Weaver’s Guild of Minnesota

What Weaver’s Guild of Minnesota does

The Weavers Guild of Minnesota (WGM) is a member-supported nonprofit educational organization founded in 1940 and headquartered on the third floor of the Open Book building in Minneapolis. Its mission is to preserve and advance the arts of weaving, spinning, and dyeing. The guild operates a dedicated physical space outfitted with floor looms, spinning wheels, and hand tools, and runs a combination of in-person classes at its Minneapolis facility and online workshops accessible globally. Membership is open to anyone, with annual dues of $60 (regular) or $30 for members aged 30 and under, granting access to equipment, the guild library and swatch archive, eleven volunteer-led interest groups, member discounts on classes, and a member-elected Board of Directors that governs the organization.

WGM supplements membership dues with revenue from class and workshop fees, retail sales through its Fiber Source shop (specialty equipment, books, yarn, and fiber supplies with 10-15% member discounts), annual fundraising campaigns, and resale of donated goods. Distribution is anchored by the physical shop and classroom in Minneapolis, the Minnesota State Fair booth (70+ consecutive years of demonstrations), and a growing online class channel. The guild maintains strategic partnerships with the Textile Center (co-located at Open Book), the American Swedish Institute, the Hmong Museum, RedGreen Rivers, the Minnesota Digital Library, and other regional cultural institutions, supporting visiting artist programs, exhibitions, and archival digitization. There is no technology platform, SaaS product, API, or AI component; the organization's 'technology' is exclusively traditional fiber arts equipment and a WordPress-based website plus monthly newsletter.

The organization is small (1-10 employees per firmographics, effectively staff-supported with member-volunteer governance), operates on a fiscal year ending August 31, and conducts annual board rotations. Recent operational moves include a 2022-2023 relocation to expanded Open Book space under a 5-year lease, a January 2024 membership dues increase, and the formation of a permanent Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee in August 2020.

Name

Weaver’s Guild of Minnesota

Legal name

Weavers Guild of Minnesota

Website

https://weaversguildmn.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1940

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Weavers Guild of Minnesota is a member-supported nonprofit founded in 1940 that teaches weaving, spinning, and dyeing through in-person and online classes, equipment access, and a retail fiber arts shop, serving hobbyist fiber artists primarily in the Minneapolis region.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Fiber Arts Education and Community

akta.pro primary industry

Textile & Fiber Arts Classes (Weaving, Knitting, Embroidery, Dyeing) (THAJAKAB)

Keywords

• Fiber arts education
• Weaving classes
• Spinning workshops
• Textile arts community
• Guild membership

Headquarters

HQ city

Minneapolis

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership fees provide access to classes, equipment use, library privileges, interest groups, and member discounts. Discount offered for members aged 30 and under.
2. Class and Workshop Fees: Revenue from in-person and online classes and workshops teaching weaving, spinning, and dyeing techniques.
3. Shop Sales (Fiber Source): Guild shop sells specialty equipment, books, yarn, and fiber supplies. Members receive 10-15% discounts on purchases.
4. Donations and Fundraising: Annual fall fundraising campaigns and donor support. 2021 fall fundraising raised $25,000 from 120+ supporters.
5. Donated Goods Resale: Proceeds from sale of donated yarn, fiber, books, equipment support guild programming.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Weavers Guild of Minnesota is a nonprofit educational organization that teaches weaving, spinning, and dyeing through in-person and online classes. It operates a member-supported workspace with looms and spinning wheels, runs a retail shop (Fiber Source) selling fiber arts supplies, and maintains a textile library and member-organized interest groups.

Product overview

Weaver's Guild of Minnesota is a non-profit educational organization (not a technology company) that provides instruction and resources for weaving, spinning, and dyeing arts. The guild operates as a single unified offering centered on in-person and online classes, a retail shop (Fiber Source) selling fiber supplies and equipment, a library and digital archive, and member-organized interest groups. There is no SaaS product, platform architecture, or technology product with integrations, APIs, or AI capabilities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• In-Person and Online Classes and Workshops Classes and workshops teaching weaving, spinning, and dyeing techniques at various skill levels, delivered in-person at the guild's Minneapolis facility and online.
• Fiber Source Shop Guild-operated retail shop selling specialty equipment, books, yarn, and other fiber supplies for weaving and spinning. Open Wed-Fri 10am-5pm, Sat 10am-5pm, with ADA accessibility.
• Space and Equipment Use (Open Studio) Member benefit providing access to a dedicated workspace equipped with looms, spinning wheels, and other textile tools for guild members, including open studio access.
• Member Interest and Study Groups Member-organized groups focusing on specific weaving topics, including Banditos (card/band weaving), Rag Rug Study Group, Scandinavian Weavers, SAORI, New & Occasional Weavers (NOW), and Community Read Book Club.
• Guild Archives and Library Textile library and digitized collection of guild history including newsletters, meeting minutes, photographs, and historical documents, accessible through the Minnesota Digital Library and on-site.
• Reverse Drafting Club Annual Subscription Annual subscription at $38/year that includes quarterly swatch packets, solutions, Zoom meet-up access, and an optional contact directory of more than 400 members.
• Visiting Artist Program Program hosting master craftspeople as visiting artists at the guild; example includes a May 2025 collaboration with RedGreen Rivers and the Hmong Museum featuring Ms. Li Sawangcharoensap (Li Yang) for traditional Hmong hemp weaving instruction.
• Annual Guild Membership Annual membership ($60 regular, $30 for age 30 and under) providing access to classes, equipment use, library privileges, interest groups, and member discounts on shop purchases (10-15%) and class registration (10%).

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• RedGreen RiverscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 May 2025RedGreen Rivers works with artisan makers from the Mekong Region in Southeast Asia. Partnered with WGM to co-host the visiting artist program featuring Ms. Li Sawangcharoensap (Li Yang), master hemp cultivator and weaver from Thailand. The partnership celebrates Hmong women as cultural bearers and tradition keepers.
• Hmong MuseumcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 May 2025First museum dedicated to preservation and education of Hmong culture, history, experiences, and arts. Partnered with WGM and RedGreen Rivers to co-host the visiting artist program celebrating Hmong hemp weaving traditions.
• Minnesota Digital LibrarycoreTechnology or IntegrationConsortium of Minnesota cultural heritage organizations. Digitized WGM newsletters from 2000 to June 2022, scrapbooks from Hilma Berglund including documents related to Guild formation, early meeting minutes, and historical photographs. Digitization done in conjunction with University of Minnesota and Minnesota History Center.
• Textile CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-presents events and programs including artist talks and workshops. WGM shares building space with Textile Center at Open Book. Co-presented Susie Taylor talk at Textile Center Auditorium. 25th birthday celebration involvement.
• American Swedish Institute (ASI)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for 'Weaving With History - Scandinavian Weaves' classes with looms still in use. Collaboration on Scandinavian weaving workshops with instructors from Sätergläntan Institute for Craft and Handwork in Sweden.
• North Suburban Center for the ArtsmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated with WGM's Scandinavian Weavers Study Group to present 'Weaving the North' exhibition highlighting weaving techniques of Minnesota-based fiber artists. Exhibition held at NSCA in Fridley, MN.
• Open BookcoreOthersMulti-tenant arts building housing Minnesota Center for Book Arts, Milkweed Books, and WGM. WGM maintains 5-year lease on third floor space. Building features FRGMT Coffee and gallery spaces.
• Norway HouseminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNorway House hosts WGM member Robbie LaFleur's lecture on Norwegian tapestry artist Frida Hansen. Cultural programming partnership.
• Hopkins Center for the ArtsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHosted 'Under Foot: Rugs from the Weavers Guild of Minnesota' exhibition featuring handwoven rugs by WGM members with artist talk.
• Minnesota Weavers Guild - BanditosminorOthersAffiliated special interest group studying card weaving and related techniques. Meetings held at WGM Open Book space and via Zoom. Designs State Fair ribbons.
• Duluth Fiber GuildminorOthersNorthern Minnesota fiber arts guild that joined WGM at Minnesota State Fair booth to highlight fiber resources across the state.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• WEBS - America's Yarn Store: Large U.S. retailer of yarn, weaving supplies, and fiber arts education. Overlaps with WGM's Fiber Source shop and class offerings, but at much larger commercial scale with nationwide shipping.
• Surface Design Association: International nonprofit focused on surface design on fiber, including dyeing and textile arts. Overlaps with WGM's dyeing classes and fiber-arts mission at a broader, more publication-oriented scale.

Regional players

• Duluth Fiber Guild: Northern Minnesota regional fiber arts guild that has co-demonstrated with WGM at the Minnesota State Fair. Directly comparable as a regional peer guild serving the same craft community.

Direct peers

• American Sewing Guild: Nationwide membership-based guild teaching sewing and textile arts through local chapters. Comparable in nonprofit, membership-fee, chapter-driven structure and educational mission.
• Complex Weavers: International guild for experienced handweavers focused on advanced techniques and study groups. Mirrors WGM's interest-group model and member-organized educational programming.
• Handweavers Guild of America: National membership-based fiber arts guild serving handweavers, spinners, and dyers across the U.S. Closest comparable organization to WGM in mission, structure, and offerings, operating at national scale versus WGM's regional focus.
• Textile Center: Minneapolis-based nonprofit textile arts center. WGM previously shared space with Textile Center before moving to Open Book in 2023; the two organizations co-present programs and serve overlapping fiber-arts audiences.

Emerging players

• Schoolhouse Press: Publisher and retailer specializing in weaving patterns, books, and supplies from multishaft weaving pioneer. Comparable niche focus on weaving technique education and supply retail.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/weaversguildmn
• Instagraminstagram.com/weaversguildmn
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/weavers-guild-of-minnesota

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Weaver’s Guild of Minnesota