Sketch to Shelf is a community for Makers and Designers that helps you start and grow your creative business with tools, training and support from like-minded people.
We are inspired to create more than just something to sell – we are driven by our unique ideas and our sense of how to fulfill people’s needs with new products.
Making money by making things is a common goal to us Creative Entrepreneurs, but the path to success isn’t easy. We often struggle with how to turn our projects into profitable businesses.
The problem is that it’s not easy to design, produce, market, sell, run daily operations, support customers, and the other 10,000 things needed to have a successful business.
Starting and running a business is hard, and as a maker and designer, you may find it even harder. Some of us creative brain people struggle getting our business brain to engage. I believe that creativity and the process behind it has no bounds actually, and that with some reframing you’ll learn how to thrive in all parts of running your company.
Most of us work solo too, and that limits our advice network to the voice in the back of your head, some internet marketing guru with a random blog, or your cat. None of which can be trusted. Especially the cat.
With the resources on Sketch to Shelf – the tips, tools, and especially the community – you will be able to find satisfaction in making things and success in making money – both on your terms, with you in control of your life and career.
What you’ll find here:
- Community of like-minded creative people who are growing profitable businesses.
- Tools and Tips that make your everyday a bit easier, faster, more profitable.
- Training Courses and Books by experienced entrepreneurs so you can see how they’ve built their companies.
And as an active member in the Sketch to Shelf forum, you will meet new people, learn how to work smarter, and get help growing your business.
How can I be so sure? Because I’ve done it. My training is in Studio Art and Small Business Management and I have a Masters in Industrial Design. And in the real world, I’ve built my pet products company Hepper over the past 9 years.
I have first hand experience of every single step of the “Sketch to Shelf” process. I’ve been in the trenches and learned from many mistakes, while enjoying just as many successes along the way.
I started just like you – with an idea. Although I’d had many jobs designing for other companies, I’d never actually built a business myself. But like any creative project, I dug into the process and plodded through.
I’ve now started Sketch to Shelf to help you save time, money and frustration. This site will be the resource that I always wished I had – a place to get help, suggestions and guidance to start and grow your company.
Sign up today for our free newsletter or access to our private community of makers and designers who are building businesses – just like you.