Gap Inc. is partnering with Nest, a nonprofit organization, to nurture makers, artists and creative entrepreneurs in the San Francisco Bay Area.
The partnership is multifold and geared to expand Nest’s Makers United program with Gap Inc. providing funds, workshops and mentoring opportunities to help for local makers in the Bay Area grow their businesses. There’s also a focus on equity, inclusion and peer connection.
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Nest and Gap will also host a Holiday Makers Market on Dec. 7-8 featuring more than 40 locals creating jewelry, ceramics, woodworking and other handcrafted items. The craftspeople, including both Gap employees and non-employees, will be able to sell their wares to the public in time for holiday gift purchasing.
In the past, Gap Inc.’s annual Holiday Makers Market has only been for employees, who would display their creative works, be it art, accessories, candles or something else.
Gap Inc. chief executive officer Richard Dickson has been vocal about the retailer’s need to build a stronger culture of creativity to help reinvigorate the brands in the portfolio, and to engage more with the creative culture in San Francisco.
“While many associate the city with new technology, the region is home to countless makers crafting beautiful ceramics, wooden wares, jewelry and more,” said Rebecca van Bergen, Nest’s founder and executive director, in a statement.
Amy Thompson, Gap Inc.’s chief people officer, said: “Through our partnership with Nest, we have the opportunity to bridge gaps right here in our own community by supporting and empowering the many creative entrepreneurs that make San Francisco special. Our annual Makers Market is always a highly anticipated event with our teams, and we are excited to open our doors more broadly this year.”
Zac Posen, executive vice president and creative director at Gap Inc., added: “Hosting the Makers Market at our headquarters is a great way to share the creative energy of our company while celebrating other creative people in the local community around San Francisco.”
Gap Inc.’s headquarters is at 2 Folsom in San Francisco.
The collaboration extends the reach of Nest’s Makers United program, which has been implemented in Chicago; Detroit; Birmingham, Ala., and New York City.
“Nest focuses on fostering inclusivity and building a more sustainable and equitable economy for creative entrepreneurs. By offering business training, mentorship, and access to markets free of charge, Makers United helps creative entrepreneurs navigate the unique challenges of scaling their small, craft-based businesses,” Gap Inc. said.
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According to Nest, its Maker United program helps diverse and historically marginalized makers by increasing access to e-commerce opportunities and developing skills in digital tools and technology. Nest also fosters direct maker-to-buyer connections and provides opportunities for brand exposure in different markets.
The program also offers free, in-person and virtual workshops for small creative businesses on such topics as brand identity, storytelling, building client relationships, visual merchandising, developing digital media content, leveraging social media advertising/engagement and optimizing online sales.
Participants in Nest’s Makers United program at a workshop at the Design Museum of Chicago.
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