Speaking Engagements

Classes and Workshop Information:

Speaking Engagements:

I am available to speak to your community about many small business topics including:
  • Running and growing a creative small business
  • Transitioning from retail to wholesale
  • Small object photography / product photography
  • Branding an online shop or website
  • Product development for artists
  • Pricing handmade work for artists and craft makers
  • Opening an Etsy Shop
  • Etsy shop critiques
  • and much more.
Etsy Education:
In June 2012, I participated in a now defunct program to become what was then called a "Certified Etsy Educator". The pilot group of 15 educators from all over North America gathered and trained for a full day at Etsy HQ in Brooklyn, NY to learn how teach classes on starting an Etsy shop and Shop Critique sessions directly from the Etsy Admin. (Update: The program was discontinued at the end of 2012 and we are no longer allowed to use the title of "Certified Etsy Educator" however I have since developed my own "Etsy 101 / 102" classes based on the information given to us that day.)

Please contact me with more information about your event or group and what kind of class, seminar or workshop you're looking for and let's talk!

Speaking engagements, Workshops & Classes - 2014:

Craftcation Conference: Ventura, CA April 3 - 6, 2014
Scheduled classes - from the Craftcation 2014 Schedule
Successful Selling: Retail, Consignment, and Wholesale
Marlo Miyashiro
Having a successful handmade business is more than making great stuff. In order to grow your business and achieve your goals, you need solid information on how to do business in the real world. This class will give you the tools and knowledge you need to help you decide the best path toward creating a business structure that will support your personal goals, help you manage your time, increase production, boost your profitability, and find the success that works for your unique vision for your business.


Magical Marketing Collateral: Linesheets, Look Books, and Catalogs
Marlo Miyashiro
Did you know that even in this day and age of internet marketing, wholesale buyers and shop owners are still enamored with printed marketing materials? It’s true. There nothing like a well-designed packet of information to help convey the quality and message of a brand. This class will help you decide how to integrate these seemingly archaic methods of marketing your work to increase your chances of being picked up by new wholesale clients.

Learn about the differences and similarities between line sheets, look books, and catalogs and how they can make or break your business.

South Seattle Community College - Continuing Education Spring 2014
Guest Instructor

Create an Online Craft Shop - Etsy 101
Saturday April 26, 2014 1pm to 4pm

Small Object Photography for Online Sellers
Saturday, May 3, 2014 1pm to 4pm

Create an Online Craft Shop - Etsy 102
Saturday, May 10, 2014 1pm to 4pm

Sell Your Handmade Work at Craft Shows - Application process
Saturday, May 31, 2014 1pm to 4pm

Sell Your Handmade Work at Craft Shows - Craft show displays
Saturday, June 7, 2014 1pm to 4pm

Speaking engagements, Workshops & Classes - 2013

Northwest Bead Society: Bead Bazaar, Everett, WA October 6, 2013
Small Object Photography Demonstration

School House Craft Conference and the SHC Continuing Education ProgramBallard - Seattle, WA September 14 & 15, 2013

  • Pricing Your Handmade Work
  • Intro to Wholesale
  • How to be Your Own Wholesale Sales Rep
  • Improving your Small Object Photography
  • Your Next Best Step: Finding Your Blocks and Busting Through - Roundtable


Fire and Rain Glass Bead Society Seattle, WA August 11, 2013
Improving Your Small Object Product Photography

Portland Be
ad Society, Portland, OR May 2 8, 2013

Improving Your Small Object Photography for your Online Shop

Northwest Bead Society
, Seattle, WA April 18, 2013

Improving Your Small Object Photography for your Online Shop

Craftcation Conference
March 21 - 24, 2013

Ventura, CA at the Crown Plaza Hotel
Workshops scheduled to teach: 
  • Etsy 1.0 with Stephanie Cortes of NerdJERK Thursday, March 22, 2013 1pm
  • Etsy 2.0 with Stephanie Cortes of NerdJERK Friday, March 23, 2013 11am
  • Transitioning Your Crafts Business from Retail to Wholesale, Saturday, March 24, 2013 9am
Past Speaking engagements 2012:

Handmade Happy Hour Seattle Education Series:

Creating More Sales at Craft Shows October 24, 2012 
Seattle, WA at Marlo  M's Studio in Greenwood with Andrea Porter
Wednesday, October 24, 2012 - 6:30pm to 8:30pm

 Seattle, WA at the Phinney Neighborhood Center with Andrea Porter
Saturday, October 27, 2012 - 10:30am - 12:30pm

Business of Crafts Weekend Workshop March 17 & 18, 2012
Edmonds, WA with Pam Corwin and Manya Vee
-- Guest Artist Panel
-- Small group consulting

Craftcation Conference March 23 - 24, 2012
Ventura, CA
Guest speaker and sponsor: When to Seek Professional Help: Building Your Indie Business
with Steph Calvert of Hearts and Laserbeams

Starting a Crafty Business - April 16, 2012
Guest speaker panelist with Rosalie Gale, Sara Lanzillotta and Andrea Porter.
Puyallup Library

Get Ready to Wholesale!
with Andrea of SchoolHouseCraft.com - 
April 28, 2012 at the Phinney Neighborhood Center

Awesome Women Expo August 18, 2012 
at Vermillion, Seattle, WA 
-- mini-seminar "Are You Ready to GROW Your Business?"

School House Craft September 21 - 23, 2012
Seattle, WA
-- Small Object Photography seminar as Small Object Photography
-- Small Object Photography labs as Small Object Photography
-- One-to-one consulting as Creative Arts Consulting 

 

Past workshops and seminars 2011:

Conference of Creative Entrepreneurs 2011, San Francisco, CA

School House Craft, Seattle, WA
Past workshops and seminars 2010:

Summit of Awesome, Portland OR
Conference of Creative Entrepreneurs 2010, Seattle, WA
  • Improving Your Small Object Photography (link no longer available)
Notable articles and features:
Seattle Times feature - July 4, 2013: 
Seattle-area artists like Etsy way to sell online
Even traditional retailers like Nordstrom are using Etsy to find unique, handmade items to sell.
By Marissa Evans - Seattle Times business reporter

Misc Interviews and Articles online:
    Current Blogs and Guest Blog Posts
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