Selling to the World in Eastern Kentucky - Call for Applications

Selling to the World Director and Assistant

Job Description

Eastern Kentucky has a significant number of artisans and craftspeople whose products are of the type and quality that could support a business.  However, most of these people do not fully realize the economic benefits of their labor—either in terms of unit price or sales volume—because they are unable to market their wares to a wide audience nationally and internationally. This is often due to a lack of knowledge of business planning, Internet sales and marketing, production strategies, bookkeeping, and other necessary elements for small business success.

A full-time Director is being sought for the Selling to the World Initiative in Middlesboro, Kentucky. A part-time Assistant is also being hired to provide administrative support. Assisting DDM in this program are our partners with the Eastern Kentucky Concentrated Employment Program, Inc. (EKCEP) and Southeast Kentucky Community and Technical College (SKCTC). This partnership will be pursuing additional funding opportunities to expand and extend the effort beyond the two years currently funded through The New York Community Trust.

Since 2006 DDM has been at the forefront of revitalizing a 40 block historic downtown area in Middlesboro at the foot of the Cumberland Gap. This award-winning program was named “One to Watch” by the National Main Street Center (2014), one of 10 winners of the Levitt AMP [Your City] contest (2014), and winner of the Successful Communities Contest held by the Orton Family Foundation and CommunityMatters (2013).

The proposed new entrepreneurial mentorship and training component of Selling to the World will pave a pathway to greater success for Eastern Kentucky artisans to become successful entrepreneurs by employing a comprehensive approach that includes education and daily, hands-on mentoring in the following areas: entrepreneurship, business plans, Internet sales and marketing, advertising, inventory management, production strategies, small business finance, bookkeeping, taxes and deductions, and intellectual property protection, among other topics.

The program can help these regional artists and craftspeople come closer to realizing their tremendous potential to diversify and boost the region’s economy by increasing exports and possibly even to grow their businesses enough to create dependent jobs.

The physical location where this work will occur is at The Palace located at 2008 Cumberland Ave. in Middlesboro, Kentucky. This was started as a pop-up shop by DDM in April 2014. From this location training will take place, co-working space will be developed, and direct sales will occur. The primary focus for sales will be through a portal website developed for the program with micro-sites within it for each of the participants. Expert instructors from SKCTC will work hand-in-hand, on-site with participants in this incubator-like, co-workspace environment to guide them in all aspects of small-business development, with the goal being their harnessing the power of the Internet to distribute their products to statewide, national, and even global customer bases.

Duties of the Director:

• Coordinate the activities of the participating artists, artisans, craftspeople and the partners.
• The director will spend some of his/her time identifying, evaluating, and recruiting craftspeople for the initiative.
• The remainder of the director’s time will be spent overseeing all aspects of the initiative’s execution and supervising the interactions of partner staff with the craftspeople.
• Serve as public face of program.
• Connect with arts community regionally, statewide, nationally.
• Develop eligibility documentation for participants in program.
• Assist with grant writing to attract additional resources.
• Prepare updates for funder with what is happening with initiative.
• Work with team to develop business plans for participating artists, artisans, and crafters.
• Measure outcomes and results (sales, exposure, etc.). Provide monthly reports of the same.
• Assist with launching participants as independent, free-standing businesses.
• Document progress people are making through the program.
• Evaluate success, measure outcomes.
• Make a minimum 2 year commitment.

Duties of the Assistant

• Provide regular support to the Director on an as needed basis.
• Coordinate volunteer schedule at The Palace.
• Manage scheduling and ensure that The Palace is open and available on an as needed basis.
• Keep an up-to-date mailing list from visitors to The Palace.
• Respond to inquiries from participants in the Selling to the World Initiative/The Palace.
• Assist the Director in identifying prospective participants for Selling to the World and The Palace.
• Participate in staff meetings and provide input on the initiative.
• Make a minimum 2 year commitment.

Minimum Qualifications: 

• Bachelor's degree required. Masters or professional degree preferred.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, both oral and written.
• Minimum of five years of experience in arts management, including substantial work and success in encouraging entrepreneurship, grant writing, and creative placemaking.
• Strong organizational skills, especially in planning and coordination of multiple projects.
• Strong computer skills in word processing and database programs.
• Must have reliable transportation for off-site functions and tasks.
• Self-motivation and an appreciation of the role of philanthropy in building community.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively as part of a team.

To apply

Please send a letter of interest, resume or curriculum vitae, three professional references, and a salary history addressed to:

Isaac D. Kremer

Executive Director

Discover Downtown Middlesboro

P.O. Box 1156

Middlesboro, KY 40965

Those preferring to send the same by e-mail are welcome to do so. Materials may be sent electronically to downtownmiddlesboro(at)gmail.com.

Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until a suitable candidate is selected.