Melissa Leapman's Professional Development Summit for Designers
UPDATE: All grad packages are sold out. Individual classes are still available ala carte.
Are you interested in starting a rewarding career in knit or crochet design? Do you want to expand your existing crafts biz? Are you simply curious about how the industry works? Do you want to have a behind-the-scenes look at how experts approach their specialties?
Join me January 6-8, 2023, as I gather the best of the best in the fiber business who will show you the secrets to their success.
Come learn about online selling, self-publishing, best marketing practices, powerful social media strategies, scalable income, the magic of newsletters, and more, all from the professionals who do it day after day!
Participants can choose between a full schedule (the Grad School Package) or a la carte sessions (the Continuing Ed option):
The Grad School Package includes the choice of up to 12 hours of workshops taught by top industry experts, access to an inspiring keynote given by the amazing Trisha Malcom, Editor-in-Chief of Vogue Knitting Magazine for nearly two decades, the opportunity to win exciting prizes (one lucky winner will score a brand new iPad!), and a world-famous goody box specially-curated for designers and makers sent to your door.
The Continuing Ed Option allows participants to pick and choose sessions according to their interests, needs, and schedule.
All sessions will be recorded and participants will have access to them for 2 weeks after the event.
KEYNOTE ADDRESS "Trisha's Top Ten Tips"
Create and Monetize Your Blog: Turn Your Creative Content into $$$ with Michele Costa
Create and Monetize Your Blog: Turn Your Creative Content into $$$ with Michele Costa
Friday January 6 7:00-8:00 PM Eastern
Want to make your crafts biz failproof?
Flexibility, creative pivoting, and seeing the bigger picture are the keys to growing--and surviving--in our ever-changing industry.
Let the undeniable master visionary of the craft industry inspire you as we kick off our Professional Development Summit
Create and Monetize Your Blog: Turn Your Creative Content into $$$ with Michele Costa
Create and Monetize Your Blog: Turn Your Creative Content into $$$ with Michele Costa
Create and Monetize Your Blog: Turn Your Creative Content into $$$ with Michele Costa
Saturday January 7 9:30-11:00 AM
In a world full of blogs and content, you may often ask yourself if it is even possible to make money blogging anymore.
Well, the answer is a resounding YES!
In this class we will talk about how to define and find your voice (in a world where everyone seems to be shouting) and make your unique voice make money!
Scale Your Business by Leveraging Content You Already Own! with Alexandra Stapleton-Smith
Create and Monetize Your Blog: Turn Your Creative Content into $$$ with Michele Costa
Scale Your Business by Leveraging Content You Already Own! with Alexandra Stapleton-Smith
Saturday January 7 12:00 Noon-1:00 PM Eastern
Do you have endless articles, patterns, and other digital content that isn't being monetized to make you money 24/7?
You're not the only one! Alexandra had over 2000 blog articles just sitting there earning tiny amounts of ad and affiliate income.
One night she had an epiphany and turned that dead content into an evergreen and endless source of monthly and future income.
Let her show you how to build your own seven figure blog and become the go-to expert in your own niche.
What Can a Newsletter Actually Do for You? with Carol Feller
How to Say It with Julia Madill
Scale Your Business by Leveraging Content You Already Own! with Alexandra Stapleton-Smith
Saturday January 7 12:00 Noon-1:00 PM Eastern
What if all the time and money you're spending on social media could become a longer term, more sustainable audience? Cue in the brand newsletter!
Let's talk about the importance of newsletters and how to keep them interesting and useful for your most loyal--and valuable--customers.
How to Say It with Julia Madill
How to Say It with Julia Madill
How to Say It with Julia Madill
Saturday January 7 2:00-4:00 PM Eastern
Want to publish that genius knitting pattern but overwhelmed by the many ways you could write it down?
This session aims to teach you what you need to say, what you can leave out, and
how best to translate your creative knit designs to professional patterns instructions.
Note: This class does not cover knit design or pattern layout, but focuses on the language and formatting of a professional knitting pattern.
In class, you will learn the following:
• What information to include in a knitting pattern
• How to write for clarity and consistency
• How to edit and revise effectively
• How to develop your personal style and house style sheet
• How to work with a tech editor
• Software tips and tricks
Planning, Producing, & Perfecting Your Product Photos with Gale Zucker
Planning, Producing, & Perfecting Your Product Photos with Gale Zucker
Planning, Producing, & Perfecting Your Product Photos with Gale Zucker
Saturday January 7 2:00-4:00 PM Eastern
You know what sells knitting patterns? Fabulous photos that stop the scrolling and create an immediate
“I WANT” reaction.
In this 2-hour workshop, professional knitwear photographer Gale Zucker will lead you through the full
process of producing, creating, and editing dynamic photographs for your knit and crochet designs.
She’ll share tips and
techniques for using your smartphone to produce professional-looking imagery.
In the first part of the program, we’ll cover planning your photo shoot needs, choosing locations and
backgrounds, composition, lighting, choosing and working with models, and posing.
Our second hour will focus on the secret sauce that puts the zing into images: powerful photo editing. We’ll cover touch up magic that makes knitters stop, drop, and buy!
Crush Your Next Pattern Launch with Tian Connaughton
Planning, Producing, & Perfecting Your Product Photos with Gale Zucker
Planning, Producing, & Perfecting Your Product Photos with Gale Zucker
Saturday January 7 5:00-6:00 PM
Does this sound familiar?
You work hard to create an innovative and interesting design. You hit publish on the pattern, and you hear crickets! That precious design you thought everyone would flock to, no one is buying.
In this hour-long training, you’ll learn to:
1) set a goal and get organized
2) find and create an audience of makers who are truly interested in your pattern even before its launch
3) build excitement and talk about your design to connect with your audience without sounding (or feeing) salesy.
Get the step-by-step plan to build buzz and get your patterns into the hands of crocheters and knitters who need them!
Selling Online: All the Places! with Michele Costa
Selling Online: All the Places! with Michele Costa
Selling Online: All the Places! with Michele Costa
Sunday January 8 9:30-11:00 AM Eastern
Selling online can be overwhelming. How do you choose where to sell? How do you decide where to invest your precious time? What platforms are “worth it”? (Short answer: THEY ALL ARE with the right tools!)
In this class, we will go over the variety of options for selling online, the pros & cons of having your own stand-alone e-commerce site, and what tools are out there to help you navigate online sales.
With the tools you learn in this class, you will be able to increase sales, streamline your process, and grow!
Professional Pattern Grading with Kate Atherley
Selling Online: All the Places! with Michele Costa
Selling Online: All the Places! with Michele Costa
Sunday January 8 9:30-11:00 AM Eastern
Join beloved tech editor Kate Atherley for this intermediate level problem-solving session for designers who are tackling the big questions around garment size and grading.
Learn about strategies for deciding on a size range and how to ensure you’re using a good data source for measurements.
We’ll also talk about how to translate body measurements to garment sizes and approaches for making the calculations.
Bring your questions and have them answered by a pro!
Take Ownership of Your Online Space with Carol Feller
Chart Smarts: Adobe Illustrator 101 for Knitting Charts with Julia Madill
Chart Smarts: Adobe Illustrator 101 for Knitting Charts with Julia Madill
Sunday January 8 12:00 Noon-1:00 PM Eastern
Understatement of the Year: As designers, we live online.
Over the last couple of years, many online spaces such as Ravelry, Instagram, Payhip, and Facebook have made dramatic changes to their algorithms which has had a significant impact on all of us.
As a huge believer in everyone taking ownership of their own online real estate, Carol will teach you how to curate your own spaces and bring your people in to meet you on your terms.
Chart Smarts: Adobe Illustrator 101 for Knitting Charts with Julia Madill
Chart Smarts: Adobe Illustrator 101 for Knitting Charts with Julia Madill
Chart Smarts: Adobe Illustrator 101 for Knitting Charts with Julia Madill
Sunday January 8 12:00 Noon-1:00 PM
Adobe Illustrator is the premier software for graphic designers, but how can a knitting designer harness its power?
This course will take you through the first steps to create professional quality knitting
charts with ease. Unlike knitting-specific software, Adobe Illustrator allows you to customize everything, meaning the sky is the limit for your unique designs!
Learn shortcuts, tips and tricks
to take your charts from “meh” to “muah”!
In this session, you will learn:
• Perfect alignment and legibility
• Working with layers
• Stitch charts vs. color charts
• Shortcuts, tips, and tricks for working faster and easier
Prerequisites/skill level:
• Students must have access to Adobe Illustrator software
• Beginner level understanding of Adobe Illustrator (basic tools etc)
• Familiarity with knitting stitch and color charts
Marketing 101 with Oz Barron
Chart Smarts: Adobe Illustrator 101 for Knitting Charts with Julia Madill
Straightforward Steps to Self-Publishing Patterns with Amy Snell
Sunday January 8 2:00-4:00 PM Eastern
Facebook, Instagram, Google, web sites, print, oh my!
Do you keep spending money on things to get the word out but feel overwhelmed and unsure what’s working or why?
If so, this class is for you.
We will talk about all things marketing to make your efforts more effective and to help you understand the results.
This is an interactive lecture course, so bring your questions.
Oz Barron has been in sales and marketing in multiple industries for more years than he cares to remember. From music and tech, and for the last 13+ years, with his lovely bride Kris, he's run the Ball & Skein, a full-service and very successful yarn shop in Cambria, California.
No matter your focus, we all have so much to learn from him!
Straightforward Steps to Self-Publishing Patterns with Amy Snell
Use Data to Diversify Your Income to 7 Figures Fast with Alexandra Stapleton-Smith
Straightforward Steps to Self-Publishing Patterns with Amy Snell
Sunday January 8 2:00-4:00 PM Eastern
So you've written a knitting pattern — or you know you want to ... now what?
In this lecture-style class, Amy Snell, AKA the Devious Knitter, will walk you step-by-step through the process of preparing your pattern for release and launching it into the world!
We'll talk about resources and timelines, the roles of tech editors and test knitters (plus how to find them and how to know if they're what you need), and best practices for layout and photography.
Finally, we'll dive into the all-important sales process, including how to list on Ravelry, options for other sales platforms, and learn a bit about powerful marketing.
Bring your ideas and your questions!
Use Data to Diversify Your Income to 7 Figures Fast with Alexandra Stapleton-Smith
Use Data to Diversify Your Income to 7 Figures Fast with Alexandra Stapleton-Smith
Use Data to Diversify Your Income to 7 Figures Fast with Alexandra Stapleton-Smith
Saturday January 8 5:00-6:00 PM Eastern
When someone says "data" you probably think dreaded maths, but you won't need to know any pre-calc for this one.
Alexandra has built two seven-figure businesses using the 'V' decision model to diversify her income streams.
Let her show you some key metrics you might be missing from your own digital content. She will take you through an easy way to make data-driven decisions without allowing emotional issues (who, me?) get in the way.
She will also share top tips for diversifying your income streams based on your own digital content, including her favorite tools to use for sustained growth.
Finally, learn how to introduce physical products to your following, including methods that won't require you to ship every day!!
Put Your Sales on Autopilot with Tian Connaughton
Use Data to Diversify Your Income to 7 Figures Fast with Alexandra Stapleton-Smith
Use Data to Diversify Your Income to 7 Figures Fast with Alexandra Stapleton-Smith
Saturday January 8 5:00-6:00 PM Eastern
Are you tired of only making sales when you release a new design? Do you want consistent and predictable pattern sales? Are you finally ready to get off the constantly-launching-new-patterns hamster wheel and boost your income?
If you struggle with continuing to
sell copies of your existing catalog and you are relying on constantly developing and launching new patterns, then this session is for you.
In this business-changing training, you'll learn how to:
1) talk about your past designs in fresh ways
2) create systems that bring in new customers consistently
and 3) leverage your existing catalog to increase your average cart value.
Stop thinking about selling one $5 pattern at a time. Ditch the constant launch cycle and start scaling your design business to generate recurring profits coming in every.single.day!