About / Mission
What We Do:
Our collective knowledge covers wholesaling, retailing, publishing digital and traditional media, licensing, teaching, graphic design, marketing, product photography, and website development. We organize quarterly Craft Rackets: free business-oriented workshops open to the public on a variety of subjects such as Pricing Your Crafts and How to Apply for an Arts Fair.
Each holiday season, the Chicago Craft Mafia presents the DIY Trunk Show, now in its 9th year. This show brings together 100+ local and regional crafters. In order to showcase talented emerging artisans, the show focuses on ensuring that 20%-30% of the spaces available go to first-time sellers each year. Additionally, the show promotes several nonprofits and local businesses by offering free table space for them to interact with show attendees. Through email and our website, we serve the crafting community by answering questions, promoting local events and businesses; writing articles on the business of crafting; sharing artisan-related media and publishing RFPs; and showcasing inspirational photos and stories.
Our Mission:
The Chicago Craft Mafia is a collaborative and non-competitive organization of independent crafting business owners. We work together to both foster our own individual entrepreneurship and support the greater crafting community. Members of the familia pride ourselves on the design, integrity and workmanship of our products and the ethics of our business practices.
Our goal is to increase these businesses retail and/or wholesale exposure, by abiding by a DIY code of ethics.
We are the Chicago chapter of the Craft Mafia
Get Involved:
The Chicago Craft Mafia considers applications for new members once a year. In the meantime, stay involved with us by joining our Etsy Group: Friends of the Chicago Craft Mafia and on Facebook.