Ask the Expert: How Do I Create a Brand Identity?
What is a brand anyway, and what do you need to make yours better? Creative director and agency founder Janelle Desrosiers shares her secrets to success.
Plan
Building a successful handmade business requires a lot of work behind the scenes. From big-picture visioning and strategy down to the nitty-gritty of how to get things done day to day, these articles are your maker-biz MBA. Learn about hiring and building a strong team; make sense of contracts, copyright and everything legal; find out how to manage your money and finances; and discover tools and systems to improve productivity, handle inventory and more.
Gift Guide: 6 Books for the Creative Entrepreneur in Your Life
Time management, creativity, finding meaning, connecting with community, making a difference and getting things done: these inspiring and useful reads cover it all.
Ask the Expert: What Is a Tax Writeoff and Why Does It Matter?
We all pay taxes, but you might not need to pay as much as you have been. Bookkeeper Jayne Dykstra fills us in on what counts as a business expense and how — and why — to keep track of all those receipts.
Why Cultural Appropriation Matters, and What You Can Do About It
What is cultural appropriation really, and why is it harmful? Here, two Indigenous educators share their expertise, plus tips on how we can all do better.
Yes, You Need a Business Plan. Here’s Why
A business plan seems so corporate, right? But it’s an essential tool for even the most creative, unconventional businesses. Here’s what you need to know.
Ask the Expert: How Do You Prepare for Emergencies in Business?
If the COVID pandemic has taught us anything, it’s that the world — and our businesses — can turn upside down in an instant. In our first expert Q&A, maker and business coach Laura-Jean Bernhardson answers one member’s question of how to prepare your business for the worst-case scenario.
Why Feeling Lazy Means You’re Working Too Hard
In their book Laziness Does Not Exist, Dr. Devon Price challenges cultural assumptions about productivity and time management. Here, we speak with them about what that might mean for your business — and your life.
Members
Discuss: How Did Your Business Get Started?
In this month's discussion topic, we're talking beginnings — including the story of how Workshop came to be. Drop by and share your story: how did your business start, and what advice would you give yourself if you were doing it all over again?
Create an Unforgettable Unboxing Experience: 5 Tricks for Your Handmade Business
How you package your goods for shipping can have an immense effect on how your customers view your brand — and whether they’ll buy from you again. Here’s how to get the e-commerce unboxing experience right.
A Beginner’s Guide to Charging Sales Tax in Canada: Everything Makers Need to Know about PST, GST and HST
When do you start adding tax to your handmade products? How do you get a GST/HST number? What do you do with the money once you’ve collected it? We’ve got the answers for you.
8 Ways to Diversify Your Revenue Stream
Having multiple sources of income is a smart way to keep your cash flow steady and grow your business. Here are some ideas to get you started.
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