ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT QUARTERLY
Above: Ann Niddrie proofing the latest MTNS MADE Broadsheet
have a two-tiered paid membership structure as
their funding model. Currently with approximately
90 members, their various areas of focus are
in supporting makers in upscaling, website
conversions, marketing, cashflow and more.
However they focus solely on artisans and makers
of tangible items such as jewellery, tables, clothing
and other usable or lifestyle items, whereas MTNS
MADE represents creatives of all sectors of the
creative industries in the Blue Mountains. Numerous
artisans interviewed reported the fees were a barrier
to entry for them.
Portland Made has a strong
relationship with Travel Portland,
the tourism body for the city,
where cultural tourism of all
strains is ingrained in the
tourism strategy.
The city of Portland has a range of stores that stock
products exclusively made in Portland, for example,
the Made Here PDX stores of which there are two in
Portland and now one in Seattle. The larger Made
Here PDX store has over 8,000 products in the
store at any one time, and also runs the online store
from the rear of the same location.
The challenges for Portland as with any growing
cultural city, is the So-Ho effect that has increased
prices for real estate, and spaces for creatives in the
city itself are perceived as becoming too expensive.
The very creatives that made the city popular are
being pushed out to the fringes. 4
Supporting local creative entrepreneurs to use
the logo on their products, and creating a MTNS
MADE section in local retail stores has been an
underpinning strategy for the success of MTNS
MADE. Collaborating with retailers with a philosophy
of supporting handmade, locally produced products,
and with customers who are prepared to pay a
higher price for unique handmade products.
WHAT IS BEST PRACTICE FOR
DEVELOPING A PLACE-BASED
CREATIVE INDUSTRIES BRAND?
Deep community consultation is a necessity to
ensure the brand reflects the local community and
creative industry’s values.
BMEE and the Creative Industries Cluster Manager
consulted extensively with local community
stakeholders to identify and ensure that BMEE were
responding to the industry’s needs.
Some points that are imperative to explore prior to
initiating such a project include:
• Are you responding to industry, or are you
projecting onto your creative business
community what you think they need?
• Has your industry consultation been far-
reaching and in-depth?
• Does the creative business community have an
opportunity to participate and contribute?
• Do you have a creative industries strategy for
the region?
VOL.12 NO.3 2019 | 9