About Us - Our Mission
Made 4 You strives to support local artisans, while building community through workshops and other events.
Care to Join Us?
We hope to experience a tremendous period of growth over the next year, including a large communal workshop area, more public workshops and increased diversity of products in the store.
Perhaps you'd be interested in being part of the evolution?
Items are Juried with the Following in Mind:
* Must be made by an artist in Kingston or surrounding area
* Must be hand-made without kits
* Quality of product: Is it made in a smoke and pet free environment?
Are there visible imperfections inproduct such as loose threads or stains?
* Type of product: Does it duplicate something currently carried at Made 4 You?
Does it fit within the current “look” of store?
* Materials used: Is it made from recycled/re-used, innovative, or interesting materials?
* Presentation: Does it come with business cards or professional tags?
Consignees
We are located downtown Kingston at 122 Princess Street.
Everybody starts out as a consignee and pays an initial $25 fee for their first month with us. After this, consignees pay $12.50 per month to continue, or can apply for membership.
Consignees receive 60% of the sale of their work. The first month is considered to be a trial month at the end of which we'll decide if we'd like to continue on together.
Half Members
Half members pay $50 at the beginning of each quarter, do half the shifts that full members do, and are eligible for half dividends at the end of each quarter. They receive 60% from the sale of their work.
Full Members
Full members do 2 - 3 four hour shifts per week during busy months, or 1 - 2 three hour shifts per week during slower months. They pay a $100 fee at the beginning of each quarter, keep 60% of their sales, and are eligible for dividends at the end of the quarter and at the end of the year.
Membership Commitments
* Full members must attend all of the bi-weekly scheduled meetings. Half members must attend one meeting monthly and must attend the final meeting of each quarter.
* Commit to communicating through email with other members and checking those emails at least once a week to participate in minor decisions requiring attention.
* Be able to talk about products to customers with some degree of expertise. Members must make a personal commitment to asking questions to our artisans about their new products and staying consistent with necessary packing techniques. It is your responsibility to keep up to date with new consignment items and their story.
* Any packaging needs over and above what Made 4 You provides will be supplied by the individual artisan and training must be provided to the group if you have special packaging needs.
Membership Benefits
* Free promotion on our website after providing a basic bio and photo for that purpose.
* A share of display space (we reserve the right to give prime display space to membership before consignees) and use of basic display props in the store as the merchandising team sees fit. (ie: jewelry hangers, clothing racks, lights)
* Publicizing of the location, workshops, and products within the store through facebook group, mailing list, press releases and flyers.
* Workshops offered by Made 4 You are half price for all participants including consignees, and Made 4 You forfeits their share to make this happen.
* After jurying, workshops can be hosted and promoted through Made 4 You.
* Members and half members are able to receive dividends at the end of the quarter as outlined below.
Changing Your Position in Made 4 You
Consignees who choose to upgrade to half memberships or full memberships after their first trial month can pay an additional fee and are eligible for all benefits that apply to members.
Half members who become full members during a quarter are eligible for full dividends during the months they were full members, half dividends for the months they were half members.
Members and half members who drop down to consignment are not eligible for dividends.
Members who drop down to half membership are eligible for half membership benefits only.
Members who fail to attend required amount of meetings or shifts effectively choose to become half members.
All sales made during the period of non-attendance of meetings or shifts will be calculated according to shifts worked and meetings attended.
* These guidelines are in place to encourage people to upgrade to a higher level of memberships, because the more members we have the more staffing hours and fees we have access to.
* We understand that sometimes, due to unforeseen circumstances people have to reduce commitments, so instead of a contract forcing people to stay we reduce or eliminate dividends for those who reduce commitments.
* This organizational model was approved at the first meeting of 2008 and is binding until further notice, at which point we will solidify the membership structure and create a legally binding contract between the
members.
Quarterly Dividends
Dividends will be paid out at the end of the quarter and only to those participants who stay until the end of the quarter, and are forfeited by members and part members who choose to leave partway through the
quarter without an approved leave of absence.
Dividends will be calculated based on the percentage of work done by each member during scheduled shifts. Extra tasks such as meetings or volunteer shifts are not included.
Quarters are divided as follows:
December 1 to February 28
March 1 to May 31
June 1 to August 31
September 1 to November 30
Each term is roughly equal in its profit potential.
Annual Dividends
All members who stay for the entire year (December to December) are eligible for annual dividends. All members and half members may be involved with the decision to re-invest into the store or to pay dividends
out to the membership.
Deposits
Deposits are returned at the end of the quarter and only to those participants who stay until the end of the quarter, and are forfeited by members and part members who choose to leave partway through the quarter without an approved leave of absence.
In the unlikely event of a wholly unsuccessful quarter, deposits or a portion of the deposit may not be returned. Deposits are a guarantee that Made 4 You can pay all monthly expenses, or may also be used by the collective to invest in special projects, tools, or store upgrades. Any use of the deposit for these purposes will be decided upon as a collective.