About Oz Inc

The Northwest Arkansas & River Valley Artist & Maker Incubator

Main Street Eureka Springs is building the gathering, growing and development space for Artists & Makers to thrive in our region.

Whatever your goals as an Artist or Maker our vision is to help you make them happen - that can be to grow your business, develop a product line, sell wholesale or open a retail business.

We are partnering with organizations throughout the region and the US to bring best in class education, room to network and grow and business development straight to you when you need it.

Are you a Northwest Arkansas Retailer? We have built a wholesale market just for you! Find what you are looking for to fill in your local and regional artist and maker products. Learn about the market.

Program Details

Cohort 4 Runs: May - July 2023
Cohort 5 Runs: Aug - Oct 2023

The program runs three times a year and is 10 weeks long - meeting once a week. Three of the meetings are in person in Eureka Springs on a Saturday and the others are virtually on Tuesday evenings. The 10th meeting is a wholesale show for area retailers and is also open to the public. The cost for the program is $350. We do offer payment plans and scholarships.

You can choose which session you would like to participate in through the application. TAP TO APPLY

Applications Cohort 4 are due April 10th. Applications for Cohort 5 are due July 10th.

Have questions about the program? Email us at director@eurekaspringsdowntown.com

APPLY TO OZ INC

Get Started with Ozark Incubator

During OZ INC, you’ll develop and fine-tune your idea, critically examining every part of it and plan your next steps through feedback from people in the community. The program is facilitated by Main Street Eureka Springs, and guest speakers include professional artists and makers, leading marketing, branding, legal and finance agencies, as well as other entrepreneurs. The course consists of ten sessions; the last session will be a Wholesale Market where retailers in Northwest Arkansas will be invited to purchase directly from you in addition to a retail market for shoppers. We are currently running three cohorts per year starting in May, August and January. During that time, we'll cover the following topics:

  • By the end of this session, you should know the material, know the plan, know the group and know yourself - your strengths, limitations, and the importance of bringing the right people on your team.

  • You will be able to describe your customer, the problem the customer has, and the ways your customer is currently solving the problem (the existing alternatives). More importantly, you will be equipped to start testing your assumptions through customer conversations and know how to use customer feedback to better inform your work.

  • By the end of this session, you’ll be able to clearly share what your product or service is, how it solves your customer’s problem and how to start small.

  • You will understand the importance of customer relationships, how to build them, how to communicate the core message of your venture through multiple avenues.

  • You should be able to identify some of the basic building blocks for your financial model.

  • You should be able to understand why legal and accounting stuff matters and know the steps you need to take to address these concerns.

  • You should understand all of the costs associated with starting and running a business, as well as how to find a break-even point that is realistic.

  • By the end of this session, you should know your business’s break-even point and understand how to adjust it.

  • You will have a plan in place for keeping your momentum moving forward and a workable business model.

  • A two-day wholesale market open to retailers throughout Northwest Arkansas and the River Valley. In addition, there will be hours open to the public.

Who Should Apply

Oz Inc is open to all artists and makers in Northwest Arkansas and the River Valley. If you are an artist or maker that is interested in selling in a retail setting, wholesaling or learning to scale your business Oz Inc can help you build the foundations of that business. It is ok if you are just starting out on your maker journey or if you are ready to make the next big leap - the fundamentals of being an entrepreneur apply.

The program is open to everyone. and the program has been funded to provide support to LGBTQ+ artists and makers as well as 50+ makers.

 

Pricing & Scholarships

The total course fee is $350, which includes course materials. Financial assistance is available for those who qualify. Participants will also receive Q&A with local entrepreneurs, an online network, support from Main Street Eureka Springs during and post-graduation, and invitations to alumni networking, wholesale markets & workshop events.

Participants will graduate from the program with a deeper understanding of how to create a sustainable business, articulate their business model, and repeat the process for future business ideas.

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Facilitator

Kristen Schmitt-Dykes, a seasoned entrepreneur with more than two decades of professional experience in all avenues of business operations.  Kristen has owned and operated several businesses, and has extensive knowledge in the areas of sales, marketing, and media production. Kristen is a certified small business consultant, a published author, and is an avid traveler having recently spent a year in Thailand.

 
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Our Partners

Crystal Bridges Museum of Art
Amazeum
The Idle Class
Main Street Arkansas
Etsy Maker Cities
Mastercard Center for Inclusion
Arkansas Community Foundation