Frostburg Co:Lab is not just a shared retail storefront.
We’re an Upcycle Design Studio and Natural Wellness Hub.
We’re founded on one basic principle:
Creative expression regenerates community.
OUR VISION:
A future where community, creativity, and regenerative design nurture rural economic development.
OUR MISSION:
To build a collaborative hub for farmers, artists, and makers to develop and sell sustainable value-added products.
OUR PURPOSE:
Lowering the barriers to sustaining small creative businesses in rural communities.
Is the Frostburg Co:Lab A Good Fit for you?
1. What sort of brands or products is Frostburg Co:Lab looking for?
The Co:Lab seeks nature-loving, maximalism celebrating, creatively sourced treasures and trinkets. We rotate storefront product often, following seasonal themes and hosting bi-monthly rotations of:
- Fine Art
- Jewelry
- Candles
- Sculpture/Interactive Art
- Vintage Clothing and Decor
- Herbal Wellness Products
- Value-Added Farm and Cottage Products
We ask that artists commit to using upcycled materials, and to sourcing inputs locally. We recognize this is an idealist goal, and invite applicants to reach out for inspiration.
Reach out to Learn More:
2. How does Frostburg Co:Lab help businesses develop product ideas?
The Frostburg Co:Lab envisions future where upcycled materials are readily available for artists and makers of all kinds. From bamboo trimmings to quilting scraps, foraged dyes to recycled plastics, there is no shortage of inputs destined for landfills that could otherwise be transformed into viable, value-added products.
At the Frostburg Co:Lab, we will help identify, develop, and secure wholesale accounts for value-added goods rooted in Mountain Maryland and our surrounding region.
3. How does Frostburg Co:Lab help lower barriers for small businesses?
The cost of running a business in the State of Maryland is restrictive for many creative entrepreneurs. From website overhead to inventory management and marketing, the artist or farmer is tasked with roles that are too often burdensome and costly.
That’s where Frostburg Co:Lab comes in – adding in an online storefront and showroom for goods that would otherwise be limited to product tables at craft fairs or Etsy searches. Collectively, local goods can go further, and our shared retail space lowers the barrier to entry for Online Retail.
4. How does Frostburg Co:Lab help creative small business Collaborate?
Collaborative partnerships have an interesting effect on local economies. When local businesses commit to working with local artists, financial value is generated, rather than extracted, from a community’s ecosystem.
In our current regional marketplace, there’s a disconnect between creative reuse material streams (from plastics and metals. and agriculture), and the makers, artisans, and upcycle designers that would make use of them.
Frostburg Co:Lab helps restore that disconnection by connecting artists with a more localized supply chain and Collaborative Marketplace. While such a system requires forethought and planning, the end result is one that invests in the long-term health and vitality of the whole community.
5. What’s the Purpose of a Collaborative Marketplace?
A collaborative marketplace is a simple concept that can help small business owners reach their ideal customers faster. From shared marketing strategies, product development, and tool-sharing, a collaborative marketplace is curious, seeing competition as an invitation, not a threat.
Not every business is suited for a Collaborative Marketplace. We are seeking brands and artisans that demonstrate a shared commitment to sustainable sourcing, creative community building, and skills-sharing. Please reach out with questions to hello@frostburgcolab.com!
6. What’s the Long Term Goal for Frostburg Co:Lab?
The Co:Lab concept looks different in every community. Here in Frostburg we’re using the model to help pave the way for a creative reuse center. We aim to steward creative brands rooted in Mountain Maryland, supporting artisans in product development, market research, and wholesale distribution. We envision a Creative Reuse Center that helps to redirect AND reinvent consumer and agricultural waste into tangible goods.
7. How Can I Get Involved in Frostburg Co:Lab?
First and foremost: Come and Shop! You’ll get a better sense of what might sell well, and what unique things you might bring to the Co:Lab. We do not accept drop-offs or consignments on-site, but we’ll be happy to meet you and chat!
Keep an eye on our Social Media and this website for our application form (launching in Spring 2026). And sign up for the Newsletter to stay informed on our quarterly themes, resource requests, and meet-up events.
SIGN UP FOR NEWSLETTER HERE:
8. What If I’m not Selected to Sell at Frostburg Co:Lab?
We are grateful for your inquiries and curiosity – it’s wonderful to know that this concept is exciting for you! But as a tiny shop just getting started we are VERY limited on retail space. Even if your products ARE a great fit for our space, we might not be able to fit them on our shelves. If your products don’t jive with the Frostburg Co:Lab, we’re happy to help offer feedback, ideas, and insights on product development and marketing.
9. What kinds of inputs are creative reuse artists and makers looking for?
Even if you’re not a maker, you can still help “forage” inputs for makers from your own neighborhood’s waste streams, and you can even earn Co:Lab points that convert into BurgBucks.
Our resource request list changes CONSTANTLY. Some things our makers are currently seeking include:
- Bamboo and basketmaking fibers
- Foraged lichens, mushrooms, and herbs for eco-printing and dyeing
- Slate, marble, and river rock
- Spray-free wildflower seed
- Altoid or mint tins (mini and regular)
REMEMBER: We do not accept drop-offs at the Co:Lab during regular business hours, please visit or contact us to learn more.