The Maker City Summit
September 16 — 18
Knoxville, Tennessee
The Maker City Summit 2022 offers different platforms to create a dynamic space for connection, education, and inspiration.
On Sunday, options are available to help you tailor the experience to best fit your business and networking goals. Three breakout session options are available to choose from at 11:30am, 1:30pm, and 2:30pm, as well as an optional food industry specific breakout session during lunch at 12:45. Choose the path that best fits your needs during registration. Don’t miss out on hearing from experts in the areas you need most to help grow your business!
Sunday 11:30 am
STORYTELLING FOR MAKERS: PUBLIC SPEAKING
Martha Weeks
Jam Camp Communications and University of Tennessee
Studies show that telling stories helps us be better communicators, but how do makers incorporate the art of storytelling into interactions and presentations? In this session, makers will learn how to tell powerful stories about your craft, your customers, business partners – and yourselves. You will learn how to understand your audience, intention and message; apply story structure to organize information; and integrate “micro stories” and data into talks and conversations.
IS THERE FINANCING AVAILABLE FOR MY BUSINESS?
Sue Malone
Strategies for Small Business
Practical Information on how to secure financing for your business, not the same old talking head! Discussion on what works best for the business you own or would like to start.
For most makers, having an online store is essential, but selling online can feel like four dimensional chess - even for the seasoned entrepreneur. The good news is: you don’t have to do everything perfectly (looking at you, Instagram), you just have to know what works for your store and where to focus your precious attention. In this workshop, you’ll learn the 3 core metrics that matter (and determine exponential growth), and you’ll walk away with an in-depth roadmap (printed out) that simplifies the complex web of factors influencing every sale. With this roadmap in mind, we will dive deep into a few key ingredients, including the ever-important Product Page.
Sunday 12:45 pm
food industry
THE BASICS OF STARTING A FOOD BUSINESS
Bailey Foster
Real Good Kitchen
Everything you need to know, and why a food truck is not always the best option.
sunday 1:30 pm
TEACHING WORKSHOPS
Ashton Ludden
Relay Ridge: Collaborative Artist Space
In this session, learn how to teach workshops while making them simultaneously casual, fun, valuable, and educational. Guests of this break-out session will leave with various techniques on how to break the ice with students, manage appropriate workloads and timeframes, and insight on how to provide both individual and group learning experiences. Discover how to best translate your valued skill into a shared knowledge others can understand with some helpful demo Do's and Don'ts. Leave this session with a better understanding how to effectively share something you love with others while both you and your students have a fabulous, stress-free time.
YOUR LEGAL FOUNDATION FOR SUCCESS AND GROWTH
Haseeb Qureshi
Forthlaw PLLC
Practical Information on how to secure financing for your business, not the same old talking head! Discussion on what works best for the business you own or would like to start.
SMARTPHONE PRODUCT PHOTOGRAPHY
Saray Taylor-Roman
Taylor-Roman Portait
Selling goods and services online starts with quality photos. Tricks and tips on how to make studio quality photos at home – and on a budget!
sunday 2:30 pm
DESIGN FOR LIFE: CREATIVE STRATEGIES TO CLARIFY YOUR DREAMS AND MAKE THEM HAPPEN
Zachary Townesmith
Seven Springs Retreat
Deepen your understanding of your own creative process and how to apply it in all facets of your life. Explore the habits and attitudes that block your creative flow. Learn about Flow Design: a tool to envision your deeper life purpose and design a 90 day mission to begin living your dreams.
WHOLESALE VS. RETAIL? FIND THE BEST FIT FOR YOUR PRODUCT
Allyson Virden
Olde Virden’s Tennessee Pepper Company
What is better for your product, wholesale or retail? How to price for both. What sales channels are the best fit? Common practices for selling online and in brick and mortar locations.
DIGITAL ADS: MAPPING OUT YOUR OWN STRATEGY
Rhett Talbert
Loch & Key Productions, Marketing
Three words to describe social media currently: IT’S A MESS. How do you reach customers when they are being bombarded? What are the best promotional strategies available today? Every marketing plan today MUST include a digital strategy - and if you want to grow your business, you need to incorporate the right digital marketing tools. Digital marketing tools are designed to help you create awareness and boost your business - and good news! You probably already have access to some of the best ones. Let’s build a plan that can help you connect with your customers in their preferred communication channels. This session, presented by Loch & Key Productions, will help you learn new ways to reach new consumers, connect, and build relationships.
Presented by City of Knoxville, Knoxville Entrepreneur Center, and Launch TN
Sponsored by Maker Exchange and First Century Bank