Are you looking for support for your creative small business?
You make or collect things for a living and love what you do, but people don't understand it. They have a hard time with the idea that you are making a living doing an unconventional job.
Being a creative entrepreneur can be lonely and isolating. Friends and family with traditional jobs don't understand your working structure and your unique set of needs, so it can be hard to use them as a sounding board. It can also be hard to find information relating to local small business, and trying to find people to share tips and tricks can be frustrating because your field is so specialized.
The Nutmeg Collective believes that open sharing of information relating to small creative business will make all of our businesses stronger. Our forum is filled with advice, camaraderie, and commiseration. We build each other up within a community of like-minded individuals. By joining The Nutmeg Collective, you are joining a professional network of serious and talented creatives.
Why should I become a member?
Some of the perks that our members enjoy:
Members have access to a 24-hour forum filled with advice, feedback, and support from people in the same field
Local meet-ups and social events that allow members to interact with each other in person
Information sharing sessions that will help you in areas such as social media, business structure, bookkeeping, and organization.
Access to an informational database of local craft shows and local gift shops to helps you expand your customer base
Public sharing of your small business on our own social media platforms and website
““Of the many things that I love about the Collective, one of the best parts is being connected with other driven and passionate CT small business owners who are focused on making high-quality artisan and handcrafted products. We are all at different levels in our businesses and every member is generous with their knowledge and experiences as we all work our way to the next level. This support, as well as camaraderie and friendships made within the group, truly make The Nutmeg Collective something special.””
what we're looking for in a member business:
are you a small handmade business or vintage collector with a valid Connecticut tax identification number?
are you a branded business with a clear focus?
do you make high-quality handmade products?
are you someone with entrepreneurial aspirations?
do you make original creations, and do you present a cohesive collection?
are your products something unique or something we haven't seen before?
is your website clean and informative?
do you have an active social media presence across multiple platforms?
are your photographs clean, clear, and aesthetically-pleasing?
do you have a strong work ethic and drive to improve and grow?
do you have a professional online presence?
How much does it cost to join?
The Nutmeg Collective’s forum is free for the 2024 year. There are some optional paid opportunities, such as a feature ad on our website.
The Nutmeg Collective is for you if:
you are serious about your business and its growth
you are committed to creating original, high-quality handmade products
you are looking for a community of hard-working makers
you are willing to help others grow their businesses
you are able to both take and offer feedback
you can commit time to regularly interact with members in our Facebook group
you understand that our maker community is better together
The Nutmeg Collective is probably not for you if:
your creative pursuit is a hobby and plan to keep it that way
you do not have one dedicated craft/brand focus
you want to start a handmade business but haven't started yet
you are unable to commit time to the group for the entire 2024 year
you are not really looking to be part of a collaborative community or helping others
you are only looking for opportunities to sell your work or for free marketing
you are not interested in new ideas and getting out of your comfort zone in order to grow your business
your work contains trademarked material or licensed characters in any form. This includes fan art, “twists” on characters, or character fabric.
How do I join?
In 2024, new candidates need to fill out our application form, which will open on the 20th day of January, May, and September and remain open for one week. You will be asked to provide online links to your work as well as your reasons for wanting to join the group. Once the application period has closed, our membership jury team comprised of 19 of our members will then vote on your application. Voting is open for 3-4 days, and candidates are notified within a day or two of jurying.
The Nutmeg Collective does not discriminate based on race, religion, gender/gender expression, sexual orientation, marital status, age, disability, marital status, or military status. We believe in celebrating diversity and creating a warm and open community where kindness rules.