December 2022 Newsletter

Hi friend!

In our second official month building a cooperative handmade marketplace, we nearly doubled to 300 members -- wow!

In this newsletter, we're sharing some important developments: new Marketplace Priorities Poll, a "Bill of Rights" for artisans selling online, the Buy Handmade campaign going year-round, and more good work.

Please consider us in your end-of-year giving plans: we have a fundraising goal of $2,500 to pay for legal incorporation

Read on for the latest news and keep spreading the good word!

Yours in cooperation,

- The Organizing Team at Artisans Cooperative

Illustration of a chicken voting and putting a ballot in a ballot box

Take the Marketplace Poll

The website should be designed for and by the people who will use it. That's why results from our new Marketplace Priorities Poll will guide the development.

Read About the Poll >>>
Take the Poll >>>

Brook the artisans cooperative chicken strutting with a shopping bag on her wing (arm)

Buy Handmade

Shop artisan-made in these last weeks of the holiday shopping season. Here's how:

> Read 3 Easy Ways to Shop “Actually Handmade”

> Browse our Gift Guides and Artisan Directory

Artisans:

Join the Marketing Campaign
It's free: we're continuing the holiday marketing campaign throughout the year to bring you customers. Submit your products and submit your shops for inclusion in gift guides, artisan profiles, social media posts, and SEO backlinks all year-round.

Buy Handmade Campaign >>>

Chicken waving to other bird friends who are waving their hands to volunteer

Volunteers Needed

Every pair of hands (and wings!) helps us grow closer to building an equitable artisans marketplace.

Volunteer Sign-up Form >>>

Why We Need Volunteers >>>

Educational Content

Our blog writers have been busy writing informative content.
Read the latest:

Collage of artisan fundraiser items: buttons, rings, leather keychains, digital phone wallpaper

Shop the Fundraiser

Our first fundraiser items are live! Shop buttons, leather keychains, and beaded rings featuring our fabulous chicken branding. On our Ko-fi page, get info on digital rewards like wallpaper and knitting patterns.

Shop the Fundraiser >>>

Spread the Word

Why'd the chicken cross the road? To tell their neighbor about the co-op! Use our grassroots tools and ideas to spread the word with your friends, family, colleagues, neighbors: digital business cards, flyers and more!

Grassroots Tools >>>

Visit Our Website

On Discord...

We use Discord to engage in real-time chat with members.

In the #tech channel this month, members discussed Loomio: a co-op technology solution for online group decision-making. Some members took the training and we're considering it for the future. Would this be a better tool than a Google form/survey? What do you think?

Our priorities are to 1) support your artisan businesses while 2) growing our cooperative and 3) developing the marketplace.

Questions?
Email us anytime or join our Discord to ask in chat rooms.