Some Halloween Craft Fun

Just so you don't think I'm all work and no play, here's a web page where you can find some great Halloween crafts and activities. It's that time of year, and kids love Halloween almost as much as birthday's and Christmas (or Hanukah).

Happy Crafting!
Chuck

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How to Package and Label Your Crafts

One of the biggest mistakes that crafters make when they first start selling their crafts (and a mistake many craft business veterans make) is to discount the impact that packaging and labeling have on sales success. I talk about packaging and labeling in my book, "How to Start Your Own Craft Business," but I just came across this post on HomeBasedCraftBusiness.com that discusses the packaging and labeling issue at length.

Inventive packaging that tells your story is one of the best ways to set yourself apart from the competition. And, it also helps you charge a premium for your crafts. So, take the time to develop a great packaging and labeling strategy. You'll be glad you did.

Happy Crafting!
Chuck

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Great Craft Video - Fairy Craft

I found this great craft video on YouTube. It's not really related to a craft business, but I thought it was a great way for a craft business to showcase their skills - provide some free training on a simple craft on their website.



When you give back to the community, people start to visit your web site and also recommend it to friends. It's a great way to build traffic and a reputation.

Happy Crafting!

Chuck

Craft Mafia - A Craft Business Collective

I was checking out my Google Alerts, and ran across a story about the Manchester Craft Mafia, a group of craft business owners in Manchester, UK. Here's their mission statement from their site:

Manchester Craft Mafia is a group of crafty businesses dedicated to supporting and sharing a creative, maverick spirit of crafting in Manchester, Greater Manchester and beyond. We’re craft and proud!

We want to help kick-start the new wave of . . .

. . . entrepreneurial crafters sacking the rat race and finding other ways to make a living . . . people crafting en masse and in public . . . anyone hiding an inner crafter . . . and everyone who just loves buying, finding or making something that bit different.

The idea for the Manchester Craft Mafia came from the original Austin Craft Mafia, who have now set up a website to explain what a Craft Mafia is, and provide links to Craft Mafia Familias from around the globe. In addition, they tell you how to start your own Craft Mafia Familia and share ideas with other craft business owners in your area.

This is such a GREAT idea! When you can get together with other craft business owners and discuss how to improve your craft business, you leverage the experience and creativeness of a number of individuals.

A craft business can sometimes be very lonely. When you are working in isolation, the tasks you have before you can be daunting - creating your crafts, going to craft shows, developing marketing, working on a web site, and more... - and a group of crafters going through the same struggles can be a great source of support and wisdom.

Check out the Craft Mafia website, and see if this is something you can create in your area.

Happy Crafting!
Chuck

What I've Been Up To

Well, it's been a VERY long while since I've updated this page. In fact, it's been almost a year since I've added any new contact.

The reason... I've been lazy. I spent all of my time and energy last Fall and early Winter in creating and launching "How to Start Your Own Craft Business" and I just kind of let things go on auto-pilot.

Well, I went back to the stats on the craft business site, and noticed that it's still making some very good sales, and people are very interested in starting their own craft business. So, I've decided to revamp the site, restart the blog, and really creating a community of crafters who want to turn their hobby into a full- or part-time business.

So, watch this space over the next few weeks. I'll be creating some new content, and also working on some new ideas for products. I hope you'll be able to participate and help drive the new direction of www.MyCraftBusiness.com, so please join in!

Happy Crafting!

Chuck

An Interview with Craft Business Owner "Cathy of California"

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

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

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

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

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:

1. 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).
2. 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.

I hope this clears things up about my email plans. I am going to be sending out more emails this week leading up to the end of the launch promotion - midnight EST on Friday. So don't be surprised if you see 4 or 5 more emails about the launch - I'm that passionate about the new product, and I want as many people as possible to take advantage of this special promotion.

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

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:

"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.

These two special bonuses are my way of saying "Thank You" to the very first buyers of what
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

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...

"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.
  

These two special bonuses are my way of saying "Thank You" to the very first buyers of what
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:

www.expotv.com

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:

www.expotv.com

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

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:

www.mycraftbusiness.com/video2.html

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.

www.mycraftbusiness.com/video2.html

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

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:

www.mycraftbusiness.com/video1.html

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.

www.mycraftbusiness.com/video1.html

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!

www.mycraftbusiness.com/mcb-top10.htm

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

Last Chance for Special Report

I wanted to write you a quick note to let everyone know that the email about the special report,

"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:

www.mycraftbusiness.com/prelaunch.htm

Here's what's in the special report:

TOP TEN QUESTIONS ANSWERED

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 already, you'll be notified of the download link. If you're not sure, you can sign up again!

www.mycraftbusiness.com/prelaunch.htm

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,

"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