AUSTIN CRAFT MAFIA
Austin Craft Mafia: “They’ve got a hit out
on Style.”
Crafty entrepreneurs
join forces to take the hand-made market by storm.
AUSTIN, TX (Market Wire) 8/23/04 - Austin
Craft Mafia (ACM),
www.austincraftmafia.com,
a co-operative business project comprised of
nine popular Austin-based companies, is spurring the trend of 'Craft
Mafias' forming across the country.
ACM is the brainchild of designer and entrepreneur Tina Lockwood
(Sparkle Craft). After being contacted by Jenny Hart (Sublime
Stitching) seeking advice on her own business venture, Jennifer Perkins
(Naughty Secretary Club) joined in on the discussion. The three women
saw the strength in numbers and began meeting on a regular basis and
sharing ad space that they couldn't afford as individual businesses.
They immediately recognized the potential for greater success by
pooling collective talents of peers rather than operating independently
of each other. More and more business owners were invited to their
meetings, and the Austin Craft Mafia was soon born.
Says co-founder Tina Lockwood: "I had met so many smart, independent
businesswomen here in Austin who were either already running their own
businesses or had plans to start their own. I felt it would be
extremely powerful to get together and organize. It is amazing what you
can accomplish together, and rewarding to know that we're not depending
on big business or corporate America. We're working with each other to
open doors and get things done."
Each member of the ACM owns and operates a respected and established
business that represents the DIY spirit. Individually these companies
offer hand-made products that include vegan guitar straps and belts,
kitschy-cool reconstructed jewelry, hip embroidery kits and patterns,
custom vinyl purses and wallets, original custom-made fashions, artwork
and home decor. The unique offerings have earned each member's business
national and international recognition.
ACM co-founder Jennifer Perkins remarks, “The Austin Craft Mafia has
become a really strong network for all businesses involved. Before the
birth of the actual moniker 'Austin Craft Mafia' named we were a pretty
incestuous group. We promote, support and swap trade secrets with each
other, all in hopes of aiding in one another’s success.Many of us had
been meeting already for various splinter groups like Stitch ‘n’ Bitch
and Babes in Business. We thought; why all these fractured groups,
let’s join forces, create one united crafty front.”
How does such a large group function? Like a well-oiled machine, each
member brings her own individual talents to the group and serves a
specific function. One gal is in charge of researching advertising,
another is responsible for maintaining the website, the newsletter and
so on. For all members, the ACM functions as a mutual resource of
support, promotion, information sharing and fun. They strive to be a
model of the entrepreneurial spirit to Craft Mafias across the country.
Anyone wanting to start their own Craft
Mafia is encouraged to do so by linking up with CraftMafia.com
and plugging in to a network of Mafias across the country.
The ACM loosely oversees their activity providing a resource
for them to post their press and happenings. In the Austin
area, entrepreneurs who want to benefit from the ACM are invited
to attend the Babes in Business Bonanza meetings, hostessed
by Jennifer Perkins, which are held the last Thursday of every
month in various venues.
Look out, the Mafia is coming to your town.
For further information please contact Tina
Lockwood at tina@sparklecraft.com
Things
others have written about us
ACM is compiled of eight independently owned
companies: read
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