Top Ten Questions for Starting a Craft Business

First off, I want to thank everyone who took the time to answer my question:

"What are your top two questions about starting and running a successful craft business?"

I received 164 responses to the survey, and received some tremendous questions about starting, running, and marketing a successful craft business.

I created that short survey to make sure that my new craft business guide answered all of your questions. So, I went back to my guide, and I'm in the process of updating it to reflect the information you wanted.

TOP TEN QUESTIONS ANSWERED

In addition, a couple of you sent me emails asking me to share some of the answers. And I thought,

"Why not?"

So, I've compiled a short PDF report called...

"Top Ten Questions About Starting a Craft Business"

(pretty original title, huh?)

But, there is a catch. You will need to sign up for the pre-launch list to receive the report. I want to make sure the people who receive this free report are those who are truly interested in starting their own craft business.

To sign up for the pre-launch list, please go to:

www.mycraftbusiness.com/prelaunch.htm

This Special Report answers the following 10 questions:

1. How Can I Start a Craft Business with Little or No Money?
2. Can I Start a Craft Business Part-Time If I Have a Full-Time Job?
3. Why Do I Need a Business Plan for My Craft Business?
4. What Are the Legal Requirements for Starting My Craft Business?
5. What Crafts Should I Sell?
6. How Do I Find Suppliers?
7. How Do I Price My Products?
8. What is the Best Way to Promote My Craft Business?
9. How Can I Make the Most of a Craft Show?
10. How Do I Get My Business on the Web?

I'll be sending the Special Report out to everyone who is signed up for the list some time tomorrow. So hurry and get on the pre-launch list as soon as possible.

www.mycraftbusiness.com/prelaunch.htm

Thanks,

Chuck
www.MyCraftBusiness.com
craftybiz@gmail.com

P.S. If you signed up for the pre-launch list after submitting your question, you're already on the list. If you're not sure, you can sign up again!

Technorati Tags: craft business, crafts, sell my crafts, small business, work at home, craft fair, craft show, craft project, craft plan

Adding Retail to a Wholesale Craft Business

I found an interesting story in the Pottstown, PA newspaper, The Mercury. The story is about a couple who have had a wholesale craft business for a while, and have finally fulfilled a dream and opened a retail craft store to highlight their crafts.

From the story, you can see some of the most common issues that new retail businesses face when they open their doors. These include getting the word out about their new business, finding and retaining customers, and establishing their unique selling proposition (i.e. what makes them different than other craft stores).

Take a few minutes to read the story and if you have any suggestions, post them in the Comments for this story. If I get enough, I'll do a blog posting where I include everyone's suggestions and make a few of my own.

Happy Crafting!
Chuck

Technorati Tags: craft business, crafts, sell my crafts, small business, work at home, craft fair, craft show, craft project, craft plan

Free Plans for Unique Projects

I just stumbled across this site that offers free plans for some very unique projects. Here are some of the free plans featured on the site:

• Cloth Envelope
• Curved Photo Stand
• Curvy Stripe
• Disk Wallet
• Eye Pillow
• Magnetic Sculpture
• Monitor Shelf
• Mobile
• Wall Clock
• Bulletin Board

All of these plans are free, and just visiting this site should give you some great ideas for your own crafting business. A gallery of finished projects should spark even more creativity.

Enjoy the site!
Chuck

Technorati Tags: craft business, crafts, sell my crafts, small business, work at home, craft fair, craft show, craft project, craft plan

I'm REALLY Bummed

I'm in San Diego, CA for a seminar, and I'm truly bummed out. There's a huge craft show here in San Diego (the Harvest Festival Arts & Crafts Show), and the local newspaper is running a contest for a $300 shopping spree at the show. But, the show isn't until October 27 - 29, so I'll be long gone.

If you're going to be in the San Diego area during that weekend in October, you should check out the contest and enter for your chance to win. And, the Show will give you a great chance to do a little market research.

Check out the booths to see which ones are most appealing and drive the most visitors. Watch what the vendors are selling, and see the prices that are most popular. You may get some great ideas for the type of crafts you would like to sell, and you'll definitely get a feel for what people are buying. Marketing research gold!

I've got to get moving, but have a great day!

Happy crafting!
Chuck

Technorati Tags: craft business, crafts, sell my crafts, small business, work at home, craft fair, craft show

A Peek Into a Craft Fair

I'm getting ready to take my son to his Pop Warner football game this morning, but I ran across this story in the Yavapai County Daily Courier about a local craft fair. This story gives you some idea around the mindset of attending craft fairs, and some of the costs associated with the better craft shows around.

Take a look and let me know your thoughts by sending me a comment!

Happy Sunday,
Chuck

P.S. Even though I love crafts, I also love football! I'm very excited the football season is starting, and looking forward to seeing my New England Patriots back on the field. Go Pats!

Technorati Tags: craft business, crafts, sell my crafts, small business, work at home, craft fair, craft show

Volunteers Use Crafts To Support Military Families

A recent story on the CBS2 Chicago web site details how two local women are spearheading an effort to support the families of people who are stationed overseas. Called "Operation Comfort," the group makes blankets to show the families of soldiers that people here in the states care. The full story can be found at this link.

Operation Comfort was co-founded Mary Soenksen and Jan Strickland, who started simply by giving blankets to friends who had children serving overseas. But, they wanted to do more so last year, they started teaching students at a local high school how to make blankets. It is now a very popular public service project at the school.

How does this relate to a craft business? One of the most effective ways to increase visibility for your business is through public relations. A charity project like this can bring great press coverage for your business. Not only are you doing a good deed, but you can raise the profile of your business and bring good will from potential customers.

Just make sure you don't step across the line from doing something good to crass commercialism. The charity is what matters, and you need to stress the results of the charitable efforts, not your business. Make sure that everyone knows how they can help out with the charity, and your business will share in the rewards.

Have a great crafting weekend!
Chuck

Technorati Tags: craft charity, craft business, crafts, sell my crafts, small business, work at home, craft fair

Halloween Craft Challenge at Craftster.org

Craftster.org, one of the largest crafting forums on the Internet (if not the largest), is having a Craft Challenge themed around Halloween. Called the "Zombies & Robots & Bears...Oh My!" Challenge, the contest asks you to "craft up a butt-kickin' zombie, robot or bear themed craft in any medium you want." Submissions are due October 1st to the 5th, and the winner's project will be featured in the Featured Projects Area of Craftster.org, on the Craftster Blog, and the winner will receive a one year subscription to the new CRAFT magazine and featured on the Craftzine.com Blog!

What this means is that the winner will get a ton of free web publicity, as well as bragging rights that can be turned into additional publicity for their own crafts business. Even if you don't win, you will get some great publicity for your site just by entering. Never underestimate the power of a great link on a well-respected web site!

So hop on over to the Contest Page and get the rules. And, take the time to think up something clever and enter today!

Good luck!
Chuck

Technorati Tags: craft business, crafts, sell my crafts, small business, work at home, craft fair, craft contest