• Farm4Business Class (Virtual)  Virtual

    Virtual Online — Zoom

    Grow your agri-business with confidence! Everything you need to know from business planning to funding, financial recordkeeping, operations, employees, marketing, and certifications. If you have any questions please contact Holly Rivers holly@mountainbizworks.org.  Registration Complete our online registration form to hold your seat in the class of your choice.   We will follow up with you within

    Procurement & Contracting 101 Workshop  In-Person

    Hatch Innovation Hub Asheville

    Ever thought about how landing the right contracts could boost your business? Procurement is more than just sourcing suppliers and purchasing goods or services—it's your ticket to becoming a go-to supplier and unlocking new growth. Many entrepreneurs of color and underrepresented business owners miss out on the vast potential of procurement and contracting opportunities, thinking

    Craft Your Commerce: Makers’ Mixer  In-Person

    Sew Co Asheville

    Join fellow artists and creatives from Western North Carolina for an informal, in-person gathering. This relaxed networking event kicks off with a brief introduction and presentation, offering a sneak peek into the upcoming Spring Craft Your Commerce workshop series: The Entrepreneur's Toolkit. Enjoy an evening of socializing, light bites, and beverages. Libby O'Bryan of SewCo.

  • Craft Your Commerce: Spring 2024 All Access Pass  Virtual

    Spring 24 All Access Pass: $50 The All Access Pass registers you for all 6 of the Spring Series workshops below. Copyright and Licensing for Artists Canva for Creatives Grant Writing for Artists Client Relationships and Navigating Sticky Client Situations AI for Creatives Sales for Introverted Creatives To view info on all workshops, click here.

    Craft Your Commerce: Copyright and Licensing for Artists  Virtual

    Licensing is a dynamic and lucrative field that allows artists to expand the reach of their creativity while safeguarding their intellectual property. This presentation delves into the intricacies of copyright for creatives seeking to harness the power of licensing agreements. We will cover the fundamentals of copyright, licensing, fair use, payment and royalty schemes, and examine how different choices

    (FULL & CLOSED) Foundations Business Planning For Creatives Course  Virtual

    Virtual Online — Zoom

    Our Foundations business planning course helps guide ideas from concept to reality in a participatory, supportive learning environment. Join a cohort of aspiring and existing entrepreneurs to gain an aerial perspective of your vision and the comprehensive business skills necessary to help bring your visions into reality. Participants will gain a clear aerial perspective of

    Craft Your Commerce: Canva for Creatives  Virtual

    Canva is a powerful tool for DIY content creation that artists, craftspeople, and creative professionals can use to produce everything from social media posts to business cards to digital ads to videos. There are many design tools available online, but Canva offers a wide variety of templates, opportunities for customization, excellent online tutorials, and the

    Craft Your Commerce: Grant Writing for Artists  Virtual

    The world of grants may seem intimidating, but the truth is much more formula: following directions and determining best alignment for your needs and the funders’ priorities. In Grant Writing for Artists, workshop attendees will learn the basics of developing proposals for grant funding from foundations, arts councils, and government agencies. This will include an

  • Craft Your Commerce: Client Relationships and Navigating Sticky Client Situations  Virtual

    When you work one-on-one with commissions and clients, skill isn’t enough. The truth is, there’s a lot more to facilitating a smooth project than doing nice work. In this workshop, we’ll talk about how to make sure your clients have a 5-star experience through every touchpoint of your collaboration, from the moment they inquire to

    Craft Your Commerce: AI for Creatives  Virtual

    AI is a hot topic, but the technology behind it isn’t going away. In AI for Creatives, you’ll learn both opportunities and challenges presented by AI in the creative sector. The workshop will provide artists, makers, and creative entrepreneurs with a realistic understanding of AI’s role, addressing ethical concerns, and exploring how both conversational AI

    Craft Your Commerce: Sales for Introverted Creatives  Virtual

    Sales is all about relationships and managing expectations. We are all in sales, whether we realize it or not, like it or not. In this workshop, attendees will learn how not being a salesperson can be your strongest asset! Finding your authentic voice will help you make sales if you king know your craft and

  • Food Manufacturing for Farmers  In-Person

    WNC FoodWorks Asheville

    About this workshop: A farmer-to-farmer workshop and roundtable on creating value-added products from your produce, and making the most of the equipment and resources available to grow your business and extend your season. Featuring a presentation from Joel Mowery (Smokin J's Fiery Foods), and a facility tour of WNC FoodWorks, a nonprofit food business incubator and

  • Understanding Owner-Occupied Commercial Real Estate: A Guide to Buying Your Building  Virtual

    Virtual Online — Zoom

    Do you want to own the building where your business operates? This class aims to provide participants with an introductory understanding of owner-occupied commercial real estate, empowering you to make informed decisions when considering purchasing a building for your business. By the end of the course, participants will learn the fundamentals of commercial real estate

  • Craft Your Commerce: Makers Mixer Fall 2024  In-Person

    Torched AVL Asheville

    Join fellow artists and creatives from Western North Carolina for an informal, in-person gathering. This relaxed networking event kicks off with a brief introduction and presentation, offering a sneak peek into the upcoming Fall Craft Your Commerce workshop series. Enjoy an evening of socializing, light bites, and beverages. Meredith and Nora of Torched AVL will

    Craft Your Commerce: Broaden Your Business with Wholesale  Virtual

    Join Nanette Asbury for the Broaden Your Business with Wholesale workshop, where she draws from her extensive experience as an artist-owned wholesale business and gallery owner. Nanette will provide invaluable insights into evaluating products, assessing business readiness for retail partnerships, and developing long-term relationships with retailers. Key topics include understanding wholesale basics, creating effective pricing