WHAT IS MAKER RETREAT?
Maker Retreat is a 2-day, overnight retreat for female entrepreneurs that used to take place on the grounds of Bonnenfant YMCA camp in beautiful Dunrobin, Ontario. We are currently researching some more unique options.
Founded by small business owner and maker mentor Emily Arbour, Maker Retreat is an accessible, fun, creative environment in which to help female makers learn and grow.
OVER THE COURSE OF THE WEEKEND
YOU WILL BE INSPIRED AND EMPOWERED TO:
- Take the next steps in growing your business,
- Exist confidently in the brand you've created,
- Shed insecurities and successfully promote yourself and your products.
Expert presenters will share their insights gained from their experience as real life makers and business owners.
YOU WILL LEAVE THIS WEEKEND WITH:
- A variety of tools to take your small business to the next level.
- A better understanding of the the retail/wholesale relationship.
- The skills to take your OWN professional looking product photography.
- A crash course on SEO aka HOW to drive more traffic to your website.
- Actionable steps to improve (or create!) your brand.
- The tools to change your mindset and really GO FOR IT.
- The confidence to do what you love AND make money doing it.
- Answers to some of your burning small business questions.
- An expanded network of makers... and friends!
MAKER RETREAT IS FOR YOU IF:
- You're curious about wholesaling your products but don't know how yet.
- You have a great product, but you don't have a clue how to make them look good online.
- You love creating but aren't so good at the "other stuff."
- You are stumped about how to take good photos of your work.
- You are constantly turning down opportunities to sell your work because you "just aren't ready."
- You could use more friends in the handmade community.
- You love sleepovers.
PRESENTERS FROM OUR 2020 RETREAT
WE LEARNED FROM INSPIRING WOMEN WITH FIRST HAND EXPERIENCE
AMY EATON
The Photography Guru
Amy Eaton has a photographer, educator, and proud member of the creative community since 2010.
Creator of the powerful series of courses "Picture Profit Academy", Amy has carved a true niche for herself as a photographer who isn't afraid to make photography accessible to everyone.
She understands what it takes to be an entrepreneur and the value of sharing knowledge in way that's both digestible and actionable.
Amy's energy is contagious and empowering and we can't wait for her to join us at this year's Maker Retreat.
AVERY SWARTZ
The Tech Goddess
Avery Swartz is a Toronto-based entrepreneur, tech expert, and consultant. She is all about helping businesses and charities use technology to achieve their goals.
She is the founder and CEO of Camp Tech the tech workshop company for non-technical people and helms North Coast Group, a website advisory and digital consultancy.
Avery hosts the Gather North retreat for women who make the web, and is #5 on the Top 50 Women in Marketing list by Search Engine Journal. She also just wrote her first book: See you on the Internet. Building your Small Business with Digital Marketing.
We're very excited to learn from this energetic tech powerhouse for the second year in a row.
MELISSA DIRENZO
The Brand Wizard
Melissa DiRenzo is an experienced Art Director, Designer, Stylist and all ‘round creative soul.
Her design foundation was built working nearly 10 years in the corporate marketing world designing large retail campaigns for Shoppers Drug Mart. She later went on to give life to the creative DIY magazine Merry, as well as her own lifestyle brand and blog, The Sweet Escape. Her solo work brought her back to the corporate world where she built and designed a bi-yearly lifestyle magazine as part of Leon's Furniture re-branding.
Melissa has been featured on Apartment Therapy, House & Home, Style at Home and many more great publications.
EMILY ARBOUR
The Eternal Entrepreneur
Since the time she could pour lemon concentrate into a pitcher, Emily Arbour has had an unquenchable entrepreneurial spirit. Twenty years after opening her first roadside lemonade stand, Emily opened up her very own retail gift shop in the rural Eastern Ontario town of Almonte called Cheerfully Made.
Now in her (very early) forties, Arbour is a shop owner, craft show organizer, Etsy Team Captain and mother of two who has never strayed from her enterprising roots or her love of slow goods.
She loves colour, accessible design and creating space (and time) for family and friends.
SPECIAL GUESTS
KASEY BOUDREAU
The Cocktail Queen
Kasey is the owner of Cellar 82, Ottawa premier mobile cocktail bar.
She joins us again this year for a little post workshop wind-down on Saturday evening and is going to facilitate us in warming up for our pre-bedtime fireside chat.
AIDAN BLISS
The Spiritual Entrepreneur
Aidan Bliss compassionately supports people on their journey to heal and come into alignment with their own authentic power.
She joins us for the first time as we head into day two with a guided meditation focused on manifesting our entrepreneurial goals.
She is passionate about radical self-love and self-acceptance.
TESTIMONIALS
WHAT SOME FELLOW MAKER BOSSES HAVE TO SAY ABOUT US
BEE SAVVY HONEY
ALICIA OTT
"I went to Maker Retreat last year and it was AMAZING!
Since attending we've doubled our wholesale accounts and increased our Instagram followers by 1000!"
ERIN SCHULTE
"Emily is an expert and mentor in the maker community and the advice I've received from her has given me the courage to take steps to both increase my profit and grow as a small business. She's so in-tune with what we go through as makers and genuinely want to see us succeed, the definition of #communitynotcompetition."
JAMIE HAYHOE
"When I need a guide to help me flourish in my handmade business I think immediately of Emily!
She is the bomb. Her experience as a wholesaler and a buyer gives her a unique perspective, making her my #1 for wholesale advice!"
