  A craft industry professional for over 15 years, Jennifer has been featured in major publications and online by the likes of Apartment Therapy and MSNBC. Her digital marketing consulting firm, Smart Creative Social (www.smartcreativesocial.com), has a prestigious client list across multiple creative industries, connecting influencers with brands, developing digital marketing strategy, and guiding clients in creating a solid social media strategy for their brand. Jennifer is also a long-time member of AFCI (www.afci.global) and instructor at Creativation (www.creativationshow.org).  

AFCI Podcast

Episode 9: Jennifer Priest, Social Media Marketing Strategist, Digital Influencer & Owner of Smart Creative Social

 Kari Capone is a New Jersey-based entrepreneur and the creator/CEO of Kari's Kits, a leading brand in the knitting kits industry, which was founded in 2015 - with her revenue doubling each year! Through Kari's Kits, Kari creates simple gorgeous knitting kits for knitters who are brand new, beginners, and advanced beginners. She also just published her first e-book, titled Learn to Knit, and just launched new program called the Insiders Club. 

Episode 8: Kari Capone - Founder of Kari's Kits

Marjie Kemper is a New York-based mixed media artist, instructor and self described “solopreneur”, who has been teaching workshops nationwide and online for the past six years. Currently, Marjie has an online mixed media workshop available through Craftsy.com, focusing on techniques with distress inks, distress stains, and Dylusions ink sprays.    Marjie’s newest venture is offering business courses designed for entrepreneurs, bloggers, and artists who want to teach, but just don’t know where to start through her online program, Teaching Your Passion™ . a 4-week online course for those who want to learn how to teach online and/or at stores, retreats and conferences. Marjie Kemper has taught at a variety of venues nationwide and online, and she’s created this course as a roadmap to help you to do the same. She takes the guesswork out and shares everything she wishes she knew when she started teaching. All of the prep work is included regardless of where you’d like to teach (locally, nationally, or online). This course takes you step-by-step through the process from planning and pitching to sealing the deal and getting hired. The course is structured into 15 detailed modules and contains lessons on contract negotiations, logistics, how to make videos and graphics, best practices for using social media, and more. Next course dates are April 23-May 18, 2018. AFCI Members save $50, visit afci.global to learn more.  

Episode 7 - Marjie Kemper - Teaching Your Passion

Join us for our second ever live broadcast, from Creativation 2018, as Jason interviews the Ultimate Pitch Finalists. The Ultimate Pitch was held on January 22 at the Phoenix Convention Center in Arizona during Creativation, the largest creative industries trade event in North America. The Ultimate Pitch was judged by executives from major retail and manufacturing brands. The judges were Brigid English from The Michaels Companies; Christopher DiTullio from JOANN; Danica Lichtenwalner from the Home Shopping Network (HSN); Christine Stoelting from Crayola, LLC; and Victoria Katsarou from Walmart.com/Jet.com. Four finalists were chosen for The Ultimate Pitch from a pool of 12 entrepreneurs who were showcasing a unique product or idea in the Innovations Center at Creativation. The other three finalists were: Yee Wong, inventor of DIY Frame Art Drawing Pad: a patent-pending drawing pad that upgrades the sketchbook by turning the flat paper into a 3D frame art ready for display. Marlene Tabibian, inventor of Flex Knit: a patented, flexible and ergonomic straight knitting needle designed to improve comfort during knitting by enabling bending with resiliency at the wrist level. Sofia Magnusson and Marielle Jensen, inventors of The Folklore Company: a website where customers can design a personal cross-stitch pattern in an easy, unique, and modern way. Actress Kerry Cahill, who can be seen on The Walking Dead as Dianne, hosted the competition. Cahill is an advocate for Help Heal Veterans, an organization that provides free therapeutic craft kits to US veterans, and was recently named the national spokesperson for AmVets. The BowVy Cutter was ultimately awarded the $10,000 as Top Creative Innovation of 2018.

Episode 6: Live From Creativation (Part 2) - The Ultimate Pitch Finalists

On our first ever live broadcast we interview Rich Kizer & Georganne Bender, professional speakers, retail strategists, authors and consultants whose client list reads like a “Who’s Who” in business. Companies internationally depend upon them for timely advice on consumers and the changing retail market place. Also joining us are the owners of Ben Franklin Crafts and Frame Shop in Redmond, WA. Bob, Shirley and Neil Ferguson.Their store opened its doors over four decades ago, in 1975.

Episode 5: Live From Creativation (Part 1) - Kizer & Bender and the Ferguson's

Principal owner, multi-hat wearing. fearless entrepreneur and CEO of Stitchcraft Marketing, Leanne Pressly has 20+ years of experience in sales and marketing. Prior to starting Stitchcraft Marketing, she owned a website design and hosting business for 10 years. She’s been a knitter since she was 18 and has a strong passion for the creative industry. 

Episode 4: Leanne Pressly - CEO, Principal Owner of Stitchcraft Marketing

AFCI member, Rebeca Mojica. is an award-winning jewelry artist, instructor and best-selling author who has been designing chainmaille jewelry since 2002. With her striking use of color and innovative designs, she strives to push the limits of what is commonly thought of as chainmaille. She is the creator of Linkt Craft Kits by Neat-Oh! International, the first line of chainmaille kits for tweens, which launched in 2017. Rebeca's work has appeared in local and national media including The Huffington Post, Art Jewelry Magazine, The Crafts Report, The Chicago Tribune and The New York Times.

Episode 3: Rebeca Mojica - Award-winning jewelry artist, instructor and best-selling author

Known as the “Zen Master of Marketing” by Entrepreneur Magazine and the “Millennial Master of the Universe” by Fast Company, Shama Hyder is a visionary strategist for the digital age. She is the bestselling author of the Zen of Social Media Marketing (4th edition), Momentum; and an acclaimed international keynote speaker who has been invited to share the speaking stage with the world’s top leaders, including President Obama and the Dalai Lama. A trusted media expert and sought-after TV personality, Shama has frequently appeared on Fox Business, CBS, CW33 and Fox News. As a thought leader, she’s been featured in many major publications, including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Business Week, Huffington Post, Entrepreneur, Inc Magazine and Forbes. As the CEO of the award-winning Marketing Zen Group, she’s led the organization through explosive growth, averaging 400% growth annually since its start in 2009. Under her leadership, the company has grown to include clients that range from publicly held, Fortune 500 companies to privately held small businesses and non-profit organizations across the globe. As a result of her success, Shama has been the recipient of the prestigious Technology Titan Emerging Company CEO award. She was also named one of the “Top 25 Entrepreneurs under 25” by Business Week in 2009 and one of the “Top 30 under 30” Entrepreneurs in America by Inc magazine in 2015. In addition, Shama has been honored at the White House and the United Nations as one of the top 100 young entrepreneurs in North America. Beyond her roles as a media personality, international speaker, and CEO, she also serves as a mentor to the next generation of entrepreneurs. She is passionate about empowering youth and works closely with the Young Entrepreneur Council in fostering youth entrepreneurship around the world. She was recently named to the Forbes 30 Under 30 list of Movers and Shakers. Shama is the Keynote at the Association For Creative Industries' (AFCI) Creativation trade event on January 20, 2018.

Episode 2: Shama Hyder - CEO of Marketing Zen Group, Co-Founder at MADE, Keynote Speaker, Forbes & INC 30 Under 30

We speak with Andria Gibbon, VP of Events & Education for AFCI, about the upcoming Creativation trade event in January 2018.

Episode 1: Welcome to the AFCI Podcast

Welcome to the AFCI Podcast, a new show for creative businesses hosted by Jason Baum, AFCI's Director of Membership. Tune in monthly for new content and listen to Jason's conversations with leaders and innovators in our vibrant creative business community

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AFCI Podcast

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