How to Start a Craft Business & Sell Crafts 1-2-3
How to Start a Craft Business
If you are a crafter, you know how much fun craft-making can be. And not everyone has this talent - often
handmade items (especially one-of-a-kind) offer a higher value than their manufactured competitor, and thus
demand a higher price. If you can produce items that are both beautiful and useful to others - you may have an
income-producing "hobby" on your hands...
Meg Mateo Ilasco is a craftsperson herself. In fact, her creative talent for designing wedding invitations
turned into a full-time business. Due to customer demand, she expanded her product line to include stationary
and accessories, and the rest is history.
Having turned her own hobby into a business, Meg has lots of ideas that have helped many others start their
own craft businesses.
She offers an "instruction-type" guide, which also
includes success stories and mistakes made by other craft entrepreneurs so you can be one step ahead
before you ever start your business.
- Find out how to get your business license and other work-related requirements
- Advice on developing a successful income-producing product
- How to sell your product and get publicity (free advertising!)
- Get it here >> Start Your Own Craft Business
rated by customers
10 Craft Businesses You Can Start Now
No matter what type of craft you want to
sell, you want to treat your business as a business. Meaning - put the time and energy into your
business that it needs to grow, be organized and make a plan. A business is more than just a
hobby.
Do market research before your launch your business. Find out who your competitors are and what your target
market wants. How can you be different and better than other craftspeople in the marketplace? Can you create a
product that is needed but doesn't yet exist? What does your market want? The Craft, Inc. Business Planner helps you make your
business a success!
Soap-Making for Fun & Profit
Work at home in your own comfortable artist
studio making soaps for almost any occasion. This craft business has really taken off since you can make
money consistently selling soaps all year round. Unique soaps are a popular gift item, and since soaps get
used up, you can easily build a stable source of residual income from satisfied customers.
These two guides give you the perfect mix of information on both the business of soap-making and
aromatherapy recipe instructions. Recommended by both beginners and experts as easy-to-understand and full of
business-building ideas that can help your business grow.
Get all of your questions answered & instructions on getting started >>
- What are the right materials, tools and equipment to use?
- Comprehensive instruction on over 40 specialty techniques like layering and marbling
- Ways to sell your creations at craft shows, shops, and other outlets
- Craft business basics, including pricing and record keeping
- Start now >> Soap-Making for Fun &
Profit
- Learn more >> Complete Book of Essential Oils &
Aromatherapy
More Craft Business Ideas & Business Plans:
Craft Business Plan Templates that you can instantly download:
Save Money with Wholesale Craft Supplies
Find wholesale merchandise and suppliers through the Go Wholesale Search Engine. Search for any
wholesale items and find a variety of companies who have what you want. Compare offers to get the best price.
No membership required. Plus, learn about industry trends and the best bargain sources in their wholesale
forum. Get Wholesale Craft Supplies & Equipment
Easy Steps for Selling 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
to Sell Your Crafts for Profit
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:
- Meet your market;
- Minimize your costs;
- Maximize your selling price; and
- Market the heck out of your product.
Simple, right? But very few people get it. Look at the high failure rate for new businesses. It takes
effort to be successful, but the task is hardly impossible.
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, www.theartfulcrafter.com. Come visit and see what you can
do to become successful in the craft business!
About the Author: Eileen Bergen, The Artful Crafter | www.theartfulcrafter.com
How to Sell Arts & Crafts
Well organized information includes charts, graphs and tables. So thoroughly useful, this guide was used as the
training manual by the Association of Creative Craft Industries (ACCI) in their Professional Crafters
course.
Selling Crafts on the Internet
Learn how to use online auctions, Web sites, email, discussion groups, search engines, link strategies and
hundreds of other techniques for selling craftwork online.
Etsy.com
Great website for craftspeople who want to sell their crafts online - use their website as your storefront!
Craft Business Resources
More Articles about Starting a Craft Business:
2,000 Business Plans
