Build a craft, and a team, at Sudbury venue: DIY Craftery and Lounge brings creativity to the business world.

• Author: McKinley, Karen
• Position: NEWS

One business in Sudbury is offering a different take on teambuilding, by getting people to actually build something they can take home.

DIY Craftery and Lounge offers group and corporate activities, inviting people to try their hand at making a craft unique to them, while at the same time participating in a team effort to build stronger relationships with coworkers.

"Literally, every career stripe has come to the craftery looking to book an event," said owner Kelsey Cutinello.

"I will note mostly women have come here, but we do find crafts men can do as well."

The space can also be booked for non-craft events like meetings and forums.

Or, if participants would rather bring the crafting to them, Cutinello can arrange in-office crafting parties instead, a concept she said is proving to be a hit.

The idea to open a crafting facility and make it accessible to all came to Cutinello a few years ago when she realized there were a lot of craft enthusiasts in the area who were looking for a permanent place to work on their creations in a supportive environment.

"They have this community mindset and, in this city, there are a lot of people looking for something to do besides go drinking or hang around a bar," she said.

"They need some kind of activity to keep them busy. It's in a controlled environment but everyone's project ends up being totally different."

That community mindset is what makes it a perfect fit for teambuilding, she said.

In 2017, Cutinello entered her idea into a contest sponsored by the Downtown Sudbury Business Improvement Area to land a year's lease at a storefront space.

She didn't win--although she was named a top-five finalist but she continued with the idea anyway, betting on finding an audience among families and adults alike.

Located on Elm Street in the city's downtown, the craftery encompasses a wide-open space, with community tables for people to sit together with their craft supplies, and large windows for natural light and a view of the street as they work.

The facility supplies a wide array of project supplies and tools, many of which are donated by businesses or members of the community.

Staff members pre-assemble items like shelves and...