The Cabin of Makers CIC

A collective of mainly Derbyshire artists and makers, managed and operated by its members. The shop is funded by shelf and space rental, with all revenue from makers’ sales paid commission-free to individuals.

Making things… better.

Last month saw us celebrating our one-year anniversary as a Community Interest Company and, at our AGM, we took time to reflect on what a fabulous (we use that word often at The Cabin of Makers!) first year it had been. On reflection, the theme of our having a great team of special individuals emerged as a constant - and a constant strength.

Working together as a community of creatives not only helps overcome the reservations, barriers and anxieties which can so easily and tediously come with working, exhibiting and selling alone – it also delivers efficient ways of getting things done and opens up new opportunities for all. Quite simply, we get to make things… better.

Our Cabin of Makers membership (12-strong, with a supported community of makers renting shelf space) sees a coming-together of creatives and artisans who, from their careers and life experiences, bring specialisms in organisational planning, marketing, coaching, customer service and retail, and community engagement and outreach programmes. This has us perfectly positioned to say, ‘Yes, we can!’ when opportunities in Belper and in the wider area arise.

And 2024 was most certainly the year when we said ‘Yes!’

‘You guys are everywhere!’ That was the message we heard from shoppers and visitors to The Cabin of Makers’ various events, workshops and pop-ups.

November and December saw us invited by Fleet Arts to launch their year-long partnership programme of creative community spaces at Belper’s Co-op; we ran weekly Meet, Make and Mingle sessions with printmaking, weaving and clay-sculpting events – as rewarding for our makers as for the wonderful attendees.

Taking The Cabin of Makers further afield is a key part of our planning too, with the ‘Gate House takeover’ at Haddon Hall and our expansive seasonal pop-up store in Wirksworth. Both came with weather-related challenges! And both were a great success in putting Belper front-of-mind for those looking for new creative shopping destinations and days out. The two initiatives – in addition to the running of the Belper shop and our own busy year-end market schedules – could easily have overwhelmed us not so long ago. However, the CIC structure, with our clear roles and responsibilities, together with access to invaluable advice and support, made the extra challenges not only possible but, really, quite… fabulous!

And the shop carries on throughout: our now long-standing home on Belper’s Campbell Street and the cornerstone of all our community activities creates what one visitor described as ‘an uplifting experience.’ It’s uniquely placed in our wonderful town to showcase and sell a curated range of makes and crafts: prints, textiles, candles, photography, woodcarving, jewellery, pottery and so much more.

We’re so proud of the little place we’ve made into something really quite big for our makers and visitors alike. So, here’s to a second fabulous year for our CIC. We look forward to welcoming our regular and new shoppers to Campbell Street, as well as meeting and inspiring people across our communities with our creative offering!