Craft vs. Industry: The Home Market’s Effect on Professional Decoration

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News

• Supreme Court Rules Political Swag Ban Unconstitutional – The U.S. Supreme Court has struck down Minnesota’s ban on political apparel at polling places in what can be considered a huge victory for the promotional products industry. In a 7-2 decision, the justices declared last week that while some forms of advocacy may be excluded from polling places, Minnesota’s law was simply too broad.

Craft vs. Industry

Aaron: Today we wanted to have a round table like discussion on a topic that Erich suggested, Craft vs. Industry. How those 2 segments affect each other, and also what can we learn as businesses from the Prosumer market. So the plan is to take the questions Erich put together for us, present them and then each of us weigh in. We also would love to have feedback from you the live listener on Facebook, so please post your comments, early and often. Erich, you read to start us out?

Q (Erich): I feel like there’s a rising tide of hobbyists and entry-level decorators that have entered the market lately, driving equipment manufacturers and vendors to put together machines and supplies in packages you’d never have seen when I started decorating- What do you make of the ‘Prosumer’ market- as in , how do you define them compared to an entry-level commercial decorator? Do you see them as separate ad part of the spectrum of people we serve? How can we, and should we, integrate them?

Q (Terry): When addressing the hobbyist market, I think commercial decorators can sometimes feel like we’re fighting the techniques and information that may work for a few pieces but don’t follow our practices for production, What ideas from the business world do you wish hobbyists would take on? What can and should we teach them?

Q (Aaron): Have you personally experienced a cross-over audience in your seminars/teaching?

Q (Erich): Though there can be some misinformation out there in the craft side of decoration, there are some things we can learn from the passionate amateurs practicing out there. What do you think we can learn in the professional side of the industry from the craft practitioners?

Q (Terry): As professionals, what do you think the first step should be from any hobbyist who wants to make the jump to the commercial world, or even who just wants to start as a part-time paid decorator?