The Two Lanes of Workshop Profitability (and Why Picking One Matters)

If you’ve ever found yourself wondering why some workshops fill up and feel easeful, while others leave you drained and broke — this one’s for you. Because when it comes to building a profitable, sustainable workshop business, there’s one decision that can change everything:

👉 Picking the right lane.

After years of running creative workshops and talking with hundreds of makers, artists, and educators inside Crafts Workshops Academy, I’ve noticed something: the most successful workshop hosts know what lane they’re in. They’re not trying to be everything to everyone. They’ve picked a strategy and built around it.

Let’s break it down.

Lane One: The Community-Focus Lane

This is the kind of workshop where people come for the vibe. It’s soft, social, low-stakes, and accessible. The goal isn’t perfection — it’s connection.

These workshops often include:

• Junk journaling

• Vision boards

• Watercolours

• Slow stitching

• Scrapbooking or zines

It’s less about mastering a technique, and more about trying something new in a safe, cozy, non-intimidating space. Many attendees are already self-identified creatives — and these workshops are a perfect and fun way to unwind.

This lane is perfect for:

• Artists who want to build community around their craft

• People who want to host recurring, relaxed gatherings

• Anyone interested in selling products, building memberships, or offering online resources as part of a wider business model

But here’s the catch: these workshops often have lower ticket prices, which means you’ll likely need:

• Higher volume (more workshops)

• Bigger groups

• Or other income streams to balance it out

Example: Meagan from art gurl runs community-driven craft workshops — and also does corporate gigs and has an online membership. Another fave? Haricot Vert in New York — charm workshops and a retail shop. It’s all part of a wider ecosystem.

Lane Two: The Premium Experience Lane

This lane is for non-crafty people who want a fun, guided experience — not a new hobby. Think team events, hens nights, date night ideas, or social group bookings.

They’re not comparing your ticket price to Spotlight’s clay section. They’re comparing it to: Bowling, Axe throwing, Cocktails and dinner... you see what I mean?!

This lane works because you’re not just teaching a craft — you’re delivering an experience.

These people:

• Don’t want to buy supplies

• Don’t want to plan anything

• Just want to show up and leave with something cute

This is exactly how I’ve structured Karma Creative Studios — charm parties, sculpt nights, paint-a-pot with drinks. And it works. It’s profitable. It’s scalable.

But: it can get repetitive. If you’re running the same events week after week, it might feel less like creating and more like clockwork.

That’s why I started hiring facilitators and slowly reintroducing Lane One events — smaller, artsier, more experimental stuff to keep the creativity alive.

So... What’s the Difference?

Let’s recap.

Community-Focus Lane:

• Creative freedom

• Connection-based

• Usually lower-priced

• Works best when part of a broader model

Premium Experience Lane:

• Higher pricing potential

• Less creative variety

• Ideal for events that feel like a night out

• Great for structure and cash flow

Both are great. But they’re different — and they require different strategies.

All this to say... Pick one lane (for now)

If you’re just getting started, choose one lane and commit to it. Trying to do both at once can lead to mixed messaging, confusion, and burnout (always remember, confused people don't buy!).

Build something solid. Then — when you have the capacity — you can mix, blend, and evolve. Just like I’m doing now.

Because sustainable growth doesn’t mean doing everything. It means doing the right things — at the right time.

And it all starts with picking your lane.

💌 Want help figuring out your lane (and building a profitable plan around it)? Check out Crafts Workshops Academy — the community + roadmap for turning your creativity into a thriving workshop business.

You’ve got this.

— always crafty, mariana