Who can join the We Are Makers Directory?
The directory is for independent makers and craftspeople with a genuine working practice. You can be an established full-time maker or seriously working towards making your practice your livelihood. Anyone can apply, but we review every application before approving a profile.
How much does membership cost?
Membership costs £30 per month, plus VAT where applicable. There is no additional commission when someone purchases from you, contacts you or books a course through the directory.
What is included in my membership?
Your membership includes a searchable maker profile, placement on the map, photographs and information about your work, links to your own website and social channels, and the ability to list courses, workshops, events and product announcements. You will also be discoverable through searches by craft, location and keyword, as well as through the Surprise Me function.
What happens to the £30 membership fee?
We invest £20 of every £30 monthly membership in advertising and activity intended to bring people directly to the directory. The remaining £10 supports the technology, maintenance, administration and continued development of the platform. As membership grows, so does the amount we can invest in attracting people to it.
Where will you advertise the directory?
We will use the promotional budget across the channels most likely to reach people interested in independent craft, including digital advertising, content, email and promotion through the wider We Are Makers platform. We will continue to test and refine this activity based on what brings the right visitors into the directory.
Can you guarantee that I will make sales?
No platform can honestly guarantee sales. Our role is to help more of the right people discover your work and give them a clear route to your website, shop, course page or contact details. What happens after that depends on your work, offering, profile, and the visitor.
Do you take a commission on sales or bookings?
No. We do not take a percentage of anything you sell. Visitors are directed to your own website, shop, booking page or chosen contact method, so the customer relationship remains yours.
Do I need to have an online shop?
No. Your profile can direct people to your website, social media, email address, enquiry form or wherever you prefer to receive enquiries. The directory is also suitable for makers who work primarily through commissions, markets, galleries or in-person sales. All we recommend is that, whatever the next step in your customer journey, you make it as easy as possible for the customer to follow it.
Can I join if I don't work full-time as a maker?
Yes. We welcome applications from people who are seriously developing their practice, even if it is not yet their main source of income. Applications are reviewed on the quality and substance of the practice, rather than income or follower numbers.
Can makers from anywhere in the world apply?
Yes. The directory is international and is being built to help people discover makers both close to home and while travelling. Something we get asked a lot at We Are Makers is “I'm travelling to ___ do you know any makers there I can visit?”
What if my studio is not open to the public?
That is completely fine. Being shown on the map does not mean visitors can arrive without arranging a visit. You can make it clear whether your workshop is open to visitors, available by appointment or not open to the public. You do not need to publish a precise private address. All addresses will be published as an approximate location within a 5-mile diameter.
Can I list more than one craft?
Yes. If your practice crosses several disciplines, you can add the most relevant crafts and information to your profile so that people can find you through different searches. There is a dedicated tags selection in the sign-up you can use to select which crafts and searchable terms you are listing. Where your crafts are entirely separate, i.e. saddlemaking and painting, and both are under different brand names and websites, you may be asked to list each as a separate listing and membership.
Can I add courses and workshops?
Yes. Makers who teach can add courses and select the courses and workshops tickbox at sign-up, filing them under the specific course finder section as well as the main search. We Are Makers does not list any course dates on the directory; this should be done on your website.
Can I promote events and new products?
Yes. The directory includes a newsletter function through which we can share relevant maker news, including events, exhibitions, open studios, courses, and product releases, with our 30,000+ newsletter subscribers in a weekly newsletter. Submitting an announcement does not guarantee that every item will be included in an email, and we will rotate what and whose work we share on a regular basis.
Will We Are Makers write my profile for me?
No, you will provide the information and images needed to create your listing. We will review it and provide guidance where needed, so your profile is clear, useful, and easy to discover.
What photographs will I need?
Strong photographs make a considerable difference. We recommend providing a mixture of images showing you, your workspace, your process and your finished work. We will provide image specifications when you create your profile.
Can I update my profile later?
Yes. Your practice will change, so will you. You can keep your profile, links, and relevant information up to date.
How quickly will my profile go live?
Once your application has been approved, you will be invited to provide the information needed for your profile. Your listing will go live once it has been completed and reviewed. We aim to review every application within 48 hours.
Can I cancel my membership?
Yes. You can cancel your monthly membership at any time. There is no fixed-term contract. Your profile will remain active until the end of the period you have already paid for.
What happens if my application isn't accepted?
We review applications to protect the quality and usefulness of the directory. If your application is not accepted, you will not be charged a membership fee. You may be able to apply again in the future if your practice develops or your circumstances change.
Is this only for makers previously featured by We Are Makers?
No. You do not need to have appeared in the magazine to apply. The directory lets us represent far more makers, crafts, and locations than we could fit in the magazine.
How is this different from Instagram or a general search engine?
Social media is built around a constantly changing feed. General search engines are not designed specifically for finding independent craftspeople. The We Are Makers Directory is organised around makers. People can intentionally search by craft, location, courses, and other interests, and use the Surprise Me function to discover work they might never otherwise have found. It gives your work a lasting, searchable home within a platform made specifically for craft.
