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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: The Alphabetical Guide To Craft Hobbies | A-Z List Of Crafts Country Living UK Parish library book sale draws returnees | News | hammondstar.com Hammond Daily Star online Ability-Focused Job Fair returns to OKC Journal Record Michaels Welcomes Sellers with Launch of Online Marketplace EcommerceBytes Council on Aging introduces volunteer program Times Bulletin Crochet made easy: 'The Woobles' company finds big success in teaching craft to beginners Fox Business RV Travel Newsletter Issue 1097 RVtravel.com Looking for a Hobby? Here's 8 Places in Vancouver You Can Pick ... Vancouver Magazine 32 Inexpensive and Engaging Hobby Activities Teaching Expertise 8 craft hobbies everyone's talking about in 2023 Country Living UK Adventures Through the Human Body | MedPage Today Medpage Today Everything you need to know about buying a kids sewing machine WGHP FOX8 Greensboro Bloom Into Fun: 7 Spring Hobbies to Refresh Your Mind and Body The Teen Magazine In this edition: March 30, 2023 – The Licking News The Licking News Marvyl Ann Wilson | News, Sports, Jobs Daily Mining Gazette Patricia A. Delancey Kenosha News Young local artists exhibit at Great River Arts ECM Publishers Meet the Faces of Democracy: Carly Koppes (R-CO) The Fulcrum February Students of Month named at Chilton Middle School Tri-County News Arts and crafts RNIB Business Intel: Crossroads Hobbies and Crafts Roanoke Times Hobby Lobby to open this fall in Midland Mall Midland Daily News Tyndall Connect: Building relationships Tyndall Air Force Base Premiere: Neev Shares New Single “The House” Under the Radar Mag IRS Hobby vs. Business: What It Means For Taxes Yahoo Finance Bobbie Merrill-Bailey Obituary (1936 - 2023) Legacy.com Business Intel: Salem Hobby Shop Roanoke Times OPINION: Fighting through spring semester blues Indiana Daily Student Endangered Crafts and the Destinations Keeping Them Alive ... The New York Times From Hot Air Balloons to Local Art, These Are the Top Hobby ... Northern Virginia Magazine Cobblestone Crafts listed for sale after four decades for $679K HollandSentinel.com 125 Best Hobbies For Women Parade Magazine Ellen DeGeneres crafts comeback with YouTube series The New Daily 24 DIY activities for middle school students Teaching Expertise Where to try new hobbies in San Diego County in 2023 The San Diego Union-Tribune Bored at home? Now’s the perfect time to pick up a new hobby CNN Underscored UFO downed by $400,000 missile may have been $12 hobby balloon Business Insider How to Find a New Hobby | Chase Chase News & Stories Don't turn your hobby into a side hustle The Japan Times Why Hobbies Are So Important in Retirement The Wall Street Journal 10 Brain Exercises for Stroke Recovery Healthline Amityville Women's Club hold first meeting of 2022-23 club year Amityville Record Hobby Lobby coming soon at Oakleaf Town Center in Jacksonville The Florida Times-Union Crafting is my favorite hobby Newsday Crafts & Hobbies City of Aurora Nothing Fights the Chill of Winter Quite Like Soup Lancaster Farming Hidden Gems: Money Pit Hobbies combines fun and mechanics in the Big Country KTAB - BigCountryHomepage.com Hobby Lobby vs. Michaels: Which craft store is better? Business Insider 8 Queer Nerd Hobbies and How to Get Into Them www.autostraddle.com Low-cost relaxing hobbies to take up this winter Metro.co.uk It's OK Not To Have Hobbies HuffPost Secretive Space Force unmanned craft lands after 2.5 years in orbit Business Insider Dorothy A. Walker | News, Sports, Jobs Marietta Times 9 creative workshops in Toronto for new hobbies & skills Shedoesthecity A new world of learning and friendship Saga Magazine News School teacher starts crafting and making earrings as a side hustle Business Insider What do Nobel Prize winners have in common? They're creative ... SiliconRepublic.com Friends of A.K. Smiley Public Library will hold book sale Oct. 21-23 Redlands Daily Facts Most Popular Lockdown Hobbies for Women Revealed | News Craft Business Hobby Lobby Signs Lease for New Store in Heart of The Villages West Orlando News 101 Fun Hobbies for Teenage Girls WeHaveKids New Kingston arts & crafts store offers classes Kitsap Daily News Shoplifter who attacked store owner with bear spray now free Kamloops This Week 10 Items You Should Always Buy at Dollar Tree Yahoo Finance |
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