The ABANA Board is aware that the members of the organization who derive income from their practice of the craft of blacksmithing have a different set of needs from those who don't. ABANA's charter is to provide education and not to directly engage in commerce, but educational functions which allow our professional members to be more successful in their businesses are appropriate.
Professional's Corner is ABANA's web based locale for sharing information on the business of craft and the craft of business. Unlike the print magazines where every page devoted to business related issues is a page subtracted from those that appeal to the whole membership the web content in this corner can expand without that problem. The real limit comes from the amount of content that our members who are professionals will share with their colleagues.
To start the process going we have a number of ideas being worked. Here are just a few 'irons in the fire'. What do you need to know about to grow your business? Please let us know.
ABANA Board Member Jill Turman will be providing an article she wrote on securing contracts for public art. The paper is now available here.
New Board Member John Yust is an architect who had developed many projects in collaboration with metalworkers. He will be able to provide perspective from the point of view of the design professional.
ABANA icon Dorothy Stiegler is preparing to lead discussions on topics such as "Building a business without going into debt", "Legal protections" and "Getting and pricing the job."
Joe Coches of the Ferndale Blacksmith Shop will be imposed upon to discuss pricing for retail and gallery and other retail outlets. He doesn't know it yet but this is one of his favorite subjects.
Finally a gratuitous image of entrance gates by Dorothy Stiegler in 655 silicon bronze.
|
