Editor's Note: Let’s explore ways to make 2026 your best year ever!

Hello Montana Makers,

When we launched the Montana Gateway, our mission was clear: to Unlock Your Digital Success. In a state where our "physical" market is defined by vast distances and seasonal peaks, the digital world is the great equalizer. It’s the bridge that allows a baker in Billings or a leather worker in Missoula to reach a customer in New York as easily as someone in Great Falls.

However, we know that the "Digital" side of your business can often feel like a second full-time job—one that doesn't involve the craft you actually love. Algorithms change, e-commerce tools get more complex, and 2026 is already promising new shifts in how customers find and buy artisan goods.

We want to do better for you.

To be honest, we’ve realized we haven’t been hitting the mark as effectively as we want to. To fix that, we’re looking ahead to 2026 with a blank slate. We want to know exactly what hurdles are keeping you from scaling so we can provide the blueprints, tech stacks, and "Montana-specific" shipping hacks you actually need.

Will you give us 3 minutes to help us build a better Gateway?

Take the 2026 Maker Success Survey

A Gift for Your Time: The "Digital Peak" Strategy Session

We value your time and your expertise. As a thank you for completing the survey, everyone who submits their feedback will be eligible for:

✨ The Montana Gateway Review ✨

This is a free, video or phone session (totally "no-sales," no pressure). We’ll hop on a call, look at your current digital storefront or social presence together, and we'll explore your goals, ideas for "quick wins" you can implement immediately to improve your visibility heading into 2026.

Once you hit "Submit" on the survey, you'll see a link to grab a spot on my calendar.

Let’s make 2026 the year Montana’s maker economy truly goes global.

Stay creative,

Kord Davis
Co-Founder, Montana Gateway

Did You Know? 

The most dangerous place for a business owner to be is "too close to the canvas." Psychologists call this The Curse of Knowledge: once we know our own business inside and out, we literally lose the ability to see it through the eyes of a first-time customer.

According to data from the Small Business Administration (SBA) and the UPS Store, this "blind spot" is a primary reason why many talented makers plateau. However, the impact of a second set of eyes is staggering: small businesses that receive regular expert feedback or mentoring survive at double the rate of those that go it alone.

Furthermore, mentored businesses report 20% faster growth in annual revenue compared to those without an outside perspective.

For a Montana maker, an expert review isn't just about "fixing" a website; it’s about clearing the fog. An outside perspective can spot the one "conversion killer" or the one "hidden gem" in your story that you’ve become too familiar to see.

More Details & Sources:

• SBA.gov: Research shows 70% of mentored small businesses survive more than 5 years—double the rate of non-mentored peers.

• The "Fresh Eyes" Effect: Organizational studies confirm that outside perspectives help entrepreneurs defeat "inertia" and identify high-impact solutions that insiders often miss.

• 2025 Small Business Growth Report: 46% of makers remain unsure if their current marketing is actually working; expert audits are cited as the #1 way to regain confidence and ROI.

Till next time,

Montana Gateway