Annual Report

2025

The Future is Handmade

Full 2025 Annual Report

Our Mission

  • The Future is Handmade: Craft is a work of translation and distribution, creating human orientated opportunities within the fragile Anthropocene.

  • Our Mission: To improve social welfare through craft by building a sustainable, transparent, and fair ecosystem for makers.

  • Community Power: Founded in 2022, we have grown from a small private studio to a public organization with ~100 monthly members and 4 full-time staff.

  • Nonprofit Ethic: As a nonprofit, all revenue is reinvested into lowering prices for the public or improving service quality. We are primarily self-funded to retain our organisation’s autonomy.

Financial Transparency

  • Revenue Growth: Revenue grew by 94% in 2025, reaching RM336,086.62.

  • Where the Money Goes: Primary expenses include salaries (31.6%), rent (28.6%), and materials/equipment (20.9%).

  • Fair Pay: We prioritize generating livelihoods, with average monthly salaries ranging from RM3,300 for craftworkers to RM4,000 for program officers.

  • Liabilities: We are looking to pay down unpaid salary debts of roughly RM150,000 to co-founders Chern and Jamie.

2025 Highlights

  • Retail Growth: We established partnerships with 7 new stores, including selling over RM15,000 in stools at Unplug in Bangsar.

  • Member Community: Onboarded 258 new members and averaged 95 members per month throughout the year.

  • 4 Major Programs: Apprenticeship, Youth Outreach, Pottery Trip, and Ruang Awam

  • Education & Events: Hosted 27 events for over 550 participants, including 18 free workshops such as "Handbuilding Ceramic Christmas Trees".

  • Apprenticeship Success: Our first woodworking apprentice, Dev, completed his one-year training and joined the team permanently.

2026+ Goals

  • Scaling Craft Sales: Moving from membership-driven revenue toward scalable craft product sales and ethical wholesaling.

  • New Programs: Launching a large-scale Pottery Apprenticeship for 10 potters, "Means to Repair" days, and Fellowship Programs.

  • Anti-Consumerist Initiatives: Introducing a "Buy Back" program for our products to encourage refurbishment and secondary market access.

  • Permanent Home: Our goal is to purchase a property to secure the studio's long-term future.

Program Report

Friends Craft Coop is a Chthulu, a organisation with many arms. As a Balai Seni Rakyat, we provide material, social, and legal infrastructures for individuals to path through Craft.

1. Core Programs & Services

  • Recreational Membership: The Coop onboarded 258 new members in 2025, maintaining an average of approximately 90–95 members monthly.

    Space Expansion: The pottery zone was increased by roughly 50% through the addition of a "green room" and glaze extension.

    Events & Workshops: A total of 27 events were held for over 550 participants. This included 18 free teaching workshops and 6 paid classes led by external professionals like Two Potters and Clay Loo.

    Woodworking Transition: Due to high risks and costs, recreational access to the wood space was closed and consolidated for long-term members.

2. Social Impact & Accessibility

  • Sliding Scale Pricing: 13% of members utilize subsidized B40 memberships, while 8% contribute as T20 members. The Coop maintains a policy of never turning down true B40 applicants.

    Inclusion: Operations and language were tailored in 2025 to be more accessible across diverse racial and socioeconomic backgrounds.

3. Vocational Training & Professional Support

  • Apprenticeships: The first woodworking apprentice, Dev, completed a one-year program and was hired as a permanent staff member in March 2025.

    Youth Outreach: A five-week woodworking program was conducted for undocumented and at-risk youth from Arus Academy, supported by a RM3,000 Change Microgrant.

    Friends Craft Fair (Ruang Awam): This low-risk marketplace caps booth fees at 20% (up to RM150) to absorb risk for makers. It was redesigned in 2025 with an "IKEA-style" layout to ensure equitable foot traffic for all booths.

4. Knowledge Sharing & Ecosystem Building

  • Industry Connections: The Coop actively connects artists to suppliers and networks, collaborating with studios such as Tao Yi Studio, Minyue Pottery, and Vitamin C Crafts.

    Educational Trips: A three-day trip to Minyue Pottery Studio was organized in December 2025, with 100% of revenue going directly to the master potters to support the Mingei craft philosophy.