Artisan Businesses are about Making a Difference

Artisan businesses are about more than just selling a product; they are about making a difference. As an artisan business owner, you have the opportunity to change the way people think about the products they use and consume. You can challenge the status quo and build a legacy of slow, crafted goods that last.

I believe that every artisan business has the potential to be a changemaker. By focusing on quality and sustainability, you can create a business that makes a positive impact on the world. I challenge my clients to look at their businesses with this vision in mind; to see themselves not only as makers of beautiful things, but also as agents of change. With this mindset, you can craft a business that leaves a lasting legacy.

“I was recently at a conference and had the opportunity to hear Seth Godin speak about marketing. He said for a long time, what businesses were focused on was making average products, for the average person, and marketing them to the masses with a ton of advertising. Consumerism was very much of the ‘the more the better’ and ‘keeping up with the Joneses’ mentality. It was less about the actual quality of the product and more about ‘having’. Businesses believed that to raise profits, they had to sell more stuff because financial growth was the only thing that mattered. Now the tides are turning. The quality of the product is everything. And beyond that, it’s not only the quality of the product, but it’s also the values of the business itself.” (excerpt from my book The Sustainable Maker)

Knowing this, artists, artisans and makers are also facing a choice. Focus on making products “fast” for financial gain exclusively. OR, making products “slow” for a triple bottom line gain for planet, people AND prosperity. Making products “Slow” gives power back to the artist, artisan and maker to make better choices and really lean into being a changemaker. It gives you the opportunity to truly align your business and your creative process with your values. I’m guessing that already is making you feel good, right?

Inside The Sustainable Maker, you will find the steps to Slow Design and how to incorporate them into your process, and you can get the book for free here. It already changing studios and artisan businesses all over the world, and I hope it at least opens your world to new possibilities.