Post by Mastercard

There's no crying in boot-making. Custom bootmaker Morgan Buckert learned that lesson early — leather doesn't care about your feelings. In her Hailey, Idaho studio, she turns flat hides into hand-tooled cowboy boots inspired by her Texas childhood, calling the process "a combination of math, creativity and brute force." But mastering a craft isn't the same as mastering a business. That's where the nonprofit Nest comes in — helping artisans like Morgan translate raw talent into pricing strategy, marketing and growth, without losing what makes their work one of a kind. With support from Mastercard Strive USA, Nest's Makers United program is helping thousands of small-scale makers turn their craft into a livelihood. In the U.S. alone, more than 2,300 craft businesses are enrolled — supporting nearly 15,000 jobs and generating over $1.5 million in revenue through new market access. Morgan's advice for anyone thinking about turning passion into profession? “Go slow and don’t be afraid to be honest about how you’re making a living. Having the opportunity to live a creative life is just very special and spectacular.” Read more: https://lnkd.in/gpZ-Ekgq #MastercardNewsroom