Learning Lab

Forging relationships with bigger brands can be intimidating, and for smaller businesses it’s difficult to know where to start. These partnerships can be a game changer for up-and-coming brands looking to expand their distribution channels and sales opportunities. In this interactive workshop series, makers work together over three weeks to assess their business’ strengths and weaknesses and build a roadmap to create marketing opportunities through working with other brands. This is a deep dive opportunity to openly discuss, ideate, get feedback and strategize on collaboration strategies.

All sessions will take place virtually on Zoom on Wednesdays and Fridays. Businesses must commit to all six sessions to participate.

Outcomes For Participants:

• Identification of potential collaboration partners
• Deep assessment of business strength and weaknesses
• Custom strategies and action plan for identified collaboration partners, along with methods to replicate collaboration opportunities with other partners down-the-line

Have you dreamed of having your products picked up by prominent retailers, but not known where to begin? You’re not the only one. Figuring out which retail opportunities are a good fit for your business and negotiating new relationships with corporate partners can be difficult, but it doesn’t have to be. Learn how to position your brand in the market, assess your competition, refine your sales pitch, and more through this six session series.

While participation in all sessions is encouraged, members are welcome to participate in as many or as few of these sessions as you would like. The instructor will also offer office hours to offer individualized 1:1 support and answer questions.

Outcomes For Participants:
* Comprehensive product strategy
* Increased confidence when speaking to customers about prices
* New understanding of your competition
* Sales pitch that you can tailor to multiple customers

Is marketplace vending, trade shows or pop-up retail vital to your business? In this course, you’ll learn a framework to plan and improve your marketing and sales at physical markets. Collaborate, learn, and refine strategies from both experts and fellow participants, culminating in an array of tools to boost your pop-up sales. In addition to in-person sessions, virtual office hours will be available to provide personal attention and support for class participants.

This is an in-person workshop series and sessions will be held at Pratt Institute’s Manhattan campus. Participation in all sessions is required.

Outcomes For Participants:
* Discover streamlined processes and systems to make the vending process easier and more beneficial for your business.
* Learn key marketing and sales strategies to engage customers before, during and after your pop-up.
* Gain merchandising and customer service inspiration to help boost your sales.
* Develop a new perspective and confidence in your abilities to sell at marketplace events.

Registration deadline: January 21, 2024 at 5pm.

Take your business’s sustainability practices to the next level. Through a series of interactive workshops, you’ll gain an in-depth understanding of sustainable materials, manufacturing processes, product life cycles, packaging, and more.

This 3-part interactive workshop series features personalized 1:1 consultations, designed specifically for NYC fashion and product brands eager to enhance their sustainability efforts across multiple facets, from materials to production processes and beyond.

A 1:1 consultation opportunity following the three workshops will offer participants the opportunity to directly assess your current practices and develop a customized sustainability blueprint with clear action steps tailored to your brand’s unique needs and goals. Walk away with an individualized guide to sustainable resources plus a roadmap to infuse sustainable practices throughout every facet of your business.

Sessions will take place over Zoom and participation in all is required. 1:1 Office Hours will be scheduled between the instructor and each participant the week of April 22nd.

Outcomes For Participants:
* Enriched understanding of sustainability best practices
* Ability to identify areas to improve sustainability and cut costs and waste
* Custom sustainability plan with action steps tailored to your brand
* Comprehensive resource guide for sustainable materials, practices, and production

Registration deadline: March 21, 2024 at 5pm.