and play an important role in building and sustaining economic vibrancy.

There are many pieces and parts to having a successful career that go beyond just being a talented artist. The complexities of your business are not always managed on a spreadsheet, and often you don't have the knowledge to handle certain situations or make the best decisions.

Here are the highlights of what you can expect to learn:

Making a Good First Impression: What if you could increase your sales significantly without spending any additional money? 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.

Using Social Media to Build Your Artist Brand: 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.

Pitching to Impress:  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!

Selling Strategies That Work for Artists:  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.

Creating Your Own Marketing Pieces & Promotional Designs:  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!

Pricing for Profit: Numbers might sound scary to some creative entrepreneurs, but part of any successful business model includes turning a profit. Learn how to measure the most important numbers of your business that will help you price confidently and set you up for financial success.

Telling Your Story to Connect with Customers: 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.

All Seminars are free to attend. To see our full seminar schedule and register, go to: SBC.Haywood.edu.  If you have any questions or want more information on the HCC Small Business Center's one-on-one, no-fee advisory services, visit us online at: SBC.Haywood.edu  or call 828-627-4512.

The NC Community College’s Small Business Center Network facilitates an economic impact in 90 percent of all NC counties each year and ranks number one in the US for total business seminars and participants. In addition, the network helps start an average of over 700 businesses every year and works to create and retain 3,800 jobs annually for North Carolina. Visit NCSBC.net for more information.

Haywood Community College is part of the North Carolina Community College System and is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges & Schools Commission on Colleges. Founded in 1965, it is an open-door institution with the mission of serving the educational needs and economic growth of our community by promoting lifelong student learning and success. This includes programs for Haywood County high school students through Career and College Promise and Haywood Early College. The college campus, a designated arboretum, boasts one of the most beautiful college campuses in the state with an iconic mill pond, seasonal dahlia and rhododendron gardens, an 18-hole disc golf course and a walking trail.

Source: Haywood Community College