Business Training | Craft Central

‘Rachel is a very engaging and inspiring trainer, who I feel I can relate to… she is clear and concise and made the session enjoyable!’ Network Member

Why take time to describe what you do? So that people REALLY understand what you do, how you do it and why they should give you money for it!

This session focuses on developing how you talk and write about your business in long or short form whether for a business plan, funding application, website, press release, cover letter or on the telephone. Good communications are essential for success. This seminar will give you the tools to help you make sure your audience understands you and your product or service.

About Rachel…
Rachel trained as a designer and was director of an architectural practice before completing an MBA. Since 2000 she has been advising design businesses to help them achieve more profit with less stress, teaching design management at a number or educational institutions and working with support organisations including Crafts Council, Arts Council and University of the Arts. Rachel has also completed research into the successful strategies of small design businesses through a PhD at Birkbeck, University of London.

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26th June 2012

Product Development POW WOW - Brainstorming & Building

A guided group crit on turning your designs into a viable business with Dan Maier

Training Type: Business Training

Category: Group Workshop

Time: 14:00

Location: Craft Central, 33-35 St John's Square, London. EC1M 4DS

Non-member price: £29.00

Craft Central Network member price: £19.00

'Great advice and general overview of what I need to do!' Network Member

Fed up with working in isolation? Fancy some objective feedback from your peers and someone who’s been there and done it? Being a one man band often means you miss being able to run your ideas past others. Having to make business decisions on your own can be stressful when you’re not sure of your ground...

This is an opportunity for some one-to-one help with your business in a group setting. You will get the benefit of solid and sound advice from the trainer as well as a forum of like minded people you can use as a sounding board to think through your issues and brainstorm ideas.

This meeting of minds will be tailor-made to the individuals who attend. All participants should bring along their products and send in the top 3 issues they would like to work on prior to the session. The workshop will broadly cover:
• developing products – one offs to productions runs
• making it all yourself or farming out the work
• working with manufacturers, home-workers and assistants (interns)
• range building, when to introduce new lines
• packaging & branding
• pricing – how much can you charge?
• the impact of trends
• making your products viable

If you have a complex issue or something that is not listed above we may recommend you book an individual one to one session. Issues to do with selling and presenting yourself will be covered in the next POW WOW workshop.

About Dan…
Dan Maier is best known for her lighting designs which sold through Harvey Nichols and Liberty and became best-sellers in Heals and The John Lewis Partnership. Her business grew from a ‘one man band’ to a limited company employing 20 people and owning her own studio. Although her background is in textiles, she has manufactured products in a wide range of materials. She now specialises in bespoke commissions for display, theatre, advertising and interiors. Clients include Le Creuset, The Hayward Gallery Shop, The Old Vic, Saatchi’s and The Royal Caribbean Cruise Liners. With over 15 years working in industry, she now shares her wealth of knowledge and experience as a business advisor and mentor to designer makers.

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27th June 2012

Tax Advice Session for new and small businesses

HMRC Advisors, Mary Croghan and Theresa Bishop

Training Type: Business Training

Category: Group Workshop

Time: 10:30

Location: Craft Central, 33-35 St John's Square, London. EC1M 4DS

Non-member price: £15.00

Craft Central Network member price: £5.00

• How to register for tax and national insurance
• Understand what records you are required to keep
• What expenses are and are not allowable
• Know the basics of self-assessment

This session covers the basic tax and national insurance responsibilities for new and small businesses.

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1st January 2013