The Business Development Programme is funded by Invest Northern Ireland as part of the making it 2011 programme.

Each of the 8 seminars will be open to interested makers at a cost of only £25 per seminar - although the first seminar of the year is free. This offers excellent value for money and will allow many makers to benefit from Rachel’s expertise and also that of guest speakers including Beatrice Mayfield, Maker Development Manager, Crafts Council and successful makers such as Holly Berry and Regina Aradesian.

The 6 making it 2011 makers will further benefit from one to one time with Rachel as they explore and research their practice, test products and create ranges, develop a viable business model including marketing and communication strategies and ensure high levels of quality in their work and professionalism in their approach.

Feedback from the first two seminars have been extremely good:

Dr Rachel Smart’s series of seminars are inspiring, practical and focused. She debunks the ‘scary business plan’ myth and encourages profitable realism. The seminars are entertaining as well as informative and give great value for money’.Emma Whitehead (Textiles/Embroidery)

‘As a speaker, she is very enjoyable to listen to and her enthusiasm for the subject is apparent.  I found her talk inspiring but realistic at the same time.  She made me realise that it is ok, even beneficial, to take time to think and plan when trying to develop my business!’Nicola Farrell (Textiles)

‘Rachel is an inspiring, dynamic and original speaker and understands things from the makers’ viewpoint. She puts her points across in a clear and friendly way. I would wholeheartedly recommend attendance at her seminars as essential to craft people of all ages wishing to either update or learn current business practice’.Louise Hardman (Weaver)

The Seminar dates are listed below.

20th January 2012
Seminar 1 - How to Develop and Manage Business and Creative Strategy
 
29th March 2012
Seminar 2 - Developing Ranges/Services and Exploring Markets.
 
14th June 2012
Seminar 3 - Creating Business Systems: Time, Project and Financial Management
 
5th October 2012
Seminar 4 - Communication, Marketing and Exhibition Strategy

17th January 2013
Seminar 5 – Business Plan Writing and Objective Setting

21st March 2013
Seminar 6 – Communication and Sales of Work to Defined Markets

14th June 2013
Seminar 7 – Financial Management and Pricing of Work/Hourly Rate

10th October 2013
Seminar 8 – Project Management for Business and Design

About Dr Rachel Smart

Since 2000 Dr Rachel Smart has been advising commission and product based design businesses, teaching design management and entrepreneurship at MA level for a number of educational institutions and providing professional practice seminars to organisations including Crafts Council, Craft Central, Arts Council, British Institute of Interior Design and Design Initiative NW. She is currently Chair of London Printworks Trust. Rachel trained as a designer, was director of an architectural practice, graduated with an MBA from Durham University in 2001 and completed a PhD at Birkbeck, University of London researching successful design entrepreneurs in 2008. More information at http://www.rachelsmart.com