Maker Directory FAQs
Explore our recommendations for how to use the Maker Directory!
For Shoppers & Retail Partners
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Yes! Handmade Arcade’s Maker Directory is free for shoppers to use. It’s also free for makers to submit their business to the directory. If you want to help Handmade Arcade’s nonprofit work to help connect makers and shoppers through markets & tools like our Maker Directory, please feel free to make a one-time donation or join our new Monthly Membership program. Your support will help cover the cost of maintaining and growing the Maker Directory!
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Handmade Arcade serves a network of thousands of makers who apply for our markets, subscribe to our Monthly Maker Newsletter, access our Maker Resource Hub, and more. All of the makers in our network are invited to submit their businesses to the Maker Directory regardless of whether or not they’ve sold at a previous Handmade Arcade market. However, to make sure we’re using this resource to encourage folks to shop local, only maker businesses located in Western Pennsylvania are eligible to be included in the Maker Directory unless they have previously sold at a Handmade Arcade market. Maker Directory businesses must also align with Handmade Arcade’s definition of a “handmade business.”
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No. We want to encourage shoppers to visit maker websites and social media profiles so that you can learn more about their stories, see their full product lines, and more. The Maker Directory will just include links rather than allowing you to purchase items created by makers on Handmade Arcade’s website.
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Yes! While exploring the Maker Directory, use the “Category” drop-down tool to filter by artistic categories and sub-categories. Some makers fall into multiple categories, and if that’s the case, their business will be listed in multiple categories when you filter your results.
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Yes. While exploring the Maker Directory, use the “Tags” drop-down tool and select “Handmade Arcade Maker” which will show you all of the makers in the Maker Directory who have sold at a previous Handmade Arcade market.
You can see what years a maker participated in a Handmade Arcade market on their individual Maker Directory page.
Please note that not all makers who have previously sold at Handmade Arcade markets chose to submit their businesses to the Maker Directory.
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Handmade Arcade loves when folks reach out to us asking for recommendations of maker businesses owned by makers from historically marginalized communities. As two of Handmade Arcade’s core values are equity and anti-racism, this was a major reason in wanting to make different search features in the Maker Directory!
While exploring the Maker Directory, use the “Tags” drop-down tool to search by makers who self-identify in different ways. Examples include Black-Owned Businesses, LGBTQIA2S+ Owned Businesses, Woman-Owned Businesses, and more.
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While exploring the Maker Directory, use the “Tags” drop-down tool and select “Wholesale Available.” This will show you all of the makers in the Maker Directory who are open and interested in wholesale opportunities.
If a maker has a specific process for wholesale opportunities (i.e. a Faire account or communication by email), you will see a link labeled Wholesale on their individual Maker Directory page. If you don’t see that link, you are encouraged to reach out to the maker via their website and/or social media to get in touch about wholesale opportunities.
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Handmade Arcade’s mission as a nonprofit is to help makers connect with customers. One of the primary ways we do this is through our in-person markets; however, our markets have limited capacity for the number of makers we can accept during the jurying process. Our Maker Directory allows us to feature more makers all year long without worrying about booth capacity.
Handmade Arcade is also contacted regularly by shoppers and retail partners like you for maker recommendations. We are excited to be able to send folks to this one-stop-shop to find maker businesses all year long.
For Makers
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Yes. If you fit Handmade Arcade’s definition of a “handmade business” and live in Western Pennsylvania (or have previously sold at Handmade Arcade market), please submit your maker business using this form. We accept rolling submissions to the Maker Directory. After the Maker Directory is up and running, please allow for 7-10 business days for us to get newly submitted business on the website due to our current capacity.
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Absolutely! The Maker Directory will allow us to serve many more makers than we are able to have at our in-person markets. However, please note that only businesses located in Western Pennsylvania are eligible to be listed on the Maker Directory. The only exception to this are makers from outside of Western Pennsylvania who have previously sold at a Handmade Arcade market.
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Accessories
Adult Clothing
Artwork*
Bath & Body
Ceramics
Children’s Products
Glass
Housewares
Jewelry
Paper Goods
Toys
Wood
Other (surprise us!)
*Handmade Arcade was founded as an accessible alternative to fine arts markets. Historically, independent makers, crafters, and artists NOT considered fine artists do the best at our events. However, if you make fine art and can reproduce your work into various mediums at an accessible price point, such as prints, on fabric or clothing, as stickers, etc., that’s typically a great fit for our Maker Directory.
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We define a “handmade business” as follows:
You, the artist(s), created the original products.
You did not use mass-produced, trademarked, or licensed items in your work.
You did not use copyrighted designs that you don’t own in your work.
Your products are at least 80% of your original creation.
Your products are not made with purchased, downloaded, or copied images or designs.
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No. At this time, we do not accept food vendors at our markets or for the Maker Directory, including chocolates, honey, and candy. If you have specific questions regarding your products, please email makers@handmadearcade.org.
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No. Due to our current capacity, we are unable to make changes to your Maker Directory page once it’s live unless we make an error copying your information from the form you’ll submit. Please check your responses very carefully before submitting. If you change a critical part of your business (i.e. business name, website link, etc.) or need to remove your business from the Maker Directory, please email makers@handmadearcade.org. We will try to make those critical changes within 72 business hours.
The Maker Directory is a pilot project that is created & managed by Handmade Arcade’s small nonprofit team. We welcome feedback from both makers & shoppers about how we can keep improving the Maker Directory in the future as our capacity grows.
Feel free to contact us to share your feedback or questions!