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Crafts & Hobbies Information |
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Getting Started Selling Your Crafts
Until recently crafts were usually sold locally or, at best, regionally. Now you literally have the whole world at your fingertips! Some of you may choose a gradual progression from selling to friends, to selling at fairs and shows, to retail selling ? and so on. Others may decide to jump directly from selling within their circle of friends to the worldwide Internet market - the costs are low enough that this is surprisingly doable. My first career was as a special education teacher. After 15 years of teaching I earned an MBA degree followed by CFA (Certified Financial Analyst) certification. After 15 years in finance I was a vice-president and portfolio manager of a major insurance company before I was downsized. Tired of the rat race, I opted for early retirement. Looking for something to do with all my free time, I started crafting and am now making a nice supplemental income from it. As a crafter and a businesswoman, I feel I have some valuable insights into the craft business that I can share with you. Getting Organized At some point in your progression from crafting for fun to crafting for fun and profit, you go from handcrafting individual items for yourself and friends to filling quantity orders for a broader marketplace. That's the time to take a very business-like approach to your craft business. This needn't be daunting. You don't need an MBA or management experience - just a bit of common sense. If you're going to do this for profit, you need to understand The Four M's: 1. Meet your market; Traditional craft retailing methods are what most crafters use to get started. They're the easiest way, especially if you don't know if anyone will buy what you make. I believe that there is a market for any well-made craft, whether decorative or useful. The problem facing many crafters is how exactly to go about selling them, or more accurately, finding paying customers. The fact is that there is an awful lot of competition out there. My own business got jump-started by my "circle of friends". My friends noticed and liked my calling cards and began to ask me to design and make cards for them. Starting with just Broderbund's Create-a-Card program, I was soon earning a nice supplemental income in just a few hours a week. It probably helped that I was retired and live in an area dominated by retirees. But I think that everyone has a "circle of friends" either socially or at work. Of course you don't want to impose on their friendship by making a hard sell, but rather use or display your crafts in front of your friends to see if they draw any interest. If they do and if they're priced right, you're on your way to craft retailing for profit. If your "circle of friends" market starts extending to friends of friends, you're probably ready to tap the general marketplace of craft retailing. Most crafters are aware of the periodic craft shows put on by local groups or even by the local Parks Departments. These usually cost little or nothing to join and should give you a fair idea of whether there is any broader interest in your craft. What better way to jump into craft retailing? There are also organized craft shows that tour the country, most of which charge an entrance fee for participants. Check your local papers, especially the free shoppers, for information about upcoming shows Another venue for craft retailing is at the local flea markets that spring up in every community just about every weekend. Again the entrance cost is usually minimal. The only other thing you need is a little marketing savvy. With little cost and some effort, you will be well on your way to knowing whether there is a market for your craft. Once you know that, you can move on and think about other ways of selling, such as in galleries, on consignment, on eBay or from your own website. All these methods and more are discussed in great detail on my website, The Artful Crafter www.theartfulcrafter.com Eileen Bergen The Artful Crafter
MORE RESOURCES: Smith, Billie Jean Campbell The Chattanoogan Why you need a new hobby The New Times 5 best roller skates in 2022 Insider A love for crafting becomes a retreat center business enterprise for women in Calhoun County Second Wave Media Cobblestone Crafts listed for sale after four decades for $679K HollandSentinel.com Combat Airlifter of the Week: Tech. Sgt. Arkeith Carter Little Rock Air Force Base 'I've been working on the railroad' | News, Sports, Jobs Faribault County Register Craft and hobby rooms are homes new hot spots Toronto Star Kimberly Sue Bearss Obituary - The Pueblo Chieftain Pueblo Chieftain 20 Hobbies that Make Money Small Business Trends 5 Ways to Find the Perfect Hobby for You and How to Master It MUO - MakeUseOf Bored at home? Now's the perfect time to pick up a new hobby CNN Underscored 'Elvis', Airstreamers and dueling pianos among entertainment fare Wooster Daily Record Hobby Lobby coming to Mundy Street Wilkes Barre Times-Leader Crafting is my favorite hobby Newsday West Virginia Hobbies & Crafts: A 25-year success story Huntington Herald Dispatch Student of the Week Sophia Lopez — Albuquerque Public Schools Albuquerque Public Schools Wanda Lee Houston | Obituaries | theworldlink.com Coos Bay World Endangered Crafts and the Destinations Keeping Them Alive The New York Times Best Online Art Classes Real Simple In memoriam: Funeral notices, May 22, 2022 | Obituaries | tucson.com Arizona Daily Star Hobby Lobby Raises Minimum Wage to $18.50 Business Wire We spoke to two professional knitters for the best tips and supplies for knitting beginners. Insider One Size Does Not Fit All: Hobby and Craft Books 2021 Publishers Weekly How to turn your hobby into an income stream The Guardian How Hobbies Infiltrated American Life The Atlantic Hobby Lobby confirms 2023 opening in Wilkes-Barre Twp. Wilkes-Barre Citizens Voice Best Craft Storage Products 2022 Better Homes & Gardens The young chef who, inspired by local artisans and crafts persons, has created Singapore's most innovative private dining experience Channel NewsAsia Dawn's Folly grows from hobby corner to shop selling handmade goods Port Clinton News Herald Irving-based Michaels will compete with Etsy by selling makers' creations The Dallas Morning News Most Popular Lockdown Hobbies for Women Revealed | News Craft Business Crafts I Intended To Try That I'll Probably Keep Putting Off www.autostraddle.com Hobbies and Leisure Activities Help My Sister Manage Parkinson's... Parkinson's News Today The most boring professions and hobbies, according to scientists Business Insider Michaels Arts and Crafts Chain Launches Advertising Business Business Insider South Lansing Farmers Market hosts winter arts and crafts market Lansing State Journal What you can expect now that crafts retailer Michaels is a private company - The Dallas Morning News What you can expect now that crafts retailer Michaels is a private company The Dallas Morning News Ancient tablet seized from Hobby Lobby returning home to Iraq Business Insider |
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