Made in Alberta Online Conference

Take your locally made product further.

Grow your Alberta business with insights shared by other entrepreneurs and experts at this online conference. Specifically for Alberta makers and producers interested in growing their business, the Made in Alberta Online Conference brings together producers, marketers and retailers from across the province. Whether you are making food, drinks, homewares, fashion or any unique product, you'll learn how to better understand your clients, scale your business and share your local story. 

Learn local, grow local, think global.

And because all sessions will be online, participants will be able to access all of the recordings (although not the live chat) for at least one month after the conference.

What to expect:

• Learn how to succeed at craft and art markets from the owner and operator of the annual Art Market, Nichole Windblad. Windblad will also talk about the importance of creative thinking and thinking "outside of the box inside your genre".
• Get advice on how to start selling wholesale with Moni Kupczak Ainslie of Koopslie Consulting.
• Become a better "Art-repreneur" and map your business journey as an artist with Julieanne Steedman, creator of The Makers Map and founder of Heirloom Island.
• Join the founders of BOMYEG to learn how to leverage your story to launch your community.
• Find out how to scale your small business sustainably.
• Join a conversation between Ray Ma from Uproot Food Collective, Jamie Sadler from Growing Co. and Jill Drader from Fuse33 about the challenges and importance of sourcing local materials and manufacturing.
• Learn about the Good the Bad and the Ugly of going global (during a pandemic) with local businesses who used Calgary Economic Development's Trade Accelerator program.
• Following the conference, on October 14, join us to celebrate the winners of the third annual Made in Alberta Awards. 

Agenda (more sessions to be confirmed soon) 

October 13

9:30 a.m.: Opening Remarks

9:35 a.m.: Sustainable Growth for Small Businesses
Growing your business is one thing, growing it in a way that is sustainable for yourself, your team and the planet is a whole different thing. Led by marketing instructor, podcaster and author of The Daily Undoing, David Gaudet, the conference kicks off with a discussion of how to do growth differently. 
Holly Singer, founder and owner of Milk Jar Candles, Corey Kotyluk vice president independent business banking at connectFirst Credit Union, Jory Soubiran, management consultant at MNP 
Moderated by David Gaudet instructor at SAIT Business School and author of The Daily Undoing
 
11:30 a.m.: Getting Started in Wholesale
Do you want to sell your products to stores or get more wholesale orders from your existing accounts? Then this is the session for you! In this session, you will learn what you need to have ready to start selling your products to stores. Then, we will dive into Moni's Blueprint to Get Onto Store Shelves, which outlines the steps to take on your wholesale journey so you will understand what to implement before you approach buyers, so you can collect more orders and reorders, how to maintain your wholesale accounts, and how to grow your business with ease.
Moni Kupczak Ainslie founder of Koopslie Consulting

2:30 p.m.: How to Succeed at Art & Craft Shows
Art Fairs and craft shows can be a great way to sell your work and to gain an audience. But they also take a lot of work. Find out what the show promoters are looking for and how to have success by creating an engaging booth, learning how to close the sale and interact with show guests and why a great digital presence is still important for in-person sales.
Nichole Windblad owner operator of Art Market art & craft sale

October 14

9:30 a.m.: The Good the Bad and the Ugly of Going Global (during a pandemic!)
Learn about the highs and lows of getting into export from local businesses just like yours that are succeeding at growing into new markets — during the pandemic!
Moderated by Shona Reilly Manager Trade at Calgary Economic Development

11:30 a.m.: Mindset Shift for Makers and Artists
Mastering your mindset is a key component of building a thriving creative business yet it is often overlooked as we race to "get all the things done." Moving forward and making changes that will lead to success starts with making positive changes about your attitude towards yourself, your work and how you see yourself as a creative entrepreneur.
Julieanne Steedman owner of Heirloom Island and creator of the Makers Map

2:30 p.m.: How and Why to Source Local Materials and Manufacturing
Buy local is a mantra that applies to makers as well as their customers, but sourcing local for your products — for materials as well as for manufacturing — can be easier said than done. Join this panel discussion to hear local success stories and struggles.
Jill Drader from Fuse33, Ray Ma from Honest Dumpling and Uproot Food Collective and Jamie Sadler from Growing Co
Moderated by Philip Lozano from Be Local

Note schedule change for this session
5 p.m.: Leveraging Your Story to Launch to Your Community 
Developing your brand's unique story alongside digital content creation allows people to buy into your brand as a lifestyle choice. Unlocking the secret to engaging with your community can generate brand loyalty. Translating your digital presence and engagement strategies creates unique sales opportunities in physical spaces. Join this conversation to learn what you need to level up your brand.
Robert Tyndale from Version Me Media, Rochelle Ignacio from Black Owned Market Edmonton and Ivan Touko from Black Owned Market Edmonton and La Connexional 

7 p.m.: Celebration of the Made in Alberta Award Winners and Runners Up
Join us as we highlight the winners and runners up from across Alberta. 

*Subject to change.

Learn more about the Made in Alberta Awards

Visit MadeInAlbertaAwards.ca or follow us on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.