- Are you a maker, artist, or craftsman who creates handmade items?
- Wouldn’t it be great to earn more money and reach more people than any of your social media can?
- Want to sell your creations year-round without waiting on a powwow or other event?
The IDRS Acorn Project and the Nest Artisan Guild are partnering to launch a unique program to help makers expand their market and make more income by selling on the Etsy platform. Makers chosen to participate in the 3-month program will receive all the assistance and training they need to launch a successful Etsy store. In addition to the specialized training and assistance, participants will also receive grants that will help ensure their successful launch into the global marketplace.
The program is outlined below but if you are available, you should try to attend the live information session we are hosting on Thurday, March 23rd at 9:00 am Pacific. Click Here to register.
Cohort Benefits
- A grant totaling $900 will be provided to each cohort member for professional product photography, equipment, and supplies for your store.
- Support to help set up your shop: Each participant will receive personal assistance to set up their Etsy store.
- Graphic design services to design a store banner showcasing the participant as part of Etsy’s Uplift Makers initiative.
- Cohort members who are registered citizens of a federally recognized tribe will receive assistance to be listed in the Indian Arts & Crafts Board source directory. Becoming a verified Native artisan through the IACB is the best way to market your products as authentically Native made and is often reviewed by collectors, vendors, and individuals who buy Native American art and crafted items.
- Each cohort member will be showcased on Etsy’s Uplift Makers landing page. Etsy further showcases makers of the Uplift Makers program in blog and social media posts at different times throughout the year, such as Indigenous People’s Day.
- The IDRS Acorn Project and the Nest Artisans Guild will showcase cohort participants through their social media pages on Facebook and Instagram. This is a great way to get exposure to new customers worldwide.
- Learn best practices for selling on Etsy from other Native makers that have created a lucrative income stream from their stores.
- Networking with other participants on the same journey is a great benefit to participating in a cohort. Cohort members learn from each other, promote each other, buy from each other, and build friendships that last beyond the length of the program.
- Ongoing support, training, and opportunities are available to cohort participants. A participant in the previous Indigenous cohort received a $2,500 grant from Nest & Jewelry Makers United to buy equipment and supplies to expand her jewelry business.
Who Qualifies to Apply
- Makers, artisans, and craftsmen from anywhere in the United States can apply. Preference will be given to applicants from California and Nevada.
- Participants must have at least five hand-crafted items to be photographed and listed as inventory in their store.
- Participants must have a smartphone or computer and access to the Internet.
- Preferred participants are makers who sell products through online platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, or their website but do not have an Etsy store. Participants with existing Etsy stores will be considered.
How to Apply
Anyone interested in participating in the Indigenous Makers Collective should click here to complete an application. Makers from California and Nevada will be given priority.
Program Timeline (all times are Pacific)
- Application deadline – Monday, March 27th
- Orientation webinar for selected participants – Tuesday, April 4th, 12:00 – 1:00
- Virtual training – Friday, April 21st, 12:00 – 1:00
- Virtual training – Friday, April 28th, 12:00 – 1:00
- Virtual training – Friday, May 5th, 12:00 – 1:00
- Virtual Product Photography Class – Thursday, May 11th, & Friday, May 5th, 12:00 – 2:00
- Store Launch – Friday, May 26th
Program Guides
The cohort will be led by Lynn Wilson and MaryBeth Timothy – two Native makers who have experienced tremendous success selling through Etsy.
MaryBeth is a renowned Cherokee artist who operates Moonhawk Art LLC with her Creek 
husband, John Timothy. MaryBeth shares her affinity for Oklahoma wild birds, animals, and wildflowers through her work. MaryBeth and John create original art but also reproduces their images on various items, such as ceramic decorative tiles, coffee mugs, mousepads, and cuff bracelets. MaryBeth has been an Etsy seller since 2017 and has provided training to teach others about selling on the platform for the past four years.
Lynn creates jewelry and home decor items. Each piece she creates is inspired by Cherokee 
history, culture, legends, and language. She started her Etsy store in 2021 with only one product. She started the store to learn more about the platform so she could assist others who want to sell on Etsy. Shortly after starting her store, she realized there were a lot of people interested in Cherokee culture, which prompted her to create an additional eight items. In 2022, almost sixteen thousand people visited her store, which she primarily attributes to participating in the Etsy/Nest Uplift Makers program.