In Birmingham, The Makers United Marketplace is a Hit!

On September 14th, at The Theodore in Birmingham, 32 Birmingham makers exhibited their handcrafted items like hand painted to jewelry, hand-sewn head-to-toe artisanal jumpers, handcrafted soaps, and handmade ceramics to a crowd of over 600 local residents who came out to shop! The market cumulatively generated more than $15,000 in sales across all artisan participants, making the event a successful selling opportunity for local makers, many of whom have cited struggling with market access.

Said Makers United superstar, Yogi Dada, in an open letter to Nest: “Another artist messaged me this morning and said that, profit-wise, this was the best showcase she has ever had here in Birmingham. That makes at least four of us who can say that about this past Saturday! You  guys truly made a difference and did it right!”

As we celebrate the culmination of our Makers United pilot in Birmingham, we are proud to unveil our first Maker Landscape Report created through surveys issued to more than 103 local makers. As you will see, Birmingham’s makers, most of whom are millenial women running their businesses as both artists and solo entrepreneurs, are strapped for resources. Improved diversity across the maker movement is also needed. Considering the wide range of craft types being practiced and lack of wholesale sales channels, there is an unmet opportunity for international brands to tap into the burgeoning talent emerging from Birmingham.

For readers who were not able to make it to the marketplace in person, we have set up an online marketplace where the locally made, handcrafted pieces can be shopped throughout the remainder of the month. Please shop, support, and enjoy!