Inspiring works from rural farms, forests, & charming villages on the Salish Sea
Inspiring works from rural farms, forests, & charming villages on the Salish Sea
We support the ingenuity, creativity and determination it takes to turn an idea into reality.
Make On!
The San Juan Makers Guild serves artists, artisans, food producers, authors, film and media makers, designers, manufacturers, and event/media developers as a support network bridging multiple creative industries.
The Guild’s mission it to foster and promote locally made products, increase public engagement, and undertake strategic economic strengthening. A core value of the Guild is celebrating and sharing the unique island landscapes, cultural expressions, artistic gifts, agriculture, ingenuity and natural resources of San Juan County, Washington.
As a dynamic professional and business development organization the Guild provides workshops, marketing services, community education programs, and special events that serve emerging and established small business enterprises. Guild services will broaden markets for local products, increase local employment opportunities, provide mentoring, build a year-round economy, and demonstrate viable pathways for future creative entrepreneurs.
While directly strengthening the creative and business operations capacities of local Maker industries, the San Juan Makers Guild also builds relationships across tourism, retail, government and agriculture sectors with the aim of improving economic resiliency across our rural island communities.
The Makers web site is just the beginning. By working together as a group, we can expand visibility of Island Makers' works at a lower cost per Maker. Each Member has the option to choose web based, social media, print media and video outreach at coop rates with marketing services provided by trusted industry experts.
A valuable outcome of the newly-funded Needs Assessment is collecting data to find common resources and materials that can be purchased at a cost savings through group-buy orders convened by the Guild. Our goal is to lower your cost to operate.
If you are a farmer, this could mean soil inputs. If you are a potter, this could mean clay. If you run a 3D printer, this could mean sourcing recyclable materials here in the islands. If you are a small business, this may mean negotiating discounts and savings on insurance, tools, services, and other neccessary resources.
Specialty Foods and Arts showcases, national Makers Fairs, and international specialty products trade shows can, in future years, become excellent business development opportunities where the Guild can host a 'Made in the San Juans' themed booth at a much lower cost per exhibitor. The Guild is also pursuing ongoing grants writing to help our members with business development.
The Guild is contracting experts in business develoment, planning, and marketing to assist Guild members at all levels of business experience in meeting their growth targets. We are connecting small businesses, from start-ups to well established enterprises, to advisors that assist in gaining a clearer understanding of their opportunities, areas for improvement, and management processes.
If there is a business or craft skill you want to learn, or improve, or immersions with a master Maker you'd like to experience, the Guild is planning ongoing professional development featuring experts from near and far.
For Makers interested in serving as mentors, the Guild invites student learners to pair up with island mentors. Keeping an eye on tomorrow's makers and building local economic resiliency.
The Guild is looking at tangible ways to strengthen a year round economy and we actively support Makers in considering associated enterprises to stabilize your economy. Examples: hosting as a Makers Tour site in the summer months, offering an educational hands-on retreat for adult learners in the off-season, or developing an online class that can be accessed anywhere, anytime.
Email sjmg@sanjuanmakersguild.com to join
Inclusion in web marketing with a color photograph, description of your business, and link to your web site. Invitations to online activities.
First year Free through 12/31/2020
Featured on main creative sector page with 4 photos, decription of your business, and link to your web site. Inclusion in online showcase fairs.
Inclusion in B2B events. Annual membership fee.
Lead feature in main marketing area with video option and 3 photos, description of your business, link to a second Makers Guild product area if needed. Feature in Birds of a Feather B2B product development sessions. Prime locations in Maker Guild showcase events.
Annual membership fee.
Inclusion in consulting services for business and marketing planning,
value: $800. Guest Presenter / Feature in Birds of a Feather B2B sessions.
Prominent lead feature in main marketing area with video option and 3 photos, description of your business, link to a second product area if needed.
Prime locations and Sponsor web tile in Maker Guild showcase events. Annual membership fee.
San Juan County Makers can request a listing in the Makers Directory that includes name, type of product's, and link to web site. Free.
To request a membership form or inquire about sponsorhsips, please email sjmg@sanjuanmakersguild.com