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Association of Artisan Businesses
Association of Artisan Business (AAB) is a national non-partisan, professional organization whose mission is to assist individual artisans in reaching their full business potential while also promoting awareness of the artisan business community to the public, government agencies and elected officials.
This association compliments associations such as the Handcrafted Soap Guild, National Candle Association, and the National Confectioners Association. While these trade associations address product and production issues, the AAB provides members with “big business” resources and a collective voice.
I personally feel that Association of Artisan Businesses is vitally important because it provides the missing link in helping artisans reach their full business potential while promoting the benefits of purchasing artisan products across America. It is time for artisans to stand up with one unified voice. It is time that artisan businesses are taken seriously as financial contributors to households and the general economy.
The association will be accepting new members the first week of 2009. Below is a summary of membership levels. The end of this blog post gives a link for a newsletter. The newsletter will allow you to get information such as membership availability, membership discount opportunities and vendor advertising opportunities.General Membership is available to all individuals and businesses hand producing artisan products. Benefits include:
- "Fee Free" E-Commerce Website at ArtisansOnline.com
- Eligibility to Apply for Association Business Grants
- All Universal Membership Benefits
Vendor Membership is available to all individuals and businesses providing products and services to artisan businesses. Benefits include:
- Listing in Online Vendor Directory
- Listing on ArtisansOnline.com
- Listing in Annual Business Resource Catalog
- All Universal Membership Benefits
Charitable Membership is available to all non profit charities that co-ordinate artisans for the purpose of hand producing products for organizational fundraising. Benefits include:
- "Fee Free" E-Commerce Website at ArtisansOnline.com
- All Universal Membership Benefits
Universal Benefits for All Memberships Include:
- Exclusive Access to Online Business Resources
- Exclusive Access to Professionally Produced Business Videos
- Exclusive Access to Professionally Produced Artisan Trade Videos
- Receipt of an Annual Business Resource Catalog
- Representation and Updates from Artisans United PAC*
- Use of Association Logo
* Artisans United PAC is a non-partisan public relations division of the AAB. The purpose of the PAC is to allow the membership to make financial contributions to those elected officials who share in the vision of the AAB and who support the continuance of the independent artisan business person. A member’s participation in the Artisans United PAC is completely voluntary and separate from your rights and privileges as an AAB member.
If you have questions about the association, please consider signing up for the association's newsletter or emailing their Executive Director, Dawn Detelich at Dawn@ArtisanBusinesses.org
Debbie May
http://www.wholesalesuppliesplus.com/
1-800-359-0944
5 comments:
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This is a new organization. The idea of a unified voice has been discussed for sometime. The FDA Globalization Draft really showed many leaders that now is the time to act.
I am not sure if you are aware but Congress passed a law recently that if not changed or modified will drive all artisan toymakers right out of business.
I am sad that this association did not get organized in time for artisan toymakers. I would hate to see the same thing happen to soap and bath products.
Sign up for the association newsletter. I believe their website will go live around 1/1/2009.
Debbie
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Hello Debbie -
Thank you again for keeping us updated!
This should be a good opportunity for all of us to help fight what might be the demise to our industry if our voices are not heard, and heard loudly. Not that we do not have people fighting for us now, we do, and Debbie is one great example of that. The more the better!
I signed up for the newsletter.
Mary Humphrey
Annie's Goat Hill
Leesburg, Ohio
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Do they have a website to check out? I Googled their name and came across a couple of site buy I'm not quite sure if they're the organization you're talking about. Thanks.
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I believe the association website will be live the first week of January.
I know they have a video in production that discusses the association.
WSP has sponsored a "series" of MP Soapmaking Videos. I have not seen the final product, just the script. I am really pleased because it addresses the chemistry and background of MP Soapmaking. Then it goes into how to make MP Soap, while complying with current rules and regulations.
Sign up for the newsletter and I am sure Dawn will keep you updated. I heard something about a discount for members that sign up early and a "refer a friend" rebate program that can be used for items in the association store or future membership dues.
Debbie
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Great info, but I am confused. Is this organization currently in existence, or is it just starting up in 2009? When you say they will be accepting new members, I assume they are not yet operating, but perhaps I am wrong and they only accept so many members per year??? Is there a link we can go to for more info? Thanks for the head up. I look forward to learning more.