Learn . Create . Grow
Craft Your Commerce, a program by Mountain BizWorks, is designed to help artists, craftspeople, makers, designers, and creatives of all kinds. Whether you’re starting, growing, or scaling your business, Craft Your Commerce offers workshops, networking events, coaching, and peer-to-peer learning opportunities to support you at every stage of your entrepreneurial journey. Developed by creatives in business for creatives in business, our programs are tailored to meet the unique needs of creative entrepreneurs.
Upcoming Programming
A New Monthly Series for Creatives
Join us for Craft Your Commerce Connect, a monthly gathering designed for artists, craftspeople, and creative entrepreneurs. This learning series provides a space to connect with peers, exchange insights, and grow your business skills in an inspiring, supportive environment.
Each session offers focused discussions, practical tools, and collaborative opportunities to help you navigate the unique challenges of running a creative business. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to refine your approach, Craft Your Commerce Connect is your chance to learn, share, and thrive in community.
July Connect | Digital Organization for Creatives: Using Google Drive
Do you have a messy digital “filing cabinet”? Would you like to streamline your creative business in the cloud? In this workshop, learn how to organize your digital workspace using Google Suite and get a crash course on how to:
- Organize files and folders in your Drive
- Collaborate and safely share files
- Utilize Google Docs and Sheets for your projects
- Integrate your emails with Gmail
- Manage your schedule in Google Calendar
💻 Please bring your laptop, tablet, or phone to the workshop so you can follow along in real time.
FREE
Friday, July 25th | 11:00AM-1:00PM
In-Person | Center for Craft
Learn More and Register HERE
August Connect | Selling With Intention: A Practical Framework for Artist-Led Sales
This professional development workshop offers a strategic approach to sales for makers and artists. Participants will examine key areas often overlooked in the development of effective sales practices, with a focus on aligning creative integrity with market presence. The session will provide practical tools for refining communication, enhancing customer engagement, and articulating the value of handmade work. Artists will leave with a renewed understanding of their role not only as creators but also as ambassadors of their craft.
FREE
Friday, August 29th | 11:00AM-1:00PM
In-Person | Center for Craft
Learn More and Register HERE
September Connect | Holiday Season Planning: A Marketing Workshop
Now is the time to plan your holiday season for success. Join marketing expert Catherine Campbell for a workshop where you’ll learn the same strategies Catherine has used to help plan, organize and execute marketing campaigns that have generated over $3.5M in Black Friday-Cyber Monday product sales and $7M in product holiday sales…and learn how to tailor those strategies to your own personal timeframe, daily schedule and business budget. You’ll learn about holiday sales and marketing timing, tips and tricks, and types of marketing you can do and discover what may be a good fit for you.
FREE
Friday, September 26th | 11:00AM-1:00PM
In-Person | Center for Craft
Learn More and Register HERE
Design Decoded: Canva for Creatives
Design Decoded: Canva for Creatives is a hands-on learning lab (aka action workshop), led by Top 5% Canva Designer and local creative entrepreneur, Cortina Caldwell, thoughtfully crafted with the needs of creative entrepreneurs & contractors in mind. Treat this like Craft Your Commerce-sponsored “design office hours”—bring unfinished graphics, branding questions, or just show up ready to steal my favorite Canva hacks.
Note: This class was originally scheduled for July 8th and had to be rescheduled due to technical difficulties with the Canva platform.
$15
Wednesday, July 16th | 1:00PM-4:00PM
VIRTUAL via Zoom
Learn More and Register HERE
Show Ready: Strategies for Craft Show Success
This course outlines essential tools and strategies for preparing to sell your work at a craft show or market. From booth setup and pricing to branding and customer engagement, we’ll cover key logistics that often get overlooked while artists are focused on producing the work itself. Whether you’re planning your first show or looking to improve your market presence, this course is designed to help you show up prepared, polished, and ready to sell.
The class will run 9:00 am – 4:00 pm, with a 1-hour lunch break at about noon. Catered lunch is included in the ticket price.
$50
Thursday, July 31st | 9:00AM-4:00PM
In-Person | Center for Craft, 67 Broadway St. Asheville, NC
Learn More and Register HERE
Money Mondays with Deanna Lynch: Monthly Financial Check-Ins for Creative Entrepreneurs
Stay grounded, organized, and financially on track with Money Mondays, a monthly group session designed to help you meet your year-end financial goals with clarity and confidence. Led by experienced bookkeeper and accountant Deanna Lynch, these sessions offer expert instruction, practical tools, and space for open discussion and peer support.
$50 for five sessions
1st session August 11th | 10am-11:30am
Virtual via Zoom
See the full schedule and register HERE
Design Decoded: Canva for Professionals
Design Decoded: Canva for Professionals is a hands-on learning lab (aka action workshop), led by Top 5% Canva Designer and local creative entrepreneur, Cortina Caldwell. Already using Canva at your job, but feel like your marketing materials are missing the mark? This learning lab is for you! Grab your laptop and cozy up to this interactive session with a top-rated Canva designer for pro-tips that will WOW your audience. We’ll cover posters, merch, decks, video reels + a few features you didn’t know you needed!
$15
August 12th | 1pm-4pm
Virtual via Zoom
Register HERE
Two-Day Workshop for Artists: Business Planning and Development
This in-person, two-day series presented by Mountain BizWorks and John C. Campbell Folk School includes a hands-on workshop to help you start or pivot your creative business, a panel discussion with professional craft artists on their career paths, and an opportunity to receive a 1:1 coaching session.
$50, includes all sessions and lunch both days
September 21st-22nd
Olive’s Porch in Murphy, NC
See the full schedule and register HERE
Craft Your Commerce Book Club
Business Coaching
Craft Your Commerce has a dedicated creative coaching team available for you to work with! Access coaching for personalized support from accountants, grant writers, marketing pros, HR specialist, web developers and ecommerce experts, who all understand the needs of creative based businesses. Click the link below to complete the coaching form and check out our creative coach team. You can request to work with a specific coach or multiple coaches to meet your business needs.
Complete the Coaching Form Here
Meet our Creative Coaches
Read Success Stories from Creatives
Get Email Updates from Craft Your Commerce
Resources for Artists
Grant-Making Organizations
Business Assistance
Workshops and/or Residencies
Introduction to Fiscal Sponsorship with Fractured Atlas
Fiscal sponsorship is a powerful tool that allows artists and beginning arts organizations to receive some of the benefits of non-profit status without becoming a non-profit themselves. Amelia Bethel of Fractured Atlas explains all the ins and outs in this recorded webinar.
THANKS TO OUR SUPPORTING PARTNERS
Choose Your Path
Craft Your Commerce is here to stand with WNC creatives, providing support and resources to help you navigate the recovery journey from Hurricane Helene.
Get Funding
Mountain BizWorks' WNC Strong: Helene Business Recovery Fund helps small businesses close the gap between when the disaster strikes and when federal loans, insurance payouts, and other disaster relief funds are approved.
WNC Strong Recovery Resources
The WNC Strong website serves as a regional hub for Hurricane Helene recovery. Visit for the latest grant, loan, and recovery resources, including workshops and additional technical assistance.
ArtsAVL Resource Database
ArtsAVL is maintaining a database of resources geared toward artists and the creative community. Visit to view grants, disaster resources, and stay up to date with the latest for creatives.
Attend an orientation session
Not sure where to start?
Join us for an online, interactive information session to discover what resources are available at Mountain BizWorks that will help you start, grow, and thrive in your business. Hosted by our Learning Department, this session is a great opportunity to learn more about Mountain BizWorks’ small business lending and learning programs.
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