Oregon crafters will now have the opportunity to create and sell licensed Oregon State University products to their customers, thanks to a new program called OSU Community Connect. Up until now, the cost of obtaining a license, as well as procuring insurance and other requirements, was prohibitive to at-home crafters.
Andrew Engel, director of trademarks and licensing for University Relations and Marketing, said the new program would lower or eliminate many of the barriers that prevent crafters from becoming officially licensed. Now Oregon-based craftspeople can apply for a $200 annual license, which will give them access to three official OSU logos, as well as a certificate of authenticity they can display at their booths or wherever they sell their products.
“We know there are local craftspeople who want to show their pride in Oregon State University, and this new program gives them the opportunity to make and sell those products legally and have access to official OSU logos,” Engel said. “This is a great way to connect with artisans and makers in the community and open up a whole new world of OSU products.”
Crafters must limit their sales of OSU-themed goods to $2,500 per year and 500 items or fewer. Those who go over the limit will have additional fees. The crafters must be independent and not have other employees. The program is open to individuals producing domestic handcrafted, non-apparel items featuring collegiate marks at home and selling/distributing to individual consumers via events or direct sales. This includes craft fairs, craft shows, festivals, markets, social media, person to person and Etsy. To receive a license, the crafter will have to create a sample product for approval.
OSU will work with CLC, a collegiate licensing agency, to handle the paperwork and monitor new products. Engel said many other universities offer similar crafter programs, and he’s seen everything from handmade signs to garden ornaments. Now that the program is launched, he’s hoping to attend Oregon craft fairs and begin to do outreach to alert makers to the new opportunity.
“I’m excited to see what people create,” Engel said.
To learn more about OSU Community Connect, click on the website or contact Engel at [email protected].
