Today we’d like to introduce you to Cheryl Hopkins.
Hi Cheryl, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today.
The first Crafty Mart took place in 2009, giving Akronites a place to shop small and local artists and makers a platform to sell their goods as well as attracting unique crafters and artisans to the Rubber City. Crafty Mart became a formal non-profit organization in 2015. Crafty Mart supports local artists, makers, and artisans by providing opportunities to learn how to refine and expand their creative businesses through education and markets.
Over the past several years, our organization has expanded its programming to include educational programming for local makers, DIY workshops, community outreach, and even a cooperative Craft Closet where the public can shop, swap, or drop their unwanted supplies.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The pandemic was certainly a challenge for an organization that is known for its in-person, handmade markets! We had to quickly pivot and reprogram our events so that folks could still craft online and continue to support our creative local community, many of who depend on our markets as their source of income.
In 2020, we collaborated with two other regional handmade markets and created a virtual catalog of our makers so that shoppers could still support the shop small, shop local movement. It was a challenge, but one that helped us to grow our organization as a whole.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Look, we know that we are just one of the many marketplaces out there. Local markets, festivals, and events have really exploded in the past few years because shoppers really enjoy the experience of being able to grab a specialty drink, order a meal from a food truck, listen to some good music and shop locally in a one-stop destination.
What sets Crafty Mart apart from the others is that we are able to offer educational programming to local makers who want to move from hobbyists to creative small businesses. We offer entrepreneurial courses called The Beginner Maker Sessions to folks who need help with things like licensing, pricing, branding, etc. Our Master Maker Sessions educate makers who are ready to move beyond the market scene and are wanting to branch out into wholesale opportunities and online sales. We are really proud to be able to offer that to the local creative community!
In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
As we started to see during the height of the pandemic, virtual stores and online shopping really exploded. And the trends show that this will continue to be the way people like to shop–online catalogs and virtual events are something we are really seeing take off in the creative world!
We will continue to develop programming that supports our makers so that they continue to thrive in this ever-changing environment.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://craftymart.org
- Instagram: @craftymart
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/akroncraftymart
- Twitter: @CraftyMart
