Imagine waking up in Kenya, posting a problem to your business community, and having solutions from artisans in India, South Africa, and North America waiting for you by morning.

That's not a fantasy. That's what happens every day inside the Handmade to Market Membership.

Hannah Klein didn't set out to build a global movement. She just wanted to help artisan entrepreneurs feel less alone. But here's what happened when she and her team at Handmade to Market shifted from one-off courses to a membership model: they created something that AI could never replicate.

Not just content. Not just training. A community where makers support makers, where isolation transforms into connection, and where artisan businesses worldwide get the support they actually need.

They grew from 20 founding members to a thriving global community in just 17 months. And they did it while staying true to their nonprofit mission of empowering artisan businesses globally.

Here's how.

Why Handmade to Market Needed to Change Everything

Before the membership, Handmade to Market had a problem. Actually, they had several.

The One-Off Course Trap

They were selling courses on another platform. Good courses. Valuable content. But every sale was just that (one sale). One transaction. One person getting access to content and then done.

"We wanted to make our education more accessible globally," Hannah explains. "Both financially and resource-wise."

Here's the thing about one-off courses: they don't build community. Students buy, consume (maybe), and disappear. There's no ongoing relationship. No peer support. No sense of belonging to something bigger.

For artisan entrepreneurs scattered across the world, that isolation was crushing.

The Real Problem Nobody Talks About

You can find information about marketing anywhere. ChatGPT can explain pricing strategies. But what you can't find easily? Other people who truly understand what it's like to build a handmade business in Kenya, South Africa, or rural Canada. Peers who get the unique challenges of turning craft into sustainable income.

Content alone couldn't fix that.

The Membership Model Solution: Building Community First

Hannah and her team made a decision that changed everything. They would shift from selling courses to building a membership focused on community and connection.

What does a membership focused on community and transformation actually look like?

It prioritizes relationships between members alongside education. Instead of just delivering content, it creates spaces for artisans to connect, support each other, solve problems together, and build lasting relationships. The transformation comes from both the education and the peer support network.

This was about creating the support system artisan entrepreneurs desperately needed.

What They Actually Built

The Handmade to Market Membership launched in May 2024 with founding members who believed in the vision so strongly that they joined before the platform was even fully set up.

Over 20 people committed to a membership that didn't technically exist yet. That's belief in the vision, not the content.

The membership includes:

• Live training events and workshops - monthly, working toward twice monthly
• Recorded sessions and courses - covering every aspect of running a handmade business
• Discussion forums - where members solve real problems together
• WhatsApp groups - for immediate connection and support
• Member directory - so artisans can find and connect with each other
• Comprehensive resources - from product development to sales and marketing

Hannah's Journey: Learning to Build Community at Scale

Building a global membership meant Hannah had to grow as a facilitator and community builder. This wasn't just about moving content online. It was about creating genuine human connections across continents.

"I've loved being able to grow as a facilitator," Hannah reflects. "It's gotten a lot more streamlined and simpler to manage the membership."

The Challenge of Connection

Hannah faced a unique challenge: How do you help artisans in Kenya connect with makers in South Africa? How do you build trust between entrepreneurs who've never met and live thousands of miles apart?

The answer wasn't in the content. It was in the tools and systems that enabled connection.

Creating Spaces for Members to Find Each Other

One decision transformed everything: giving members a way to actually find and connect with each other.

"It allows all the members to be able to look up and connect with each other. That was one of the coolest things," Hannah says.

An artisan in India can find a member in South Africa who successfully navigated a similar challenge. A maker in Canada can connect with buyers in East Asia. Isolated individuals became a connected network.

Helping Members Navigate Without Overwhelm

With comprehensive resources covering everything from product development to marketing, Hannah faced another challenge: overwhelming members with too much information.

"Members need to be able to navigate the platform and find answers quickly," Hannah explains. The solution? Helping members ask questions and get pointed to exactly what they need, when they need it.

This solved a critical problem: members weren't getting lost in endless content. They were finding solutions.

Managing It All as a Small Team

For Hannah and her small nonprofit team managing a global membership alongside grant-funded programs in-country, simplicity became essential.

"Everything is so much more streamlined now," she says. Features that save time, easy content updates, systems that support rather than fight her vision. For a team of five people spread across different states, managing programs on multiple continents, efficiency isn't optional.

The Results That Matter

Growth Timeline:

• May 2024: Launched with 20+ founding members
• October 2025: 70 members across continents
• 4 strategic launches - flash sales, not always-open enrollment
• Email list grew by 1,500 in one year, approaching 10,000 total

These aren't venture capital numbers. This is sustainable, mission-driven growth. And what makes these numbers meaningful is retention and engagement.

Member Success Stories

The Kenya Story:

A member posted about a business problem before bed. When she woke up, members from around the world had responded with solutions and encouragement. That's not content delivery. That's community.

The Rebranding Success:

One founding member completely rebranded her business. Not because she watched videos, but because she had the resources, support, and accountability to make it happen.

"Members are supporting each other in discussion forums," Hannah shares. "They're solving problems together and offering encouragement."

Members stay because they've found their people.

How Hannah Prices for Global Accessibility

The Handmade to Market Membership offers both monthly and annual subscription options.

This matters more than you might think. For artisan entrepreneurs in different global markets with varying financial situations, flexibility is essential. Hannah wanted to make the membership accessible, not exclusive.

They're not pricing based on "how many hours of content we created." They're pricing based on the transformation they deliver and the community they've built.

Revenue as Mission Funding

The membership revenue funds their broader nonprofit work across six global regions. Rolling monthly income supports their mission while serving members who get tremendous value from the community.

It's not just sustainable. It's mission-aligned.

Hannah's Advice: Just Launch (Then Listen)

When asked what advice she'd give others considering a membership model, Hannah doesn't hesitate.

"Just do it."

Don't wait until you have all the information. Don't spend months creating the perfect content library. Launch with the idea and let your community help you grow.

"Get feedback from your audience. They'll help you grow your membership."

This is wisdom most membership owners learn the hard way. You think you know what your members need. Then you launch and discover your initial ideas weren't quite right.

That's not failure. That's learning.

"Have patience and listen to your community."

Your audience will teach you what they actually need. Handmade to Market started with the vision and was built based on member feedback. No waiting for perfection.

What Made the Difference

Hannah is candid about what enabled their growth: having systems that supported their vision instead of creating more work.

"It's so user-friendly and worth it," she says about choosing the right tools. "The training resources were extremely helpful."

Transitioning to a membership model isn't easy. But having tools that work with you instead of against you makes the difference between sustainable growth and overwhelming chaos.

What This Means for Your Membership

Hannah's story with Handmade to Market isn't just inspiring. It's a blueprint.

You don't need thousands of members to build something meaningful. You don't need venture funding or a massive team. You don't need years of preparation.

You need:

• A clear transformation you're helping people achieve
• A community focus that prioritizes connection as much as content
• Systems that enable connection between members at scale
• The courage to launch before everything is perfect
• The humility to listen to what your members actually need

If Hannah and her small team can build a thriving membership while running grant programs worldwide, what's possible for you?

Why Community Is Your Moat

AI can create content. Competitors can copy your frameworks. But your community? That's irreplaceable. Those relationships, that trust, that sense of belonging? That's what protects your membership from competition.

Start Building Your Membership Community

Hannah didn't have all the answers when she started. She had a vision: help artisan entrepreneurs feel less alone. She had a commitment: build community first, not just content. And she had the courage to launch.

What Hannah Built Is Possible for You

Whether you're a coach, consultant, educator, or nonprofit leader, the principles are the same:

• Start with transformation, not information
• Build for community connection, not just content delivery
• Choose tools that enable member relationships at scale
• Launch and learn from your members
• Have patience and listen

Members don't stay for videos. They stay for each other, the transformation, and the experiences that create momentum.

Ready to Build Your Community?

Membership.io is the dedicated membership platform built by membership owners for membership owners. We understand what Hannah needed: tools that enable connection between members, help them navigate resources, and support growth without overwhelming small teams.

Start your free trial today or email us at help@membership.io to learn how we can support your vision