About the AOW Membership
Annie believes supporting small, independent artisan businesses positively impacts local communities, cultural diversity, and the environment. Craft is not just a commodity but culture.
AOW Handmade Insider is a platform for artisan brands, makers, retailers, designers, and anyone who loves the world of handmade to discover the people, places, products, and ideas shaping this industry.
What Members Get
Two AOW Insider Newsletters Each Month
Members receive two curated newsletters each month, delivered directly to your inbox and added to the AOW Handmade Insider member site so you can revisit them whenever you like.
One monthly newsletter features an interview with an artisan, maker, designer, retailer, or other interesting voice from across the handmade world.
The second monthly newsletter brings together 2–4 articles and discoveries, covering topics such as:
New artisan brands and makers
Sourcing discoveries and destinations
Industry and business insights
Curated guides and resources
A Private Annual Session with Annie
Each member receives one complimentary 60-minute private Zoom session with Annie during their membership year.
Bring your questions, ideas, projects, sourcing challenges, business plans, travel ideas, or anything else you'd like to explore.
Personal Vendor & Buyer Introductions
Annie is happy to personally connect members with vendors featured through AOW Insider via email introductions, upon request.
AOW Gatherings
Be the first to hear of AOW events and opportunities to meet and connect with other members and people across the handmade community.
Who Is AOW Insider For?
For retailers and designers, AOW is another pair of eyes — helping you discover new artisan sources and keep your inventory fresh, distinctive, and soulful.
For artisan brands and makers, it is a place to gain perspective and business insights, learn from others, and connect with the wider handmade and design community.
For lovers of handmade, it is a way to discover and travel through the lens of artisans and craft.
Annie strives to strengthen the artisan sector by bridging artisans and buyers of handmade goods, ultimately saving buyers time and money by compiling curated vendor and design resources, so you can meet artisans in person—or work with them remotely.
About the founder, Annie O. Waterman
Founder Annie O. Waterman has spent the past 18 years traveling the globe, discovering exceptional handmade work, and cultivating a vast network of artisans and independent brands around the world.
She travels far and wide in search of unique handmade products with character, quality, provenance, and craftsmanship. Her specialty is handmade home decor; her passion is working with artisans and helping bring their work to a wider audience.
Having worked in the artisan sector throughout her career, Annie has a keen eye and a strong pulse on the market. She recognizes oversaturation and continually looks for new, lesser-known artisans, products, and sources — connecting them with high-end boutique retailers who appreciate the gems and unique finds she discovers.
She also works directly with artisan brands, offering mentorship and perspective on areas such as product development, positioning, wholesale, sourcing, and business growth.
