Why I Started Craft+Work

A version of this article was originally published on Linkedin, where you can read the comments and join the conversation.

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I do love a conference! The atmosphere, the hallway chats, and the chance to catch up with friends and peers. I'll never stop going to them. But a few years ago, I felt something was missing — a space for slower, more honest and more human conversations. Something smaller. Less polished. More personal. That's why I started Craft+Work!

We don't do things differently just to be different. We do things differently to create a different experience.

Let's not call it a manifesto, but rather, here are five tenets we live by:

1. Exceedingly Niche — We're not for everyone, and that's OK. But if you're a soloist, founder, or leader working in the Shopify Partner ecosystem, we're 100% for you.
2. Purposefully Small — We keep our events small and intimate as we believe that beyond a certain number, having open and inclusive conversations becomes almost impossible. For us, that number is 50.
3. Focused on Conversations — Our events are based around open and honest dialogue that will enable us all to learn, be challenged, and get better at what we do. We ask that you come willing to contribute.
4. Every Voice is Equal — We're a room of equals, and every idea, story or insight will be heard. Whether you're new to your role or a seasoned pro, your contribution is as valid as anyone else's.
5. Intentionally Analogue — We don't go in for beautifully designed presentations (we have a no slides policy), free wi-fi or fancy lighting. We encourage you to digitally switch off for the day and take notes the old-fashioned way with a nice pen and a great notebook.

Craft+Work isn't a replacement for big events. It's a counterbalance. A different kind of space. One where you're not watching from the audience — you're part of the conversation.

If that sounds like your thing and you fit the bill, why not join us?

• London — 25th September 2025
• Toronto — 21st October 2025

Finally, at last year's London event, Piers Thorogood (that's him up there) spoke about how his agency's culture shifted as it scaled — what changed, what he might do differently next time, and how it felt along the way. The kind of honest, reflective story that Craft+Work was made for!

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A big thank you to our 2025 Patrons who help make our events possible.

• Mantle — Spend less time managing your Shopify app business and more time growing it.
• Cleverific — Cleverific lets customers easily change their orders without contacting support and extends upsell opportunities through the entire post-purchase experience.
• Sufio — A reliable invoicing solution that scales with you. Trusted by over 6,000 leading Shopify merchants.
• The Support Heroes — Discover the power of 24/7 customer support tailored exclusively for Shopify app developers.
• Zapiet — We develop the most advanced store pickup, delivery and shipping tools for Shopify.

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Also Filed in Craft+Work

• Craft+Work 2025
• Craft+Work On The Road
• Tidio's Olek Potrykus
• Craft+Work London Retrospective
• Gadget's Mohammad Hashemi