I just came across this wonderful interview with Cathy Callahan, owner of the craft business, Cathy of California. She makes some really wonderful, vintage-style crafts and has her own successful craft business web site (and the design is super cool).
The interview is short, but there are links to her website and blog, and you can get a ton of good, quality information by just visiting her sites and seeing how she works.
Happy Crafting!
Chuck Smith
www.MyCraftBusiness.com
Technorati Tags: craft business, crafts, sell my crafts, small business, work at home, craft fair, craft show, craft project, craft plan
Wednesday, November 29, 2006
Wednesday, November 15, 2006
Successful Crafters Need Business Sense
I found this short craft business article on the Asbury Park Press website. In the article, a couple of crafters discuss the need for some business skills if you are going to be successful on the craft fair circuit. There's also some encouraging words about the amount of business done at many of these craft fairs, and how successful others have been.
Take a couple minutes to check out the article.
Happy Crafting!
Chuck
Technorati Tags: craft business, crafts, sell my crafts, small business, work at home, craft fair, craft show, craft project, craft plan
Take a couple minutes to check out the article.
Happy Crafting!
Chuck
Technorati Tags: craft business, crafts, sell my crafts, small business, work at home, craft fair, craft show, craft project, craft plan
Monday, November 13, 2006
Taking Your Craft Business to the Retail World
I found this very interesting article in The Courier News (a Chicago area paper) about a woman who is offering custom-made body and bath products - shampoos, lotions, shower gels, etc. - out of a retail outlet in St. Charles.
The interesting thing is that the owner, Dina Marie Tenuto, started out selling her handcrafted products from a cart at craft fairs and shows. Customer demand soon outstripped her ability to handle customers with just the cart, and she opened the retail store. To open the shop, she quit her finance job and is now a full-time craft marketer.
Here is an example of someone who took their craft business to an entirely new level.
Happy Crafting!
Chuck
Technorati Tags: craft business, crafts, sell my crafts, small business, work at home, craft fair, craft show, craft project, craft plan
The interesting thing is that the owner, Dina Marie Tenuto, started out selling her handcrafted products from a cart at craft fairs and shows. Customer demand soon outstripped her ability to handle customers with just the cart, and she opened the retail store. To open the shop, she quit her finance job and is now a full-time craft marketer.
Here is an example of someone who took their craft business to an entirely new level.
Happy Crafting!
Chuck
Technorati Tags: craft business, crafts, sell my crafts, small business, work at home, craft fair, craft show, craft project, craft plan
Grants for Local Cumbrian Crafters
This is a very specific post, but as I have a number of readers in the UK, I thought it would be worth mentioning...
The Distinctly Cumbrian programme offer rural Cumbrian businesses the ability to receive a grant for a new or existing business. You can find out more at the Cumbrian Rural Enterprise Agency website.
There's also a story in the Times & Star that discusses this program.
Again, if you're in the Cumbria region, you should check it out. It may be a way to start your own craft business, or expand your existing craft business.
Happy Crafting!
Chuck
Technorati Tags: craft business, crafts, sell my crafts, small business, work at home, craft fair, craft show, craft project, craft plan
The Distinctly Cumbrian programme offer rural Cumbrian businesses the ability to receive a grant for a new or existing business. You can find out more at the Cumbrian Rural Enterprise Agency website.
There's also a story in the Times & Star that discusses this program.
Again, if you're in the Cumbria region, you should check it out. It may be a way to start your own craft business, or expand your existing craft business.
Happy Crafting!
Chuck
Technorati Tags: craft business, crafts, sell my crafts, small business, work at home, craft fair, craft show, craft project, craft plan
Tuesday, November 07, 2006
Why So Many Emails, Chuck?
I've received a number of complaints about the amount of email I have been sending to my pre-launch list and to my regular craft business email list over the past week about my new product, "How to Start Your Own Craft Business." So I'm going to explain the logic behind the flurry of emails, and I hope you'll understand...
As someone who has been selling information products on the Internet for over four years
now, I have seen a lot of changes in the way that email has been treated. When I started out, email was received as a novelty, and everyone looked forward to receiving emails.
But with all of the dirtbag spammers who have come out of the woodwork over the past few
years, emails are now very difficult to get through to the intended audience. Filters and a general dislike for email have reduced emails effectiveness so that emails have trouble getting delivered, let alone getting read. Basically, most email is viewed as "junk mail."
So, in order to get my message through, I tend to send out a lot of email around events like
the launch of my new product. With people being busy, emails getting filtered or just plain lost, and a general disregard for junk email, I try to keep my message in front of the readers who are interested in starting and running their own craft business.
I know I can be a bit long-winded, but I truly believe in my products and I know they can help people in achieving their dreams of being their own boss in a business they love.
So, if you don't like all the emails, you have a couple of options:
Thanks,
Chuck
P.S. You can check out the info page for "How to Start Your Own Craft Business" at www.mycraftbusiness.com/cbsales.htm
Technorati Tags: craft business, crafts, sell my crafts, small business, work at home, craft fair, craft show, craft project, craft plan
As someone who has been selling information products on the Internet for over four years
now, I have seen a lot of changes in the way that email has been treated. When I started out, email was received as a novelty, and everyone looked forward to receiving emails.
But with all of the dirtbag spammers who have come out of the woodwork over the past few
years, emails are now very difficult to get through to the intended audience. Filters and a general dislike for email have reduced emails effectiveness so that emails have trouble getting delivered, let alone getting read. Basically, most email is viewed as "junk mail."
So, in order to get my message through, I tend to send out a lot of email around events like
the launch of my new product. With people being busy, emails getting filtered or just plain lost, and a general disregard for junk email, I try to keep my message in front of the readers who are interested in starting and running their own craft business.
I know I can be a bit long-winded, but I truly believe in my products and I know they can help people in achieving their dreams of being their own boss in a business they love.
So, if you don't like all the emails, you have a couple of options:
- Just delete the emails - this is the easiest thing you can do (like throwing out your junk mail, except you're not filling up our landfills).
- Unsubscribe from the list - it's not going to hurt my feelings, and if you don't think the information can help, then you should just click the unsubscribe link.
Thanks,
Chuck
P.S. You can check out the info page for "How to Start Your Own Craft Business" at www.mycraftbusiness.com/cbsales.htm
Technorati Tags: craft business, crafts, sell my crafts, small business, work at home, craft fair, craft show, craft project, craft plan
Wednesday, November 01, 2006
I'm Experiencing Technical Difficulties
Well, the worst case scenario has happened for me. I've run into some technical issues in
recording an audio and creating some online videos for the launch of:
I've been working non-stop for the past couple of weeks to polish up the craft business guide I've been developing. It's 95% there (maybe 97%!), but I've run into a couple of snags.
I don't think it will take too long to have a couple of my friends help me through this, but it does mean I am going to have to delay the launch.
Initially, I was going to announce the availability to this pre-launch list on Thursday evening. I've been struggling with when to announce, and I've decided that the official launch date will be:
I thought about a Friday launch, but a lot of you will likely have plans. Same goes for Saturday and Sunday. So, I came up with first thing on Monday morning (at least for me).
As members of this pre-launch list, you will be the first to know. I'll send out an email at 7:00 am EST on Monday to let you know where you can find the info page for the new guide.
Later that day (probably around noon), I'll be releasing an email to the entire Craft Business list (it will be over 6,000 by then), as well as to some other list owners who have 1,000s of people on their lists.
WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?
If you want to take advantage of the special bonuses available to the first 100 buyers and during the first 24 hours (until Tuesday at 7:00 am EST), then you need to check out the
info page as quickly as possible.
Here's the bonuses again:
I think of as my best product ever.
So watch your email on Monday morning for an email from me titled:
Have a great weekend and...
Happy Crafting!
Chuck Smith
Technorati Tags: craft business, crafts, sell my crafts, small business, work at home, craft fair, craft show, craft project, craft plan
recording an audio and creating some online videos for the launch of:
"How to Start Your Own Craft Business"
I've been working non-stop for the past couple of weeks to polish up the craft business guide I've been developing. It's 95% there (maybe 97%!), but I've run into a couple of snags.
I don't think it will take too long to have a couple of my friends help me through this, but it does mean I am going to have to delay the launch.
Initially, I was going to announce the availability to this pre-launch list on Thursday evening. I've been struggling with when to announce, and I've decided that the official launch date will be:
Monday, November 6th at 7:00 am EST
I thought about a Friday launch, but a lot of you will likely have plans. Same goes for Saturday and Sunday. So, I came up with first thing on Monday morning (at least for me).
As members of this pre-launch list, you will be the first to know. I'll send out an email at 7:00 am EST on Monday to let you know where you can find the info page for the new guide.
Later that day (probably around noon), I'll be releasing an email to the entire Craft Business list (it will be over 6,000 by then), as well as to some other list owners who have 1,000s of people on their lists.
WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?
If you want to take advantage of the special bonuses available to the first 100 buyers and during the first 24 hours (until Tuesday at 7:00 am EST), then you need to check out the
info page as quickly as possible.
Here's the bonuses again:
- First 24 Hours - You can send me 2 questions you have about starting, running, and marketing your own successful craft business. I will take all of the questions submitted, and record my answers in MP3 format so you can listen to them on your computer or on an MP3 player (like an iPod), or burn the file to a CD.
- First 100 Purchasers - I am recording a special downloadable video that shows you how you can create your own FREE craft business website. The solution I'll outline is as easy as filling out some forms online. And, best of all, the search engines love these sites and your customers will be able to interact with you easily.
I think of as my best product ever.
So watch your email on Monday morning for an email from me titled:
"Hurry! The craft business guide is ready!"
Have a great weekend and...
Happy Crafting!
Chuck Smith
Technorati Tags: craft business, crafts, sell my crafts, small business, work at home, craft fair, craft show, craft project, craft plan
Monday, October 30, 2006
What's It All About, Chuckie?
Sorry for the silly subject line for this email, but I've been burning the midnight oil putting the finishing touches on my new craft business guide...
(As a side note, I'm still not 100% happy with the title, but it sure says it all. I'll keep working
on it.)
As of right now, 961 people have signed up to be notified when this new craft business startup kit is released. I'm amazed at the response, and at the sheer numbers of people who are looking to start their own successful craft business.
And I wanted to let all of you know that as the first to get the word, you'll be the first in line to take advantage of a couple of special bonuses I'm offering as part of the launch.
I think of as my best product ever.
Now, based on the response I've had so far, the first 100 copies of my product are going to be
snatched up before the first 24 hours, so if you are even thinking about getting this craft business startup kit, make sure you watch your email for notification.
This list gets notified first (almost 1,000 strong), and then the main craft business list gets their
notification (5,506 people and growing at more than 150 a day!). So these will go fast!
Happy Crafting!
Chuck Smith
P.S. Since you're on the pre-launch list, I'll make sure you get notice as soon as possible.
Like I said, I'm working night and day to get the product finished up. My plan is to launch
on the evening of Thursday, November 2nd. Most likely sometime around 8:00 pm EST. Keep your eyes out for an email with the subject line of:
"Hurry! The craft business guide is ready!"
Technorati Tags: craft business, crafts, sell my crafts, small business, work at home, craft fair, craft show, craft project, craft plan
"How to Start Your Own Craft Business"
(As a side note, I'm still not 100% happy with the title, but it sure says it all. I'll keep working
on it.)
As of right now, 961 people have signed up to be notified when this new craft business startup kit is released. I'm amazed at the response, and at the sheer numbers of people who are looking to start their own successful craft business.
And I wanted to let all of you know that as the first to get the word, you'll be the first in line to take advantage of a couple of special bonuses I'm offering as part of the launch.
- First 24 Hours - For those of you who purchase my new craft business guide in the first 24 hours, I'm going to do something I've never done before. You will be able to send me 2 questions you have about starting, running, and marketing your own successful craft business. I will take all of the questions submitted, and record my answers in MP3 format so you can listen to them on your computer or on an MP3 player (like an iPod), or burn the file to a CD.
- First 100 Buyers - In addition, for the first 100 buyers, I am recording a special downloadable video that shows you how you can create your own FREE craft business website. The solution I'll outline is as easy as filling out some forms online. And, best of all, the search engines love these sites and your customers will be able to interact with you easily.
I think of as my best product ever.
Now, based on the response I've had so far, the first 100 copies of my product are going to be
snatched up before the first 24 hours, so if you are even thinking about getting this craft business startup kit, make sure you watch your email for notification.
This list gets notified first (almost 1,000 strong), and then the main craft business list gets their
notification (5,506 people and growing at more than 150 a day!). So these will go fast!
Happy Crafting!
Chuck Smith
P.S. Since you're on the pre-launch list, I'll make sure you get notice as soon as possible.
Like I said, I'm working night and day to get the product finished up. My plan is to launch
on the evening of Thursday, November 2nd. Most likely sometime around 8:00 pm EST. Keep your eyes out for an email with the subject line of:
"Hurry! The craft business guide is ready!"
Technorati Tags: craft business, crafts, sell my crafts, small business, work at home, craft fair, craft show, craft project, craft plan
The Craft Product Review Jackpot
I've been sneaking a peek at the TV every once in a while, but for the most part, I've been working on finishing up the craft business gude...
"How to Start Your Own Craft Business"
It's killing me not being able to sit in front of a full day of NFL, but I really want to get this
product out to you this week, so I need to buckle down and finish it up.
I did receive an email from one of the folks on the Craft Business email list, and they told me
about a great web site that has tons of product reviews, including arts and crafts product reviews.
You can find it at:
This site is awesome! There is a ton of different product reviews submitted by visitors. It's people like you and me who take a few minutes to tell others about what they like or dislike about different products.
I almost got caught up in watching product reviews, but I finally pulled myself away to keep working on the business guide.
But, if you have a few spare minutes, you should check it out at:
I hope you had a great weekend, and I am looking forward to Wednesday or Thursday this week when I can finally let the "cat out of the bag" about the new craft business guide.
Thanks,
Chuck Smith
P.S. I just wanted to share with you the fact that my son't Pop Warner Football team, the North
Middlesex Rustlers, won their first game of the year today! The won 18 to 6, and the kids (all of
them 7 and 8 years old) were very excited after a long year of getting beat up. This was their last regular game of the year, and it couldn't have ended any better. Go Rustlers! And thanks for everyone who asked how they were doing.
Technorati Tags: craft business, crafts, sell my crafts, small business, work at home, craft fair, craft show, craft project, craft plan
"How to Start Your Own Craft Business"
It's killing me not being able to sit in front of a full day of NFL, but I really want to get this
product out to you this week, so I need to buckle down and finish it up.
I did receive an email from one of the folks on the Craft Business email list, and they told me
about a great web site that has tons of product reviews, including arts and crafts product reviews.
You can find it at:
This site is awesome! There is a ton of different product reviews submitted by visitors. It's people like you and me who take a few minutes to tell others about what they like or dislike about different products.
I almost got caught up in watching product reviews, but I finally pulled myself away to keep working on the business guide.
But, if you have a few spare minutes, you should check it out at:
I hope you had a great weekend, and I am looking forward to Wednesday or Thursday this week when I can finally let the "cat out of the bag" about the new craft business guide.
Thanks,
Chuck Smith
P.S. I just wanted to share with you the fact that my son't Pop Warner Football team, the North
Middlesex Rustlers, won their first game of the year today! The won 18 to 6, and the kids (all of
them 7 and 8 years old) were very excited after a long year of getting beat up. This was their last regular game of the year, and it couldn't have ended any better. Go Rustlers! And thanks for everyone who asked how they were doing.
Technorati Tags: craft business, crafts, sell my crafts, small business, work at home, craft fair, craft show, craft project, craft plan
Friday, October 27, 2006
Another Great Craft Site Video Tour
I've created another exclusive video tour of one of the great free craft business resources out there on the Internet.
You'll hae to excuse my stumbling over words in this video - our new puppy, Ginger, kept waking us up last night trying to play with our cat, Cutie Pie. I'm exhausted, but wanted to make good on my promise to send out a video today.
You can check out the video at:
This video is even short - about 3 minutes - but the site I tour is great if you're looking to start your own craft business.
NOTE: There are controls at the bottom of this video. If you cannot see them in your browser
window, just scroll down a little bit. That way, you can pause the video if you need to.
Have a great evening,
Thanks,
Chuck Smith
P.S. Looks like November 1st or 2nd is going to be the day I launch
"How to Start Your Own Craft Business"
As a member of this list, you'll be the first to know when my comprehensive craft business guide is available. Which is important as there will be special bonuses for the first 100 buyers. I'm
also toying with the idea of a special teleseminar for people who buy in the first 24 hours. Watch
your email for more news.
Technorati Tags: craft business, crafts, sell my crafts, small business, work at home, craft fair, craft show, craft project, craft plan
You'll hae to excuse my stumbling over words in this video - our new puppy, Ginger, kept waking us up last night trying to play with our cat, Cutie Pie. I'm exhausted, but wanted to make good on my promise to send out a video today.
You can check out the video at:
This video is even short - about 3 minutes - but the site I tour is great if you're looking to start your own craft business.
NOTE: There are controls at the bottom of this video. If you cannot see them in your browser
window, just scroll down a little bit. That way, you can pause the video if you need to.
Have a great evening,
Thanks,
Chuck Smith
P.S. Looks like November 1st or 2nd is going to be the day I launch
"How to Start Your Own Craft Business"
As a member of this list, you'll be the first to know when my comprehensive craft business guide is available. Which is important as there will be special bonuses for the first 100 buyers. I'm
also toying with the idea of a special teleseminar for people who buy in the first 24 hours. Watch
your email for more news.
Technorati Tags: craft business, crafts, sell my crafts, small business, work at home, craft fair, craft show, craft project, craft plan
Thursday, October 26, 2006
A Video Tour of One of My Favorite Craft Sites
As of right now, 623 people have signed up for the pre-launch list - amazing! When I decided to start this special list, I had no idea so many people would be interested in starting a craft business.
Today, I've created a little video tour of one of my favorite free craft web sites. This video is only for the people on this list, and it is my way of saying "Thank You" for signing up.
You can check out the video out:
The video is really short - only about 4 minutes long. I hope you enjoy this video because I have a couple of other sites I want to show you. I would have put them all into one video, but I didn't want to bore you, and I didn't want the videos to take too long to load.
NOTE: There are controls at the bottom of this video. If you cannot see them in your browser
window, just scroll down a little bit. That way, you can pause the video if you need to.
Have a great evening, and I'll post another video tomorrow.
Thanks,
Chuck
P.S. Things are moving along nicely for the launch of my craft business guide, "How to Start Your Own Craft Business." After I release the guide, I'll be pulling down the link to the special report and the video tours. So make sure you download the special report as soon as possible!
Today, I've created a little video tour of one of my favorite free craft web sites. This video is only for the people on this list, and it is my way of saying "Thank You" for signing up.
You can check out the video out:
The video is really short - only about 4 minutes long. I hope you enjoy this video because I have a couple of other sites I want to show you. I would have put them all into one video, but I didn't want to bore you, and I didn't want the videos to take too long to load.
NOTE: There are controls at the bottom of this video. If you cannot see them in your browser
window, just scroll down a little bit. That way, you can pause the video if you need to.
Have a great evening, and I'll post another video tomorrow.
Thanks,
Chuck
P.S. Things are moving along nicely for the launch of my craft business guide, "How to Start Your Own Craft Business." After I release the guide, I'll be pulling down the link to the special report and the video tours. So make sure you download the special report as soon as possible!
Tuesday, October 24, 2006
Last Chance for Special Report
I wanted to write you a quick note to let everyone know that the email about the special report,
will be going out this evening around 10:00 pm Eastern Daylight Time (EDT). So, if you want to be notified of the download link, you must be on the pre-launch list for my new craft business guide.
To sign up for the pre-launch list, just go to:
Here's what's in the special report:
TOP TEN QUESTIONS ANSWERED
This Special Report answers the following 10 questions:
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.
Thanks,
Chuck
www.MyCraftBusiness.com
craftybiz@gmail.com
P.S. If you signed up for the pre-launch list already, you'll be notified of the download link. 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
"Top Ten Questions About Starting a Craft Business"
will be going out this evening around 10:00 pm Eastern Daylight Time (EDT). So, if you want to be notified of the download link, you must be on the pre-launch list for my new craft business guide.
To sign up for the pre-launch list, just go to:
Here's what's in the special report:
TOP TEN QUESTIONS ANSWERED
This Special Report answers the following 10 questions:
- How Can I Start a Craft Business with Little or No Money?
- Can I Start a Craft Business Part-Time If I Have a Full-Time Job?
- Why Do I Need a Business Plan for My Craft Business?
- What Are the Legal Requirements for Starting My Craft Business?
- What Crafts Should I Sell?
- How Do I Find Suppliers?
- How Do I Price My Products?
- What is the Best Way to Promote My Craft Business?
- How Can I Make the Most of a Craft Show?
- 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.
Thanks,
Chuck
www.MyCraftBusiness.com
craftybiz@gmail.com
P.S. If you signed up for the pre-launch list already, you'll be notified of the download link. 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
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,
So, I've compiled a short PDF report called...
(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:
This Special Report answers the following 10 questions:
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.
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
"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:
This Special Report answers the following 10 questions:
- How Can I Start a Craft Business with Little or No Money?
- Can I Start a Craft Business Part-Time If I Have a Full-Time Job?
- Why Do I Need a Business Plan for My Craft Business?
- What Are the Legal Requirements for Starting My Craft Business?
- What Crafts Should I Sell?
- How Do I Find Suppliers?
- How Do I Price My Products?
- What is the Best Way to Promote My Craft Business?
- How Can I Make the Most of a Craft Show?
- 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.
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
Monday, October 02, 2006
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
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
Tuesday, September 26, 2006
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:
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
- Cloth Envelope
- Curved Photo Stand
- Curvy Stripe
- Disk Wallet
- Eye Pillow
- Magnetic Sculpture
- Monitor Shelf
- Mobile
- Wall Clock
- Bulletin Board
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
Tuesday, September 19, 2006
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
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
Sunday, September 10, 2006
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
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
Saturday, September 09, 2006
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
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
Thursday, September 07, 2006
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
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
Tuesday, September 05, 2006
Bead Jewelry Making
NOTE: I found this article about Bead Jewelry Making, and thought you would enjoy it. I think Felicity has given a lot of good info, and also a good resource for following up on your Bead Jewelry interests.
It seems that crafters in the US are turning to bead jewelry making in ever increasing numbers. Beading is a fun hobby, and you can make jewelry from the simplest designs right through to incredibly complex pieces that are works of art in their own right. There are so many patterns and designs to choose from that it can almost become overwhelming, but don't worry, you'll soon find your feet.
One of the best things about bead jewelry making is that there is so much freedom to do what you want. Even better, something that may appear to be a disadvantage can actually be turned into a new design element. An example I read about recently involved jasper and copper. Jasper drills rings aren't very popular, mainly because they tend to look unattractive and are not particularly functional. Most beading enthusiasts don't bother using them.
This particular beader chose jasper drill rings with attractive colors, finding interesting combinations of browns, reds and touches of green. Once the beads were all strung together, however, they looked terrible. So instead of giving up and doing something else, she looked around for a new idea and came up with copper. The copper blended well to compliment the jasper colors.
Adding the copper element to the piece made a huge difference. She used copper wire to add extra features to the bracelet, and as a result ended up with a stunning design using two main elements that previously she'd never managed to use successfully. As long as the colors blend well, it's possible to use almost any elements in bead jewelry designs.
One of my favorite things about beading is that you can take almost anything and turn it into something interesting. Even if first time around you're not happy with the result, you can pull it apart and try doing it differently. Making beaded jewelry isn't as hard as you might think; mostly you need a lot of patience and a healthy dollop of imagination. With those ingredients, you can create amazingly beautiful jewelry pieces such as bracelets, earrings and necklaces, which will be the envy of your friends.
Beading is a craft that is constantly evolving, and one of the most recent trends is cell phone charms. These are quite simple to make, and help to give your cell phone some character all of its own. If you know a teenage girl and want to give her something unique and special, try making her a cell phone charm. Or perhaps give her the bits and pieces so that she can make one of her own design.
If your bead making supplies are getting a bit cluttered, then instead of throwing beads out, reorganize them and perhaps swap the beads you don't like with a fellow beader. Sometimes the beads that leave us most uninspired will be the ones that someone else turns into a masterpiece!
Felicity Walker is addicted to beading, and you can find more great beading information at beading-is-fun.info She has also released a beading guide, at ultimatebeadloversguide.com
Technorati Tags: craft business, crafts, sell my crafts, small business, work at home, craft fair, bead jewelry
It seems that crafters in the US are turning to bead jewelry making in ever increasing numbers. Beading is a fun hobby, and you can make jewelry from the simplest designs right through to incredibly complex pieces that are works of art in their own right. There are so many patterns and designs to choose from that it can almost become overwhelming, but don't worry, you'll soon find your feet.
One of the best things about bead jewelry making is that there is so much freedom to do what you want. Even better, something that may appear to be a disadvantage can actually be turned into a new design element. An example I read about recently involved jasper and copper. Jasper drills rings aren't very popular, mainly because they tend to look unattractive and are not particularly functional. Most beading enthusiasts don't bother using them.
This particular beader chose jasper drill rings with attractive colors, finding interesting combinations of browns, reds and touches of green. Once the beads were all strung together, however, they looked terrible. So instead of giving up and doing something else, she looked around for a new idea and came up with copper. The copper blended well to compliment the jasper colors.
Adding the copper element to the piece made a huge difference. She used copper wire to add extra features to the bracelet, and as a result ended up with a stunning design using two main elements that previously she'd never managed to use successfully. As long as the colors blend well, it's possible to use almost any elements in bead jewelry designs.
One of my favorite things about beading is that you can take almost anything and turn it into something interesting. Even if first time around you're not happy with the result, you can pull it apart and try doing it differently. Making beaded jewelry isn't as hard as you might think; mostly you need a lot of patience and a healthy dollop of imagination. With those ingredients, you can create amazingly beautiful jewelry pieces such as bracelets, earrings and necklaces, which will be the envy of your friends.
Beading is a craft that is constantly evolving, and one of the most recent trends is cell phone charms. These are quite simple to make, and help to give your cell phone some character all of its own. If you know a teenage girl and want to give her something unique and special, try making her a cell phone charm. Or perhaps give her the bits and pieces so that she can make one of her own design.
If your bead making supplies are getting a bit cluttered, then instead of throwing beads out, reorganize them and perhaps swap the beads you don't like with a fellow beader. Sometimes the beads that leave us most uninspired will be the ones that someone else turns into a masterpiece!
Felicity Walker is addicted to beading, and you can find more great beading information at beading-is-fun.info She has also released a beading guide, at ultimatebeadloversguide.com
Technorati Tags: craft business, crafts, sell my crafts, small business, work at home, craft fair, bead jewelry
Sunday, September 03, 2006
Artistic enterprise helps seniors sell their crafts
An organization called Ageless Enterprise is helping senior citizens and disabled individuals sell their crafts at craft shows and through their web site. You can get more information from the KVOA News 4 web site here.
Ageless Enterprise is paid for by a three year-grant from the Corporation for National and Community Service, and was started to help Arizona seniors in Yavapai, Navajo, Pinal, La Paz and Gila counties out of poverty.
This is a great example of how local government can get involved in helping people earn extra money through crafts. If you're interested in starting a similar program in your area, I would suggest contacting Ageless Enterprise for some advice.
Happy Crafting!
Chuck
Technorati Tags: craft business, crafts, sell my crafts, small business, work at home, craft fair, craft show
Ageless Enterprise is paid for by a three year-grant from the Corporation for National and Community Service, and was started to help Arizona seniors in Yavapai, Navajo, Pinal, La Paz and Gila counties out of poverty.
This is a great example of how local government can get involved in helping people earn extra money through crafts. If you're interested in starting a similar program in your area, I would suggest contacting Ageless Enterprise for some advice.
Happy Crafting!
Chuck
Technorati Tags: craft business, crafts, sell my crafts, small business, work at home, craft fair, craft show
Saturday, September 02, 2006
Brazil : Artisans craft bio-jewels
Local artisans in Brazil are turning seeds, shells, pits, and other local raw materials into exquisite jewelry art according to the www.fibre2fashion.com web site.
Joining these "bio-jewels" into necklaces, bracelets, rings, or earrings, local craftspeople create designs indigenous to their regions. And these local Brazilian articsans do business with buyers in Switzerland, the US, and England.
So, think outside the box and try to brainstorm some unique uses for everyday objects that you can incorporate into your crafts!
Happy Crafting!
Chuck
Technorati Tags: craft business, crafts, sell my crafts, small business, work at home, craft fair, craft show
Joining these "bio-jewels" into necklaces, bracelets, rings, or earrings, local craftspeople create designs indigenous to their regions. And these local Brazilian articsans do business with buyers in Switzerland, the US, and England.
So, think outside the box and try to brainstorm some unique uses for everyday objects that you can incorporate into your crafts!
Happy Crafting!
Chuck
Technorati Tags: craft business, crafts, sell my crafts, small business, work at home, craft fair, craft show
Friday, September 01, 2006
Business of Crafts Workshop Comes to Seattle
Do you live near Seattle, WA? If so, there's an opportunity to take the Business of Crafts Workshop, a comprehensive 2-day workshop that comes to Seattle on March 16th and 17th of 2007. This workshop, taught by an artist and a gallery owner, is designed for artists and craftspeople new to selling their work or who have been selling on a small scale and want to take their craft business to the next level.
According to their press release, the Business of Crafts weekend seminar includes classes on selling art and crafts in retail settings as well as through wholesale outlets. Pricing and marketing tips will be addressed, as well as some great ideas on how to make a booth stand out in a crowded crafts show. Successful artists who earn their living through selling their art will share their stories. There will even be a panel of art gallery owners who will share their tips on how to make a great impression on them.
One of the most valuable parts of the weekend is the opportunity for artists to get feedback on their artwork from Corwin and Schilperoort (the instructors), as well as other craft professionals. They'll offer tips on how to price work, marketing ideas best suited to your work, and where the best targets markets lie. All this from experts who will offer feedback and encouragement.
I've heard great things about this weekend seminar, so if you have the chance, and want to start a crafts business or take your fledgeling crafts business to the next level, sign up for the weekend seminar at www.businessofcrafts.com.
Happy Quilting!
Chuck
Technorati Tags: craft business, crafts, sell my crafts, small business, work at home, craft fair, craft show
According to their press release, the Business of Crafts weekend seminar includes classes on selling art and crafts in retail settings as well as through wholesale outlets. Pricing and marketing tips will be addressed, as well as some great ideas on how to make a booth stand out in a crowded crafts show. Successful artists who earn their living through selling their art will share their stories. There will even be a panel of art gallery owners who will share their tips on how to make a great impression on them.
One of the most valuable parts of the weekend is the opportunity for artists to get feedback on their artwork from Corwin and Schilperoort (the instructors), as well as other craft professionals. They'll offer tips on how to price work, marketing ideas best suited to your work, and where the best targets markets lie. All this from experts who will offer feedback and encouragement.
I've heard great things about this weekend seminar, so if you have the chance, and want to start a crafts business or take your fledgeling crafts business to the next level, sign up for the weekend seminar at www.businessofcrafts.com.
Happy Quilting!
Chuck
Technorati Tags: craft business, crafts, sell my crafts, small business, work at home, craft fair, craft show
Thursday, August 31, 2006
New Forest to Fuel Country Crafts
Wow... what a great idea! The British Council for Culture and Tourism is planting a forest in the city of Kirkham in order to provide woods for crafts and bio-fuels. The trees, which will be harvested every five to six years, and will provide wood for local craftspeople.
The trees will also help fight climate change, enhance the environment, provide additional leisure opportunites, and also serve as an educational asset for the school children of the area. This is a wonderful way to make crafts environmentally conscious, and something I hope the government here in the United States takes note of.
Happy Crafting!
Chuck
Technorati Tags: craft business, crafts, sell my crafts, small business, work at home, craft fair, craft show
The trees will also help fight climate change, enhance the environment, provide additional leisure opportunites, and also serve as an educational asset for the school children of the area. This is a wonderful way to make crafts environmentally conscious, and something I hope the government here in the United States takes note of.
Happy Crafting!
Chuck
Technorati Tags: craft business, crafts, sell my crafts, small business, work at home, craft fair, craft show
Wednesday, August 30, 2006
Fabric Origami Workshop
Just a quick update to let you know about a cool site I stumbled upon. It's called the Fabric Origami Workshop, and it shows you how to do some VERY interesting boxes using fabric. For crafters, this may be a very unique way of packaging your products (if they are small), and would even make a great craft to sell to others looking for a unique package for a very special gift.
Happy Crafting!
Chuck
Technorati Tags: craft business, crafts, sell my crafts, small business, work at home, craft fair, craft show, origami
Happy Crafting!
Chuck
Technorati Tags: craft business, crafts, sell my crafts, small business, work at home, craft fair, craft show, origami
One Family's First Craft Show
I found a really great article by a crafting family from Maine who endured their first craft show. It talks a lot about what crafters who are aspiring to start a crafting business can expect from their first craft show. I found it to be a good read and very informative.
Check it out!
Happy Crafting!
Chuck
Technorati Tags: craft business, crafts, sell my crafts, small business, work at home, craft fair, craft show
Check it out!
Happy Crafting!
Chuck
Technorati Tags: craft business, crafts, sell my crafts, small business, work at home, craft fair, craft show
Tuesday, August 29, 2006
Craft Business Movie Trailer
I came across this movie trailer for a documentary about people making a living on the craft show circuit - basically travelling around and selling their crafts. This is one option for people who want to make a living with their crafting, and can be a very exciting way to live (especially if you don't have any children or your children are older).
You can find out more about the filmmaker at her YouTube profile page.
WARNING: There is a bit of salty language in this trailer. You want to make sure that your little ones, or people who are offended by a small amount of cursing, are not within earshot. I don't condone the language, but the content was good so I thought it would be a shame not to share.
Happy Crafting!
Chuck
Technorati Tags: craft business, crafts, sell my crafts, small business, work at home, publicity
You can find out more about the filmmaker at her YouTube profile page.
WARNING: There is a bit of salty language in this trailer. You want to make sure that your little ones, or people who are offended by a small amount of cursing, are not within earshot. I don't condone the language, but the content was good so I thought it would be a shame not to share.
Happy Crafting!
Chuck
Technorati Tags: craft business, crafts, sell my crafts, small business, work at home, publicity
Local woman turning briefs into business
A Fitchburg, MA woman is using her crafting skills not only for a growing crafting business, but to help a local Fitchburg man who was injured in a car crash. And her choice of crafts - turning men's brief underwear into halter tops for women. You can find more on the story at the Fitchburg Sentinel & Enterprise - Local woman turning briefs into business.
This is a very unique idea, and helping out with a charity will do wonders for your new craft business (as seen by this story in the local newspaper). And remember - any free publicity you get (of course, as long as it is positive) saves you money on advertising. A coordinated marketing plan will help you drive customers to your new business, instead of having to constantly work the craft fair circuit.
Happy Crafting!
Chuck
Technorati Tags: craft business, crafts, sell my crafts, small business, work at home, crafting charity, publicity
This is a very unique idea, and helping out with a charity will do wonders for your new craft business (as seen by this story in the local newspaper). And remember - any free publicity you get (of course, as long as it is positive) saves you money on advertising. A coordinated marketing plan will help you drive customers to your new business, instead of having to constantly work the craft fair circuit.
Happy Crafting!
Chuck
Technorati Tags: craft business, crafts, sell my crafts, small business, work at home, crafting charity, publicity
Sunday, August 27, 2006
Customer Service Lesson
I recently ran across this article in the Miami Herald about one crafter's experience with another vendor at a small church-sponsored craft show. Basically, she purchased an item from another vendor at the show, who then cashed her check and did not deliver the item.
There are some great customer service tips you should take to heart in your own crafts business. The name of the story is: One bad vendor can ruin a bazaar.
Check it out!
Chuck
Technorati Tags: craft business, crafts, sell my crafts, scrapbooking, quilting, small business, work at home
There are some great customer service tips you should take to heart in your own crafts business. The name of the story is: One bad vendor can ruin a bazaar.
Check it out!
Chuck
Technorati Tags: craft business, crafts, sell my crafts, scrapbooking, quilting, small business, work at home
Saturday, August 26, 2006
An Online Craft Fair
I'm just writing a quick post before I head out to golf...
I just stumbled onto an online craft fair that will allow you to sell you crafts in an online environment designed to invoke the wide-ranging array of products available at a crafts fair. Called artsEfest.com, this new site offers very reasonable pricing for displaying your crafts for sale. Created by Brian Appell from Holyoke, MA, artsEfest.com could be a wonderful way to create an initial online prescence for your fledgeling crafts business.
Check it out!
Chuck
Technorati Tags: craft business, craft fair, small business, crafts, sell crafts online, sell on eBay, eBay
I just stumbled onto an online craft fair that will allow you to sell you crafts in an online environment designed to invoke the wide-ranging array of products available at a crafts fair. Called artsEfest.com, this new site offers very reasonable pricing for displaying your crafts for sale. Created by Brian Appell from Holyoke, MA, artsEfest.com could be a wonderful way to create an initial online prescence for your fledgeling crafts business.
Check it out!
Chuck
Technorati Tags: craft business, craft fair, small business, crafts, sell crafts online, sell on eBay, eBay
Friday, August 25, 2006
Michaels Stores Reports Second Quarter Earnings: Financial News - Yahoo! Finance
Michaels Stores, the world's largest retailer of arts and crafts supplies, announced that their net income for their second quarter (ended July 29th) was $20.3 million, up from $16.5 million in the first quarter of the year. In addition, total sales for the second quarter were $768.3 million, a 3.1% increase over last year's second quarter sales.
What was interesting was that the company's strongest category performances were in General Crafts, primarily driven by Jewelry and Beads, Apparel Crafts, Impulse and Kids Crafts businesses.
What does this mean? To me, it means that interest in crafting is at an all-time high! And, this is the perfect time to create your own successful craft business.
To see the full press release, just click on this link: Michaels Stores, Inc. Reports Second Quarter Earnings: Financial News - Yahoo! Finance
Happy Crafting!
Chuck Smith
Technorati Tags: craft business, crafts, jewelry and beads, paper crafts, scrapbooking
What was interesting was that the company's strongest category performances were in General Crafts, primarily driven by Jewelry and Beads, Apparel Crafts, Impulse and Kids Crafts businesses.
What does this mean? To me, it means that interest in crafting is at an all-time high! And, this is the perfect time to create your own successful craft business.
To see the full press release, just click on this link: Michaels Stores, Inc. Reports Second Quarter Earnings: Financial News - Yahoo! Finance
Happy Crafting!
Chuck Smith
Technorati Tags: craft business, crafts, jewelry and beads, paper crafts, scrapbooking
Thursday, August 24, 2006
Etsy - A Great Place to Sell (and Buy) Your Crafts
One of the hardest things about starting a running a successful crafts business is selling your product. Most likely you wanted to get into a crafts business because you are good at making your crafts, and you are very creative. But, the business end of a crafts business can leave you dazed and confused.
And, when you start talking about selling your crafts online, the confusion reaches a whole new level. There's learning how to put up a web site, finding out how to set up a shopping cart to take payments, and then driving traffic to your web site. And then, you have to create text that makes people want to buy.
One option for setting up a web site is eBay. But with eBay, you are competing with everything from cameras to heavy equipment to real estate. eBay is HUGE and getting bigger (and more corporate) every day.
Now, there's a new site that caters specifically to the needs of the crafting industry. Called Etsy.com, this new site allows crafters of all sizes to quickly, and inexpensively, set up an online store to sell your crafts.
I'll be analyzing sites like Etsy.com and eBay for my new crafting business book due out in a few weeks. With all of the options out there, my goal is to cut through the confusion and let you know the pros and cons of each type of online selling solution.
Watch this space for more news.
Happy Crafting!
Chuck
And, when you start talking about selling your crafts online, the confusion reaches a whole new level. There's learning how to put up a web site, finding out how to set up a shopping cart to take payments, and then driving traffic to your web site. And then, you have to create text that makes people want to buy.
One option for setting up a web site is eBay. But with eBay, you are competing with everything from cameras to heavy equipment to real estate. eBay is HUGE and getting bigger (and more corporate) every day.
Now, there's a new site that caters specifically to the needs of the crafting industry. Called Etsy.com, this new site allows crafters of all sizes to quickly, and inexpensively, set up an online store to sell your crafts.
I'll be analyzing sites like Etsy.com and eBay for my new crafting business book due out in a few weeks. With all of the options out there, my goal is to cut through the confusion and let you know the pros and cons of each type of online selling solution.
Watch this space for more news.
Happy Crafting!
Chuck
Thanks to Everyone Who Asked About the New Puppy
I wanted to thank everyone who asked about our new puppy, Ginger. Ginger is a Golden Doodle - a cross between a Golden Retriever and a Standard Poodle. She will grow to about 40 - 50 pounds, and she has hair (so she doesn't shed). And, as you can see, she's just about the cutest thing in the world!
So thanks for asking about Ginger. She's doing great, but I'm a bit tired. Having a new puppy in the house is almost as tiring as having a new baby. I forgot all about the middle of the night potty breaks, and the early morning feedings. But, the kids have already fallen in love.
Here's a picture of Ginger:
I've got some great crafting business news coming up soon. I've been working on a complete Crafting Business Guide, so stay tuned for details. It shouldn't be more than a few weeks!
Happy Crafting!
Chuck
So thanks for asking about Ginger. She's doing great, but I'm a bit tired. Having a new puppy in the house is almost as tiring as having a new baby. I forgot all about the middle of the night potty breaks, and the early morning feedings. But, the kids have already fallen in love.
Here's a picture of Ginger:
I've got some great crafting business news coming up soon. I've been working on a complete Crafting Business Guide, so stay tuned for details. It shouldn't be more than a few weeks!
Happy Crafting!
Chuck
Wednesday, August 23, 2006
Pretty amazing handwork
I came across this story from the Asheville, NC Citizen-Times newspaper, and I'm pretty excited. It seems that Western Carolina University is creating a database with 100s of photos, brochures, and other digital information about the history of crafts in Western North Carolina. Starting on September 1st, you'll be able to see a digital archive of articles, letters, and photos about craft-related items dating from 1895 - 1945, a very big period of revival for crafts in the United States.
For those of you looking to get started in a crafting business, and are not really sure what types of crafts to focus on, this new site could give you some great ideas. Remember... sometimes what is old becomes new again. You can take a look at some of the crafts that were popular 50 - 100 years ago, and put a new twist on them. This could be a great way to find your crafting niche!
You will find the Craft Revival Project online database at www.craftrevival.wcu.edu. You can read more on the story on the Citizen-Times web site by clicking here.
Happy Crafting!
Chuck
For those of you looking to get started in a crafting business, and are not really sure what types of crafts to focus on, this new site could give you some great ideas. Remember... sometimes what is old becomes new again. You can take a look at some of the crafts that were popular 50 - 100 years ago, and put a new twist on them. This could be a great way to find your crafting niche!
You will find the Craft Revival Project online database at www.craftrevival.wcu.edu. You can read more on the story on the Citizen-Times web site by clicking here.
Happy Crafting!
Chuck
Tuesday, August 22, 2006
Quilting Business - Can I Make a Living at It?
by Chuck Smith
A lot of people wonder whether or not they can make a living at a machine quilting business. I'm not a fortune teller - I can't really determine whether or not you've got what it takes to succeed in a machine quilting business. Only you can make a business successful.
In this article, I've answered a couple of reader's questions about the viability of a machine quilting business and also some business basics.
Since I was 12, I have wanted to make a living from home. I have been sewing for about 40 years, quilting for about 3 years, and people seem to really like my quilts. My question is: Will I be able to replace the income from my job, with a quilting business? It seems to me, that I would need to do more than make one quilt at a time and sell them in order to make $1,000 per week, which is what I will need to be making before I can quit my job. What other things could I do that would generate more income?
-- Brenda Farland --
Here's my response to this question...
Hello Brenda,
Your question is a tough one. Since I'm not familiar with the quilting market in your area, or what types of quilts you make, I would have a tough time gauging whether you would be able to make $1,000 a week or not.
What you could do at this time is some market research to determine the what type of quilting market you live in. For example, how much do the types of quilts you make sell for in your area? Do you have something different to offer that would allow you to sell your quilts at a premium price over other quilts? Is there a lot of competition? What about demand?
Once you have a feel for the market, you can then figure out how much you need to charge in order to make your quilting pay. How long does it take you to complete one of your quilts? What are your material costs? What would you like to make for an hourly wage? All of these questions need to be answered before you can determine if you will make money, let alone replace your current wages.
There are some pricing articles on www.QultingBusiness.com that may help you with your calculations. I know there is some work to do, but if you are truly interested in making your quilting pay, then it is well worth the effort.
Good luck,
Chuck
Here's another question:
I am interested in starting my own quilting business. I have just recently lost my full-time job. I do have a Professinal Quilters Long-arm machine and have been doing some quilting for family and friends. However, I do not have a Master Card or Visa Card, I do have a check card. Is it possible to do this with a check card? Thank you and I will be looking forward to your reply.
-- Karen Smith --
And here's my response to this question:
Hello Karen,
Having just a check card will not stop you from starting a machine quilting business - it just means that you will need to be a lot more conscious of your budget (since you cannot carry a balance).
In your case, since you have a quilting machine, you have the single biggest expense already covered. What you would need to do next is to go through the process of making your business official.
To do this, you would need to register your business and make sure you have all of the local requirements settled before opening. These requirements include, but are not limited to, insurance, getting a bank account, registering with your local government (town or county depending on where you are), and getting customers.
This may sound overwhelming, but there is a lot of good information about starting and running a small business available at the US Small Business Administration's web site at www.SBA.gov. There, you will find some great information that will help you decide how you want to run your business (or even if you are ready to make that step).
Good luck,
Chuck
PLEASE NOTE: I am not an attorney, so I am not giving any kind of legal advice here. You should always consult with an attorney when dealing with any kinds of legal matters.
Chuck Smith is the owner of QuiltingBusiness.com, the web's only site dedicated to helping you make money with your quilting. Visit QuiltingBusiness.com today to sign up for the FREE email mini-course: "7 Unique Ways to Make Money with Your Quilting."
A lot of people wonder whether or not they can make a living at a machine quilting business. I'm not a fortune teller - I can't really determine whether or not you've got what it takes to succeed in a machine quilting business. Only you can make a business successful.
In this article, I've answered a couple of reader's questions about the viability of a machine quilting business and also some business basics.
Since I was 12, I have wanted to make a living from home. I have been sewing for about 40 years, quilting for about 3 years, and people seem to really like my quilts. My question is: Will I be able to replace the income from my job, with a quilting business? It seems to me, that I would need to do more than make one quilt at a time and sell them in order to make $1,000 per week, which is what I will need to be making before I can quit my job. What other things could I do that would generate more income?
-- Brenda Farland --
Here's my response to this question...
Hello Brenda,
Your question is a tough one. Since I'm not familiar with the quilting market in your area, or what types of quilts you make, I would have a tough time gauging whether you would be able to make $1,000 a week or not.
What you could do at this time is some market research to determine the what type of quilting market you live in. For example, how much do the types of quilts you make sell for in your area? Do you have something different to offer that would allow you to sell your quilts at a premium price over other quilts? Is there a lot of competition? What about demand?
Once you have a feel for the market, you can then figure out how much you need to charge in order to make your quilting pay. How long does it take you to complete one of your quilts? What are your material costs? What would you like to make for an hourly wage? All of these questions need to be answered before you can determine if you will make money, let alone replace your current wages.
There are some pricing articles on www.QultingBusiness.com that may help you with your calculations. I know there is some work to do, but if you are truly interested in making your quilting pay, then it is well worth the effort.
Good luck,
Chuck
Here's another question:
I am interested in starting my own quilting business. I have just recently lost my full-time job. I do have a Professinal Quilters Long-arm machine and have been doing some quilting for family and friends. However, I do not have a Master Card or Visa Card, I do have a check card. Is it possible to do this with a check card? Thank you and I will be looking forward to your reply.
-- Karen Smith --
And here's my response to this question:
Hello Karen,
Having just a check card will not stop you from starting a machine quilting business - it just means that you will need to be a lot more conscious of your budget (since you cannot carry a balance).
In your case, since you have a quilting machine, you have the single biggest expense already covered. What you would need to do next is to go through the process of making your business official.
To do this, you would need to register your business and make sure you have all of the local requirements settled before opening. These requirements include, but are not limited to, insurance, getting a bank account, registering with your local government (town or county depending on where you are), and getting customers.
This may sound overwhelming, but there is a lot of good information about starting and running a small business available at the US Small Business Administration's web site at www.SBA.gov. There, you will find some great information that will help you decide how you want to run your business (or even if you are ready to make that step).
Good luck,
Chuck
PLEASE NOTE: I am not an attorney, so I am not giving any kind of legal advice here. You should always consult with an attorney when dealing with any kinds of legal matters.
Chuck Smith is the owner of QuiltingBusiness.com, the web's only site dedicated to helping you make money with your quilting. Visit QuiltingBusiness.com today to sign up for the FREE email mini-course: "7 Unique Ways to Make Money with Your Quilting."
Bead Design, An Enjoyable Pastime Or Business?
by K Snow
If you are the creative type who loves working with arts and crafts and are interested in making some money while doing something you enjoy, then you should consider taking up bead designing as a career. Not only can beads be used to design jewelry for classy formal parties and beach wear but they can also be used for designs on apparel and shoes. This increases the scope and possibility of developing further.
To start with, you could buy your first set of beads from a craft store round the corner. The good thing is that beads are relatively inexpensive as a raw material. Even though the choice might seem endless to start with, you may soon start to feel the need for more elaborate and up-to-date materials. Since the craft store does not specialize in beads, it has many other items to store in its inventory; there will be a limited amount of bead materials available.
You next stop in the search of more and better bead materials could be the online bead stores. These websites provide a plethora of options for the beads specialist and it will definitely be some time till you need to look for other options.
If you are looking at making bead designs for a considerable amount of time and not planning to give it up as a fad, then you should build and maintain a relationship with the online store since you will need to do a lot of shopping from there. Remember to check the store's reputation before parting with any money; do a quick search online to see how others have been served by them.
Once you have figured the trick of sourcing the beads and your raw material parcel has arrived, you can now let your imagination flow and create designs for various items that can be adorned with beads. Skirt tops, long skirts, jewelry, head gear, handkerchiefs, spectacle chains and the list goes on. Unleash your creativity and discover that you can produce delicate designs to go well with a business dinner or bold designs using large, colorful beads for a beach party. Once you get comfortable with the bead options that are available, you may want to mix and match your designs with other related material like shells, buttons and the like.
The designs done, you can use the wonderful medium called the Internet to sell the designs you have created to other apparel manufacturers and even to end consumers.
About the Author
For a collection of articles about arts and crafts offering tips and insights visit http://craft-tips.com
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