For two years, artist friends Mary Felker and Ashley Zabarte tossed around the idea of creating a subscription box featuring the work of local makers. But the respective painter and jeweler were too busy with their own projects to seriously consider building something new.
Then COVID-19 knocked out the many pop-up events where they sold their wares. With their regular lives on indefinite hold, it was time to make the artist-entrepreneurs’ idle dream a profitable reality.
Hey Maker Co debuted in June 2020 with a gender-neutral Father’s Day gift box featuring Chakana coffee, a ceramic dish that looks like a cheese pizza, taco art and hand sanitizer from CraftHaus Brewing. DIY was the theme for the July box, with kits for painting watercolors by Felker (Instagram: @maryonadventures); a jewelry kit by Zabarte (@linenandlacestyle); a succulent display (@PlantedLV); fabric dying (@This.is.brennan); and embroidery (@ro.marianne_artisan). Subsequent boxes have included Las Vegas and Nevada themes, the latter featuring talent from Reno.
Hey Maker Co founders Mary Felker, left, and Ashley Zabarte
The duo’s goal is to eventually curate three to five artisans for each box, with a blend of local, regional and national makers. The idea is that the mix of localities will help give local creatives national exposure. For now, Felker and Zabarte are filling out the offerings with their own very cool creations.
“Our No. 1 goal is to support our local makers,” Felker says. The stated mission of Hey Maker Co is to “empower and elevate makers and their brands.” They hope to build community, supporting the local economy and small businesses.
For now the prices are different for every box. But the duo say they hope to create a set price subscription for 2021. Now, prices range from about $25 to $75, with the most recent box being $47. “It’s a very big discount and a great deal for consumers to support local,” Felker says.
“Our purpose really at Hey Maker is to not only just create a box, but also to facilitate an opportunity for people who are just starting out with their businesses,” Felker continues.
“Part of what we want to do is create connections with makers in the community and with people who are just starting out, [to] give them a platform to stand on, so that they get a little traction and a little momentum,” Zabarte adds. “Right now, it’s really hard to build momentum.”
To help get the word out and build audiences for all involved, Hey Maker hosts “Instagram takeovers,” in which
a different maker takes over the @heymakerco Instagram account.
The partners also host the Hey Maker Podcast (bit.ly/3866tnC). In each episode, Felker and Zabarte take turns interviewing a different maker. “It’s really neat, because we can get to know them more and provide them with a platform to share with their followers, too,” Zabarte says.
Additionally, Hey Maker hosts small monthly “Meet the Maker” events. The partners plan to make the events larger in a post-COVID world, with more interaction between the makers and the buyers. The most recent event was socially distanced and costumed in honor of Halloween.
In the meantime, the partners continue to make their own work. Zabarte just released an art deco collection. For her part, Felker has been painting murals around town, in a style that incorporates the iconography of both Las Vegas and the surrounding desert.
Looking ahead, the creators want to add an educational and coaching component to their business via a planned Hey Maker Academy. Zabarte says: “We want them to come out of being in a [Hey Maker Co] box with knowledge on how to grow their business and keep going.”
Hey Maker Co heymakerco.com, instagram.com/heymakerco
