If you haven’t heard of a “Maker Space” you’ve been living under a rock for the past few years. “Maker” is one of the trendy buzzwords to enter the vernacular of late, and maker spaces are popping up in schools, universities and communities around the country. But what does it mean to be a maker? And how do makers make money? Stephanie’s guests on this edition of Out to Lunch have some answers.

Paul Claxton is the owner of Southern Collaborative, a bushiness coaching and consulting firm in Baton Rouge. He’s also one of the co-founders of the Mid City Makers Market, a pop up market for creative entrepreneurs – painters, sculptors, builders, you know, makers! They gather monthly to showcase their creations at a space on Eugene Street in Mid City in Baton Rouge. Their first event was in December 2016 and in the months since they’ve grown bigger, attracting more makers and more customers folks who want more than a mall or Amazon shopping experience. Paul Claxton knows how to deliver that alternative: he spent many years managing WalMart stores and was in management at Cabela’s before getting out of corporate to go indie. 

Joshua Wascome is the owner of Wascome Woodworks and the co-owner with his girlfriend, Elise Patterson, of a side venture, Elosh Cards. Through both businesses, Josh creates wood products for the home, accessories, gits and even wooden greeting and gift cards. Josh is among the makers who showcase and sell their creative wares at the Mid City Markers Market. He’s a Baton Rouge native, who graduated from Woodlawn High School and LSU before deciding he wanted to be a professional maker. 

Photos at Mansurs On The Boulevard by Ken Stewart.