This year's Core77 Conference, "Now What?", was the first conference we've hosted dedicated to one loaded question: "what does it take to start or maintain a creative business?" With engaging talks by industry leaders, small workshops that allowed attendees to receive more focused advice related to their business mission, and of course, some fun surprises along the way, the day proved to answer many attendees questions and much more. 

Are you a creative entrepreneur yourself looking for answers, but didn't get a chance to attend this year's conference to ask your questions? We've rounded up a just a few key takeaways from the day that may help you out: 

All photos by Rebecca Smeyne

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Understand the manufacturing process you want to utilize before finalizing your design

In his talk, founder of home accessories studio Good Thing Jamie Wolfond discussed his process for designing new items, which often starts with manufacturing instead of deciding what product to design. Using his terracotta Arid Umbrella Stand as a case study, Wolfond demonstrated how understanding a material first, followed by function and finally, form, is how a design's consideration of a material and its manufacturing process can better the quality of a product.

Jamie Wolfond of Good Thing

Know how big you want your company to scale and approximately how much money you're going to need to do it

According to financier & CEO of Hardware Club Alexis Houssou, these are essential things to think about it if you want to a.) have your business survive and b.) figure out what type of funding is right for you. While VC funding can be good for companies that want to make a huge impact on the world and turn a profit quickly, out of pocket or crowdfunding can be more sound routes for steady yet slow-building businesses.

Alexis Houssou of Hardware Club

Save up to 3 months salary before taking the leap

Carly Ayres and Pedro Sanches of HAWRAF reinforced that if you're thinking you want to start something on your own, you have to make sure you have at least a little cushion to back you up; 3 months is a solid minimum. While you're working on taking the big leap, dip a toe in freelancing to be sure you can handle a load of work independently.

Pedro Sanches and Carly Ayres of HAWRAF

For product and company ideas, tune into common pain points no one else is looking at

Clare CEO & Core77 Conference Speaker Nicole Gibbons started her company looking at a consumer problem very few have thought to look at: buying home paint colors. In her talk, Gibbons pointed out to attendees that sometimes the best business ideas stem from issues everyone has, but no one has thought to design a solution for.

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Remember: you get the work you do

A message reiterated by both HAWRAF and Sina Sohrab and Joseph Guerra of Visibility was the idea that as tight as money can be at times, you should be critical about which projects you take on and how much money you request for doing it (once you can afford to). Make sure the bad projects sent your way don't deter you from your ultimate mission, otherwise you'll get stuck doing those things over and over again. 

HAWRAF's "Should We Do This Project?" interactive guide

Looking for business? Reach out to 3-5 new people per week

Business consultant Emily Cohen's workshop "Best Practices Any Design Firm Should Know" covered a lot of ground when it comes to facilitating business and client relationships, and it included a challenge for all attendees: make an effort to reach out to a few next people each week. The worst thing that can come of new connections is someone who simply enjoyed your company over coffee! And in the long term, all those friends you meet over coffee mean potential future clients. 

Emily Cohen in her workshop, "Best Practices Any Design Firm Should Know"

Anyone can manufacture products if they know the rules and etiquette

The Making It (In China) workshop led by Crave co-founder Ti Chang reminded conference attendees that manufacturing can be as easy as having an idea of what you want to make, just as long as you know the red flags to look out for and the knowledge of etiquette required to impress the manufacturers you're looking to work with. A few red flags worth mentioning? High sample fees, clarity of communication, or even a manufacturer's choice of conducting a meeting in your hotel lobby as opposed to the factory itself.

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In addition to great tips for starting something of your own, you know we had to add a few things in there to make it a party: 

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Saxophonist Ming really brought the house down in the morning with his smooth renditions of songs by Queen Latifah and Kendrick Lamar.

And then fast forwarding to the end of the day, after giving attendees an idea of how to create a successful business out of a crazy idea, Harry Parr of Bompas & Parr got the cocktail party started with a vapor cloud of gin! It was a truly intoxicating end to an insightful day of presentations.

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And finally, we ended the day with a chance for attendees and presenters to mingle, using the skills they acquired over the day to meet new friends and possible clients, and talk through what they learned over the course of the day. 

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 Thanks to everyone who attended this year's conference! And stay tuned for videos to be released of the morning presentations.