Join

It’s application time. The make:Tulsa Business Membership application period is open until January 31st.  Please fill out the application, which can be found here, and email it to membership@maketulsa.com.  After the applications are all reviewed, you will receive notification no later than the 15th of February.

make:Tulsa is here to promote the creativity of Tulsa, keep Tulsa on the Handmade Movement map, and to foster a sense of community among like-minded artists and crafters.  We do this by:

  • Promoting one another’s business at shows, by word of mouth, and through internet efforts (blogging, FB, Twitter, etc).
  • Encouraging Tulsa’s creative, handmade movement by proudly promoting oneself as a make:Tulsa member.
  • Helping one another grow through teaching and enrolling in make:Tulsa classes and mentoring new members/young crafters.

Who can join?

Membership is open to those who live in the Tulsa MSA and Eastern Oklahoma/Green Country (25 miles from the heart of Tulsa or regularly in Tulsa).  Business members must also have an active online presence including, but not limited to, an online store, a website and/or blog, a banner, and logo.  Since make:Tulsa Business Members are working to grow their own business, we do look for cohesive branding for new members who will contribute to the professionalism make:Tulsa strives for online and at shows.  We are looking for makers who complement what our current makers are doing and work to avoid having too many artists in one area (ex. jewelry, clothing, housewares, pottery, etc), which means once accepted, you do not have worry about having competition from other makers.

What’s in it for me?

make:Tulsa business members are entitled to several perks which include:

  • Logo and site/shop linked from the make:Tulsa membership page
  • Inclusion in the Maker Spotlight which will go out to the make:Tulsa email list and be featured on the make:Tulsa blog
  • Opportunity to contribute to the weekly make:Tulsa blog and monthly newsletter through tutorials, blog entries, sale/promotion announcements, and show promotions.  Each entry you make will be listed from you and will link to your site/store.
  • Invitation to set up in official make:Tulsa booths at shows.
  • Tag your etsy items with make:Tulsa so you will have exposure by those searching make:Tulsa.
  • make:Tulsa member promotional materials including signage for your booth/displays.
  • Access to the members’ only Facebook group.
  • Invitation to all make:Tulsa functions (parties, classes, meet ups, etc).

What’s required of a Business Maker?

  • Legit. You must be a professional artist or crafter.  We do not mean this has to be your full-time job, but we do expect you to be serious about your business.
  • Represent.  Maintain  good business reputation.  Simple enough. Your work must be high-quality and you must maintain a good reputation with buyers, other makers, store owners, etc; you do not represent only yourself, but all of make:Tulsa.
  • Blog. Each member blogs at least once a year for one week. You can post one blog for the week or one a day and what you blog about is completely up to you (as long as it is relevant), so have fun!
  • Legalize. Accept full responsibility for the legal aspects of your business.  make:Tulsa does not, nor does its leadership, accept any responsibility for the legal aspects of your business. While we may have great contacts for you (lawyers, accountants, etc) and have classes on legitimizing you business, we do not accept any responsibility for any aspect of your business.
  • Link. Add make:Tulsa to your blog, website, Facebook, etc., tag your items on Etsy with the make:Tulsa tag, and announce in your Etsy shop that you are a make:Tulsa member.
  • Connect. Log on to the make:Tulsa business member Facebook page at least once a week to keep on top of discussions as well as read, and respond to, group emails as needed.  As a Business Member, you’re input is crucial; when there is a discussion or topic, we want to know what you think.  We expect all members to be active members.
  • Attend.  We do a great deal of planning each month at our meetings (3rd Sunday at 3pm in alternating locations) and it is of utmost importance you attend.
  • Volunteer.  We depend on our members to function, so we do require our members to help volunteer their time at classes, events, etc.  There will also be donation opportunities when make:Tulsa’s charity committee selects events that we would like to participate; we are all community-minded, and supporting the needs of our community is vital.
  • Dues.  We do have annual dues of $25, which are due by the 1st of the month following your acceptance.  make:Tulsa does have a checking account and everything is fully transparent.  The dues help to offset the cost of promoting make:Tulsa and our events, hosting events within the community, and buying supplies as needed.
  • Participate.  We have a lot going on, far too much for any one person to do and we’re all committed to seeing this succeed, so we all pitch in on the make:Tulsa teams.
    • Promo Team – Our promo team is responsible for just that, promoting make:Tulsa and our members.  You will have access to the make:Tulsa FB and Twitter accounts, and are asked to promote our group, our members, our events, etc.  The promo team also keeps up and makes sure at the beginning of each week, a reminder email is sent to the person responsible for the blog that week.
    • Party Team – Our party team is responsible for making make:Tulsa fun! The party team plans our member-only and public functions including monthly meetings, classes, parties, and seeks to get professionals to come speak at events about ways to help our businesses.
    • Charity Team – Our charity team seeks out opportunities for make:Tulsa to give back to the community.  The charity team will find opportunities for make:Tulsa members to donate items and plan make:Tulsa events that give back to the community (ex. Food drives, school supply collections, etc).
    • Organization Team – Our organization team organizes make:Tulsa by keeping up with the financial records, dues, and membership applications.