Like many rural places, the Pennsylvania Wilds is economically challenged. Tourism infuses outside dollars into communities and helps stimulate local economies. 

• The PA Wilds attracts about 4.1% of Pennsylvania travelers annually, and they spend $1.85 billion per year in the region, according to Tourism Economics. 
• The PA Wilds represents 25% of the state’s landmass, but is home to only 4% of its population. The travel industry is responsible for about 11% of the labor income earned in the region.
• Approximately 80 million people live within a 6-hour drive of the Pennsylvania Wilds — creating a prime opportunity to capture a larger share of travel spending.

The Declaration of Principles for the PA Wilds Team is a document that provides a heartfelt look at the guiding values of the regional strategy. The document was initiated nearly 20 years ago, and the words still ring true today! The outlined principles are central to the work and provide a unique lens through which artisans can look at the region and potentially develop new products!  Check out the Principles here.

The PA Wilds Center for Entrepreneurship (PA Wilds Center) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit whose mission is to integrate conservation and economic development in a way that strengthens and inspires rural communities of the designated Pennsylvania Wilds region. PA Wilds Center is developing and managing the PA Wilds Entrepreneurial Ecosystem to help regional businesses and communities leverage the power of the place-based Pennsylvania Wilds brand. That ecosystem includes regional marketing and promotional activities, business development support, branding and commerce opportunities, and more.

The PA Wilds Center works with dozens of local organizations and state agencies to fulfill its mission, including the PA Wilds Planning Team. The PA Wilds Planning Team is a regional entity that looks at planning issues specifically and it was formed in 2006 by a groundbreaking intergovernmental cooperative agreement that brought together the region’s counties.  PA Wilds Center serves as the fiscal home for the PA Wilds Planning Team.

Learn more at www.PAWildsCenter.org.

The PA Wilds Center for Entrepreneurship regularly releases Annual Reports and also shares additional studies that reference the PA Wilds strategy and effort to revitalize rural communities in the region through outdoor recreation development. Find Annual Reports here and other studies about the effort here.

Good question! Let’s start by laying some ground definitions per the Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Building Playbook 3.0 Ecosystem Builders: Individuals who focus their work on building a system of support and resources for entrepreneurs in their communities or industries. The PA Wilds Center for Entrepreneurship is an Ecosystem Builder that works with numerous partners (also Ecosystem Builders) at the local, state, and federal levels to create opportunities for Entrepreneurs and communities across the PA Wilds. The makers, doers, and dreamers in our society. An Entrepreneurial Ecosystem is a network of people supporting entrepreneurs and the culture of trust and collaboration that allows them to interact successfully. The speed at which talent, information, and resources move through the ecosystem can affect entrepreneurs at each stage in their lifecycle. The Wilds Cooperative of PA is the network at the heart of the PA Wilds Entrepreneurial Ecosystem. The PA Wilds Center supports this network through opportunities related to PA Wilds licensing, PA Wilds Conservation Shop commerce platform, lifestyle marketing, professional development, connections to funding, and stewardship. Click here for more detail about those programs and services.

• Members must be 18 years or older and must live or operate a business in the designated 12.5-county region. The region includes Cameron, Centre (northern), Clarion, Clearfield, Clinton, Elk, Forest, Jefferson, Lycoming, McKean, Potter, Tioga and Warren. 
• Businesses applying must demonstrate that their organization is based in the Pennsylvania Wilds region by supplying a physical billing address at the time of application and throughout the membership period. Further proof of residency may be requested. Individuals applying as Juried Artisans must be full-time Pennsylvania Wilds residents at the time of application. To actively produce and sell juried work under program membership, Juried Artisan members must remain PA Wilds residents.
• Membership is non-transferable.
• There is not an automatic entitlement to Membership, and WCO administrators may elect to: refuse your request to become a Member, or once Membership is granted, suspend, terminate or restrict your Membership at any time.
• Once Membership is granted you will be able to log into your account at any time using the email address associated with your account.  Members must use all reasonable efforts to keep your username and password confidential and must not allow any third party to access the site using your username and password and make use of the site on your behalf. Notify wildscopa.org in writing as soon as you become aware of any unauthorized use of your Member Account, username or password. You acknowledge and agree that you are liable for, and will indemnify WCO, its related bodies corporate, affiliates, officers, directors, agents and employees against, any and all claims made by a third party arising out of your access to, and use of, the site as a Member.

Almost all small businesses based in the Pennsylvania Wilds have a way to join the Wilds Cooperative of PA network. As members are connected and promoted for the products, services and experiences they offer in the region, the goal is to help build meaningful connections among businesses, service providers and travelers, so that the businesses have the support necessary to grow. There are three core membership umbrellas with member types underneath.

• Creative Makers
  • Visual Artisans – Painters, sculptors, fine art photographers, jewelers + more
  • Craft Artisans – Folk artists, wood carvers, fiber artisans, potters, knitters and crocheters + more
  • Food Artisans – Bakers; producers of sauces, candies and confections, cheeses, butters, teas + craft beverages + more
  • Creative Industries Partners – Creative writers, portrait photographers, graphic designers, web developers + more
• Experience Makers
  • Host Site – Restaurants, Lodging, Breweries, Wineries, Theaters, Museums, State Parks, Events + Festivals, Public Art + Area Attractions
  • Trading Post – Retail locations, Specialty + Boutique Shops
  • Field Guides – Outfitters, Guide Services + Visitors Bureaus
• Resource Partners
  • Community Partners – Governments, Libraries, Community Centers, Educational Institutions, Hospitals, Health + Wellness Centers, Realtors, Chambers of Commerce, Heritage Regions + Business Development Centers
  • Stewardship Partners – Conservation Groups, Heritage Areas, Surveyors, Landscaping + Environmental Service Groups
  • Business Development Partners – Local Development Districts, Chambers of Commerce, Business Development Centers, Co-working + Accelerator Spaces + Main Street Programs
  • Production + Services Partners – Manufacturers, Logistics, Construction + Supplies

Members of the Wilds Cooperative are those place-based businesses that are in line with the Pennsylvania Wilds lifestyle brand and which add to the overall visitor experience in the region. In so, there are certain businesses and types of businesses that are ineligible for the program.

While most businesses are eligible, there are certain types of businesses that are considered ineligible for membership. See ineligible businesses list here.

• Large conglomerates, franchises and independent contractors who are representatives for multi-level marketing companies are not eligible.
• Makers whose work uses appropriated images or is crafted primarily with items purchased and simply decorated, or by combining purchased commercial objects, are not eligible.  
• Political / religious organizations, businesses that rely on gambling activities or must have a tobacco license to operate, adult entertainment establishments, and businesses whose products promote hate or risk harm to animals are not eligible.

These ineligible businesses have been determined after thoughtful consideration of the Declaration of Principles outlined for the Pennsylvania Wilds team, as outlined below.

The short answer is no! There are no annual dues for businesses, organizations and individuals who are eligible for regular membership. 

However, there is a one-time $20 jury fee for Creative Makers at application to help cover the cost of assembling a jury review panel. 

In addition, for-profit Friends of the Wilds Cooperative of PA, which is designated for businesses and organizations that are based outside of the Pennsylvania Wilds but provide services within the region, are assessed an annual membership fee.

Members of the Wilds Cooperative of PA receive access to branding and marketing tools, networking and education opportunities, new markets and product lines, and mentorship and referrals to PA’s financial and technical service programs. To see more specific member benefits for each membership umbrella, visit www.WildsCoPA.org/benefits. 

The PA Wilds Center for Entrepreneurship, the nonprofit that manages the Wilds Cooperative network and its benefits, reserves the right to change the benefits that apply to WCO membership at any time and without prior notice.

When you first joined the Wilds Cooperative and your account was approved, you should have received a confirmation email with a link to join us in the WCO Mighty Networks app, which houses your branding assets and other resources related to membership. Contact us for more info at WildsCoPA@PAWildsCenter.org.

The PA Wilds Buyer’s Guide connects the regional makers of quality crafted products with the dedicated retailers who see the value in sourcing locally. It also features PA Wilds branded products. The guide is produced each year and is a FREE resource available via download at www.WildsCoPA.org/pa-wilds-buyers-guide.

The Wilds Cooperative of PA (WCO) is considered a Value Chain because it is a network of people, businesses, organizations and agencies working together to address a market opportunity to sell local products and place-based experiences, helping businesses and communities throughout the PA Wilds thrive.

Here in the PA Wilds, we know people are coming to see and explore our unique assets, communities and businesses. The demand for services around those experiences is there, and our value chain seeks to ensure these visitors’ needs are met. By working together toward common goals, businesses and organizations involved in the value chain bolster each other up and, in effect, create more value in their work and communities. 

As the value chain coordinator, PA Wilds Center for Entrepreneurship manages the Wilds Cooperative of Pennsylvania and works to create, connect and develop market opportunities for its membership.

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A VALUE CHAIN AND A SUPPLY CHAIN?

• Value chains start with demand, not supply. While traditional supply chains typically focus on the needs of one company and how they make their products, value chains look at the needs of an entire community and how to meet demands within those communities.
• As defined by Investopedia, a supply chain is a network between a company and its suppliers to produce and distribute a specific product, and the supply chain represents the steps it takes to get the product or service to the customer. 

As defined by WealthWorks, a value chain is a network of people, businesses, organizations, and agencies addressing a market opportunity to meet the demand for specific products or services, advancing self-interest while building rooted local and regional wealth. Learn more about the principles behind a WealthWorks value chain here.

The PA Wilds Artisan Trail was created in 2008 with a goal of helping to bring local wood products to market by connecting and promoting retail locations that sold local products and makers with the visitor experience. As interest in the Artisan Trail grew, there was an opportunity to expand participation among small businesses that focus not only on locally made products, but also the types of unique locally-made experiences that can only happen in the PA Wilds. By 2015 the Artisan Trail was rebranded as The Wilds Cooperative of Pennsylvania (WCO) and expanded to include not only visual artisans and retail outlets but also food and craft artisans, creative industries, outfitters, craft beverages, hospitality hosts and state parks; as well as Heritage Regions and Destination Marketing Organizations. The membership types have since been organized into three broad umbrella groups: Creative Makers (artisans and creative sector professionals), Experience Makers (hospitality and Main Street businesses), and Resource Partners (nonprofits and service organizations that support the regional effort, communities and small businesses).

Very important! Your member profile is how we promote you! It is listed in our directories on WildsCoPA.org, PAWildsCenter.org, and PAWilds.com – and it helps get you in front of prospective visitors. It is incredibly important to be thorough and thoughtful in your profile to ensure that you are telling your story in a way that invites people to visit and/or take advantage of your experience or services.

As a member of the Wilds Cooperative, you can log into your account to make adjustments at any time! Directions for logging into your member profile can be found here. 

We love to share upcoming events with the public and other Wilds Cooperative members. We share events being held by our members through posts in our Event Calendar, which populates WildsCoPA.org, PAWilds.com and PAWildsCenter.org. If you have an upcoming event, please log into your account to submit an event via the Member Dashboard.  

Events submission tutorial here

And don’t forget to use #pawilds and #pawildsmade as you market the event online so our social media team can pick it up.

We send a lot of relevant communications to our membership via the email address wildscopa at pawildscenter.org, so please whitelist us or add us to your contacts (this will keep us out of your spam folder). We’ve written instructions on how to do this.

Spam filters that come with email service providers (such as gmail, outlook, yahoo, etc.) have both whitelists and blacklists of senders and keywords to look for in emails. By adding our email address to your whitelist you will be able to receive important emails from The Wilds Cooperative of Pennsylvania Below are instructions for whitelisting based on common email clients. 

• GMAIL – In your inbox, locate an email from wildscopa@pawildscenter.org and drag this email to the “primary” tab of your inbox. Emails from The Wilds Cooperative of PA will go to your primary folder from now on.
• OUTLOOK 2003 OR LATER – Right-click on a message from wildscopa@pawildscenter.org in your inbox. Select “Junk E-mail” from the menu. Click “Add Sender to Safe Senders List.”
• YAHOO! MAIL – Open an email from wildscopa@pawildscenter.org and a symbol should display next to “From:”. Select the symbol and an “Add to contacts” pop-up should appear Select “Save”.
• MAC MAIL – Select “Mail” and “Preferences” from the top menu. In the “Preferences” window, click the “Rules” icon. Click the “Add Rule” button. In the “Rules” window, type a name for your rule in the “Description” field.  Use the following settings: “If any of the following conditions are met: From Contains” and type wildscopa@pawildscenter.org in the text field beside “Contains”. Select “Move Message” and “Inbox” from the drop-down menus. Click “Ok” to save the rule.

DON’T SEE INSTRUCTIONS THAT WORK FOR YOU? Not a problem. Just get in touch with customer services at your email provider and ask for instructions on whitelisting safe email addresses. Then, if you’ve got a sec, forward their reply to wildscopa@pawildscenter.org and we’ll add it here.

Enter your email address into the username area and select “Forgot password” during log in at http://www.WildsCoPA.org/wp-admin. Check your email inbox and spam folder for an email with directions for logging in. 

Directions for logging into your member profile can be found here. 

Note: If you do not receive an email within 15 minutes, contact us, and we will check your account for a valid email address.

If you have new information about your work or business, an updated mailing address, a new logo, or any other new information, you may update the information yourself in your profile. Directions for updating your profile can be found here.

Native American works must be submitted along with a copy of applicant’s membership card in a federally or state recognized Indian tribe, band, nation, organized group or community for authenticity purposes. The Indian Arts and Crafts Act of 1990 makes it illegal to sell, or display with intent to sell, any product not made by Native American Indians in a way that falsely suggests it was.

Food artisans, producers, and retail food facilities must comply with all PA Department of Agriculture guidelines, as well as applicable state and local regulations. Applicants must have the necessary permits/licenses in hand, before submitting an application to the Wilds Cooperative of Pennsylvania. Food retail and/or wholesale operators, and their employees, must be in compliance with applicable provisions of the Federal Food Safety Act, the Retail Food Facility Safety Act and requirements referenced at the PA Dept of Agriculture site (agriculture.pa.gov).

It is your responsibility to inform yourself about doing business in Pennsylvania. Entrepreneurs who operate under their own given name as Sole Proprietors, with zero employees, and use their Social Security Number for tax filing are not required to register their businesses with the PA Department of State. All others must register. Business establishments with paid employees must register with the state. Visit dced.pa.gov/business-assistance/small-business-assistance,  where small business owners can electronically register with the PA Departments of Labor and Industry, Revenue, and State. The PA Small Business Development Center is also a useful resource. Federal regulations can change. Consult the Small Business Administration and the Internal Revenue Service for more about business requirements.

If you make taxable sales, you are required to obtain a PA Sales Tax License. Visit http://business.pa.gov/ for details.

Applications are evaluated based on the following criteria:

• Visual Artisans and Creative Industries Partners: Merit and design source (60%), marketability (30%), and professionalism (10%).
• Food Artisans: Aesthetics and technique (45%), ingredients and sourcing (20%), marketability and presentation (25%), and professionalism (10%).
• Craft Artisans: Aesthetics and technique (40%), ingredients and sourcing (25%), marketability and presentation (25%), and professionalism (10%).

Creative Makers, also known as Juried Artisans, are the talented makers at the heart of the Wilds Cooperative of Pennsylvania. The two levels of Juried Artisans are Basic Membership and Professional Artisan.

• Basic Members are those who are admitted with a jury score between 100-300 – OR – those with a higher jury score who elect to enroll at this level.
• Professional Artisans are those who are admitted with a jury score above 301. 

The jury score is based on the criteria, including artistic merit, marketability and design, and material sourcing. 

Wilds Cooperative of Pennsylvania support staff notifies each artisan of their score and jury panel feedback, and each artisan may arrange a time to discuss their score and jury feedback.

There are a few different member benefits available to Professional Level Creative Makers, such as the ability to apply to sell wholesale to the PA Wilds Conservation Shop, being listed in the PA Wilds Buyer’s Guide, and the ability to apply to license the PA Wilds logo for merchandise use.

Yes! New members are automatically enrolled for the next jury review, but existing members who are trying to improve their jury score in order to be deemed a Professional Level Creative Maker are able to register for another jury session. Opportunities to register are promoted in the weekly member eblasts, or you may contact administrative support here for more information.

Creative Makers looking for the best possible outcome during the jury review should be thorough in answering design source and ingredient sourcing within their membership application and ensure their member profile is complete and include a link to a website or curated gallery of products. The jury panel reviews member applications, websites and social media links to determine jury scores.

PA Wilds Conservation Shops add to the visitor experience.

• The physical PA Wilds Conservation Shops are based in the Pennsylvania Wilds region.
• These shops provide a consistent experience for travelers.
• These shops allow visitors and others to purchase products made in the PA Wilds as well as PA Wilds branded products.

PA Wilds Conservation Shops support local artisans and producers, and more!

• The PA Wilds Center purchases inventory for the shops from members of the Wilds Cooperative of Pennsylvania, instantly benefiting these small regional businesses.
• Proceeds from the gift shops go back into the Center’s mission, which includes developing the PA Wilds as a destination and lifestyle brand to benefit rural communities and businesses.

PA Wilds Conservation Shops support our public lands, including state parks and forests.

• We call our frontline staff at the Conservation Shops “Community Connectors” and they help state park staff by providing customer service that helps orient visitors to the region.
• Through the Charity Checkout for Conservation program that was launched at the Shop in 2019, PA Wilds Center has raised more than $40,000 for state parks and forests in the PA Wilds. Shoppers donate to support our region’s public lands; proceeds are donated to the PA Parks and Forests Foundation, which earmarks the funds for the PA Wilds.
• Shoppers can donate to support our region’s public lands via the Charity Checkout program. Proceeds are donated to the PA Parks and Forests Foundation, which earmarks the funds for the PA Wilds.

We think it matters where the stuff you buy comes from. That’s why we’ve put a lot of thought into how we source products at our PA Wilds Conservation Shops. One of our main product lines is The Wilds Cooperative of Pennsylvania, a network of hundreds of local producers, artists and craftspeople from across the Pennsylvania Wilds region. These are people who live and work in rural PA, love what they do, and have proven through a jurying process that they are good at doing it. These pieces carry The Wilds Cooperative of PA hangtags as a signal to customers that they are taking home hand-made products.

We also carry various soft goods at our physical and online stores. These include PA Wilds-branded and state park-branded t-shirts, totes, hats and other apparel. These are sourced using industry and conservation resources such as One Green Planet’s Guide to Buying Sustainable, Fair-Trade and Cruelty-Free Clothing. Once we find a responsible company with competitive prices where we can source the soft goods, we work with local companies in the Pennsylvania Wilds to place the order for blanks and then these local companies are hired to give the products their value-added component, be that creating a design for a new line of t-shirts, stitching embroidered patches on fleece jackets, screen printing or some other service.

It’s not a perfect system, but it is one that we’ve put thought into, that we feel lives up to our Brand Principles, that is making a difference to small-scale producers and business owners in rural PA and that we feel the consumer, in return, can feel good about.

Larger fine art prints are not usually sold at PA Wilds Conservation Shop locations due to space, audience and liability. The space at the shops does not allow for large pieces. This is also not the venue for selling large one-of-a-kind pieces. This is not a sales gallery or artisan center, although we have many great venues of this type throughout the Pennsylvania Wilds, which can be found in the PA Wilds Buyer’s Guide here. Instead, the PA Wilds Conservation Shop is a gift shop where a customer wants to take home a memento that is a reflection of their visit to the park and their trip in the Pennsylvania Wilds. That said, Creative Makers in the Wilds Cooperative are able to set up an online storefront on our e-commerce site, ShopThePAWilds.com, to list and sell products directly to customers.

No, all inventory is purchase at wholesale prices on Net 30 terms.

Professional Level Creative Makers are encouraged to apply to sell wholesale with PA Wilds Conservation Shops at www.WildsCoPA.org/gift-shops. 

Our products are purchased at wholesale cost from members of The Wilds Cooperative of Pennsylvania. Read more about our sourcing method here.

Eligible producers can submit information via the online application to be considered as a vendor in the gift shop. 

Vendor Eligibility – Producers must sell their product line at wholesale pricing, offer Net 30 terms for payment of product and professional level Creative Maker members of The Wilds Cooperative.

Prospective vendors who meet basic eligibility must apply at www.WildsCoPA.org/gift-shops. PA Wilds Center staff will invite selected vendors (via email) to submit a buyer’s pack for further consideration Once buyer’s packs have been reviewed, selected producers will be contacted and a buying meeting will be scheduled to place an initial order. You can read more about the process, eligibility, and submit your information at www.WildsCoPA.org/Gift-Shops.

Eligibility as a vendor in The PA Wilds Conservation Shops is just one benefit of being a member of The Wilds Cooperative. Learn more about becoming a member at www.WildsCoPA.org/join.

 Possibly. No one likes a vague answer, but we don’t want to make promises we can’t keep. Purchasing for The Conservation Shops is a marathon, not a sprint, so we will be constantly looking back through submission requests and also putting out our own calls for requested products. We can’t guarantee that all product submissions will be a fit. But we can promise to revisit submissions in a regular way, and we believe demand for new product lines will continue to grow as we expand the PA Wilds Conservation Shop program in coming years. Artisans/producers should not take a non-purchase as an indication that their work is not good enough; if you’re a professional-level artisan in The Wilds Cooperative, your product has already passed that test. Sometimes it just comes down to timing and budget.

Currently, we select products as needed. However, we typically place seasonal orders forecasted on anticipated visitor numbers. Interested producers are encouraged to fill out the application form at www.WildsCoPA.org/gift-shops, and as we get in the position to order more products, we will be in contact on an individual basis.

PA Wilds Conservation Shops are typically located at specific locations based on filling critical gaps in services.

• Made possible by partnerships between PA Wilds Center for Entrepreneurship and the property/land manager or community representatives. 
• Support public lands personnel.
• Make referrals to local Destination Marketing Organizations and to other community establishments and attractions.

PA Wilds Conservation Shops source 90% of inventory from artisans in the Wilds Cooperative of Pennsylvania / based in the Pennsylvania Wilds. This creates a brand new market opportunity for micro businesses and cottage industry professionals who may not be able to afford the cost of a traditional storefront.

• The PA Wilds Conservation Shop purchases products wholesale – according to Keystone Pricing, allowing the artisans to be paid right away, instead of sitting on merchandise as it sells as happens with consignment. 
• Artisans are able to focus on doing what they love – making beautiful products inspired by the region – and do not have to worry about marketing their products as the PA Wilds Conservation Shop handles the retail sale and inventory. All artisans based in the Pennsylvania Wilds are encouraged to join the program – which has no annual dues, but assesses a one time $20 jury fee upon application.
• PA Wilds Conservation Shop staff works with artisans to create new product lines based on popular requests by shoppers. This meets traveler demand while creating new business opportunities for sellers at the shops.

All charm-not-chain / Main Street type businesses that are based in the Pennsylvania Wilds region are invited to apply to join the Wilds Cooperative of Pennsylvania. The same nonprofit that manages the PA Wilds Conservation Shop manages this network, and it is the entry point to having your business promoted as part of the PA Wilds experience.

• Community-based establishments and organizations that are public-facing are promoted on pawilds.com and social media.
• Artisans have opportunities to sell wholesale at PA Wilds Conservation Shop physical stores or online retail with us at ShopThePAWilds.com.
• Organizations that serve businesses and provide stewardship services are also invited to join the network.

Yes! We do have an e-commerce site which can be found on the PA Wilds Marketplace at www.ShopThePAWilds.com, alongside other storefronts featuring products made by artists based in the Pennsylvania Wilds.

The PA Wilds Marketplace at ShopThePAWilds.com is an online maker marketplace that allows artists to sell at retail prices online, alongside the PA Wilds Conservation Shop. 

Each seller, including the Conservation Shop, is responsible for listing products, setting their own prices and policies for shipping, etc.

Marketplace Sellers are able to leverage the power of the Pennsylvania Wilds brand and marketing efforts when selling on the platform.

The PA Wilds Marketplace is an online marketplace with multiple stores selling on it. There is no physical shop. Instead of the PA Wilds Conservation Shop purchasing products from the artists, each artist creates a seller storefront to sell handmade retail products directly to their customers, allowing the artisan to take home a larger cut of sales.

Marketplace Sellers are able to leverage the power of the Pennsylvania Wilds brand and marketing efforts when selling on the platform. The Marketplace website has been approved for Google AdWords for Nonprofits along with PAWilds.com – allows us to take advantage of up to $10,000 per month in in-kind keyword advertising from Google.

Creative Makers in the Wilds Cooperative of Pennsylvania can set up a seller storefront on ShopThePAWilds.com at no cost! 

Marketplace Sellers are in control of their own brand and as such are responsible for setting up their own virtual storefront on the platform, adding and tracking their own inventory, establishing policies and shipping orders when they’re placed.

There is a 15% referral fee on orders that helps sustain the platform.

A Buyer’s Pack is a way to present your product, business and terms as a wholesale line to potential buyers. For our purposes we ask that your buyer’s pack be created in a digital format and include the following:

• A cover letter. Introducing your work and why you think it’s a great fit for sale in the PA Wilds Conservation Shop; include your contact information. 
• A wholesale price list or line sheet.
• Terms and conditions. Do you have minimum orders or quantities? Where are your price breaks? How will you deliver your product to us? What are your cancellation, damages and returns policies? 
• A catalog or look book which contains images of your work that can be produced and sold in quantities of 20 or more. If you have not produced the items yet you can include sketches or comparable design images. 

We have compiled resources to help with creating a buyer’s pack. For more information, check out these resources:

• Retail Minded: What’s in a Buyer’s Pack
• Selling to shops: What is a buyer’s pack

A line sheet should list all your product lines and the cost for each at wholesale and retail.

Here are some examples and resources related to creating a line sheet. 

• • Indie Made’s suggestion
  • An overview by Oh My handmade
  • Creative Hive shows you through a step by step tutorial on how to make a line sheet in Microsoft Word
  • Suggestions from Handshake.com

Here are some resources to help you evaluate the pricing on your own handmade products:

• Getting pricing right – an article published by The Design Trust about the cost of incorrect pricing
• Craftsy article about pricing
• Etsy’s formula for pricing
• The Creative Hive’s guide to pricing items (includes a pricing calculator)
• Indie Retail Academy Starter Kit (a free pdf that covers the basics of gearing up your business for wholesale)

Using the PA Wilds logo on your products or marketing materials provides an opportunity to leverage the authenticity of the PA Wilds brand to achieve wider recognition and to set yourself apart from others. 

• The Pennsylvania Wilds is a world-class destination for outdoor recreation experiences – $1.85B is spent in the region annually by travelers. 
• The Pennsylvania Wilds brand provides members access to regional and national markets.
• Visitors to the PA Wilds have spent more than $1.5 million on PA Wilds commerce platforms since launching in August 2016. Our shops are exceeding standard sales-per-square-foot sales, showing the demand for PA Wilds branded products.

Businesses, organizations and individuals in the Wilds Cooperative of PA serve the Pennsylvania Wilds region and may apply to use the iconic PA Wilds logo on saleable or non-saleable items. 

Marketing use allows the logo to be placed on websites, banners, rack cards, signage and other marketing materials not sold in the marketplace. There is no cost for this type of use but a one-page application is required. 

Learn more: WildsCoPA.org/use-the-pa-wilds-logo/

Professional Level Creative Maker members of the Wilds Cooperative of PA can apply to use the PA Wilds logo on saleable items. All participants must adhere to the standards defined in the PA Wilds Brand Book.

Merchandising uses include using the logo on t-shirts, hats and other merchandise to be sold to customers. These types of uses require a contract and membership in The Wilds Cooperative of Pennsylvania. A standard royalty is collected: 4.5 percent retail or 9 percent wholesale. Royalties stay in the region to support the PA Wilds effort.

Becoming a licensee is a great way for businesses to build a new product line and expand other market opportunities. 

Learn more: WildsCoPA.org/use-the-pa-wilds-logo/