In My Studio: Craft Fair Prep

So Handmade Christmas Tree Skirts at a craft fair

I am frantically getting ready for my first craft fair of the season at the moment. There are many holiday fairs that start around now and continue almost every weekend until Christmas. These holiday fairs can be the most lucrative time of year for selling and can also provide a great opportunity to network and market your business.

I was looking at an old blog post I did about craft fair prep and thought it would be good to share it again.

Here are some tips and challenges:

1. Which Holiday Fairs: Choosing the holiday fairs to participate in is the first challenge. Balancing the sometimes high cost of a spot with the potential for earnings. A great way to gauge which fairs are good and which to avoid is by talking to fellow vendors and don't overstretch yourself by applying for one every weekend between now and Christmas, pace yourself. On the weekends in between go and visit local fairs to see if doing them the following year might be worthwhile. Look at the other potential costs involved or doing the fairs such as the distance to the fair, hotel costs if it's a two day affair etc.

2. Plan your space. Once you have decided which fairs to do look at the size and shape of the booth you have been allocated. A good way to plan your booth is to mark it out on the floor of your house with masking tape. Arrange your booth furniture in the space allocated making sure that you are aware of where the flow of people will come and make your space easy to negotiate. A booth that's too cluttered will put people off from entering, make sure it's open enough to entice customers.

Does your set up require an electrical outlet and where will it be? Remember to give yourself a designated space/ chair to sit, the fairs can stretch on and on and on and being comfortable is important. Take photos of your mock up so you can easily replicate it on the day. Finally make sure all the booth furniture is manageable and will fit into your car, doing extra trips costs more and wastes precious set up time.

3. Tablecloths: Make sure you have table cloths that cover the front and any visible sides of your tables all the way to the ground. This makes your space look more professional and also gives a great storage space for things you don't want to be on view. Choose the color wisely to best show off your products.

My craft fair display

4. Presentation: Work out beforehand where your products are going to go and if you need special stands/ baskets for them. Play around with the layout and once you are happy take photos so you can remember. Keep your products clean, ironed and stored carefully, presenting dusty, creased products at the fair will not help your sales.

5. Branding: Label your stand with your business name as visible as possible. Banners are a great way of doing this, Staples and other stationary stores are often giving good deals on printing them. Keep business cards easily accessible to visitors and put one in every customers bag. Donating an item to the obligatory raffle is also a good way of getting visibility for you business. Remember to have out a visitors book for e-mail addresses so you can start to build up a mailing list.

6. Price your products with labels that are easily visible, do this before the show to save time but also remember extra labels for any products you missed or for any changes/ discounts you want to make on the day.

7. Payment Options: Remember to bring with you a cash box with as much petty cash as possible, at least $50-$100 in a variety of different denominations and change. Look into ways that you can accept non-cash payments, this might be on a smart phone or iPad with a Square/Etsy card reader or similar but be aware of the additional costs. Remember to add the states sales tax to every purchase made, bring a calculator to easily work this out. Register online to file these payments.

8. Be your own advertisement: If possible wear one of your products (if it's jewelry or apparel) and remember to tell people that its available.

9. Don't Forget:

• Plastic or paper bags for customers purchases and packaging such as bubble wrap or tissue paper if needed 
• Business cards, banners and other branding items 
• Calculator, receipt book and notebook to keep track of sales 
• Pens, pins, safety pins, scissors, string, tape, small sewing kit 
• Food and drink to keep you going and a book for slow times 
• Extension lead for electrical supply if needed
• iPhone/card reader and cash box

I used my cart as a handy packaging station 

10. Network: Lastly don't forget to tell people where you will be at the weekend, make sure all your family and friends are going to visit the holiday fair and especially your booth. Post details of your schedule online and encourage visitors with promises of cookies!

Before anything else, preparation is the key to success.
Alexander Graham Bell

Good Luck and Good Making!

Sarah Omura - So Handmade

In My Studio: Periscope

In the last couple of months I have been obsessively watching Periscope. In case you don't know Periscope I am writing this blog post to show how it works and how it can be used by your own small craft business.

What is it?

Periscope is a free video streaming app which you can download onto your device from the app store. It allows users to watch or broadcast videos in real time. What this means is that a bit like Skype or Facetime you can watch something that is happening right now. Whilst you are watching you are able to add comments which the broadcaster can see their end and also tap your screen to add hearts if you are enjoying what you are seeing. These broadcasts are then available for anyone to watch within 24 hours after which they are deleted.

How could this apply to my small craft business?

As a viewer:

Follow like minded crafters and small business owners for great advice and info. A couple I would recommend are:

Caitlin Bacher  @caitlinbacher    Small business advice, especially about social media strategies

Merriweather Council @merriweatherc  Wonderful and practical advice about Etsy

Recent Periscope from the Merriweather Council about optimizing your shop for the holidays

Danielle of the Merriweather Council

As a broadcaster:

There are many ways you could use periscope to video stream live to potential customers, collaborators and followers, here are some ideas:

1. Show off or demo a new product
2. Launch a new collection
3. Small business discussion
4. Tour of your studio
5. Work in progress
6. Behind the scenes look at a photoshoot or a craft show
7. Question and Answer session
8. Focus group (feedback on a new product)
9. Teach a technique, do a demonstration
10. Talk about a blog post
11. Celebrate milestones

How this could be used by the HV Etsy Team?

1. Host meetings: As everyone lives so spread out across our region meeting up has proved difficult. Persicope is a way that we could bring everyone together. One of the group leaders could host a periscope that them all team members could watch. They would be able to join in the discussion through their comments..
2. Go behind the scenes at craft fairs, interview vendors and team members

I am yet to pluck up the courage to do a scope myself but would love to do one in the future so follow me on Periscope at @saraho32. I would love to see fellow members start to do scopes so please add your address in the comments and also add any recommendations of people to follow.

Good Luck and Good Scoping!

Sarah

So Handmade

Be A Guest Writer For Hudson Valley Etsy's Blog!

We love blogging and sharing with you what is new with the team, but we are also looking for guest writers to contribute to our blog.  If you are based in the Hudson Valley with a small business or you provide a service in the Hudson Valley helping artist and small businesses, we would love to hear from you!

Maybe you're an Accountant in the Hudson Valley with some tax preparation tips for small businesses. Or you're a Wedding Photographer and would like to share how you scout locations in this beautiful part of New York state.  You can be a Farmer or Gardener - we love locally sourced food too!

We would also love to hear from charities in the Hudson Valley.  With the Holidays approaching, we know this time of the year puts people in the giving mood. We would love to help you spread the word for your cause.

Our goal is to not only support our local handmade makers, but the greater community that we live in.  If you are interested, please email us at hvetsy@gmail.com and we'll get back to you!

In My Studio: Listening to Podcasts

My varied podcast subscriptions

While I work in my studio I love listening to all manner of podcasts. I listen to business and entrepreneurship podcasts to get useful tips for running a small craft business. I listen to crafty podcasts to get inspiration and motivation for my products and I listen to drama podcasts for pure pleasure while I get busy in the studio.

In the blog today I want to share with you some of the popular ones that fellow Hudson Valley Etsy team members listen too:

First, Marilyn from Pulp Sushi recommended a podcast to her Instagram followers a while ago called Being Boss. I started listening to this one on her recommendation and love it! On it, two creative boss ladies - Emily Thompson and Kathleen Shannon, talk about their experiences starting and running their own businesses. As they themselves say:

 "Being Boss is hard. Blending work and life is messy. Making a dream job of your own isn't easy. But getting paid for it, becoming known for it and finding purpose in it, is so doable- if you do the work."

I highly recommend this one for some great advice, motivation and real life inspirational tips to grow your business.

Download: Available from iTunes (search Being Boss) or from www.lovebeingboss.com

Another podcast of a similar genre is called Elise Gets Crafty.

This is one that I have been following for a while and I also love it for its down to earth, no nonsense advice from blogging, to running an Etsy shop, to juggling motherhood and working. Elise Blaha Cripe is a creative entrepreneur with a successful blog www.elisejoy.com  she sells online courses as well as owning her own shop selling handmade items. Her podcasts mainly take the format of discussions with guests who are invited on the show to talk about specific topics.

Download: Available from iTunes (search Elise Gets Crafty) and from www.elisejoy.com

Elena Rosenberg loves listening to A Way with Words podcasts while she works. Although not directly related to crafts and making, it is all about words and language and their creative usage. Hundreds of thousands of language lovers from around the world tune in each week to hear author Martha Barnette and dictionary editor Grant Barrett take calls about slang, grammar, English usage, old sayings, word origins, regional dialects and family expressions.

Download: Available from ITunes (search A Way with Words) or from www.waywordradio.org

Beyond the Picket Fence enjoys listening to Fresh Rag. This creative and business minded podcast also gives lots of great tips and advice about running a small craft business. Dave Conrey, the shows creator says:

"If you’re an artist, designer, crafter or other independent, creative entrepreneur looking to build your business and make more sales, you’ve come to the right place.

If you’re tired of busting your butt, with an ever-increasing work load, for a business that was supposed to be your dream, and you’re looking for a way to ease the pain, you’re also in the right place."

Download: Available from ITunes (search Fresh Rag) or from  www.freshrag.com


Good Luck and Good Listening!

Sarah
SO Handmade

I Thought I was Too Savvy To Get Scammed

I pride myself on being pretty savvy. Hey, I grew up in New York City, went to college at 16 and have traveled the world. I thought I could see through all the ruses but here I am, shamefacedly confessing to the fact that I got scammed. I’m telling this story in hopes it will save some of my fellow small business owners from falling prey.

I got an email from a gentleman from Singapore who asked if my business took Credit Cards. There were three specific products he wanted produced in bulk. The order totaled over 100 pieces. It all sounded legit; particularly because of the specificity of his order. However, I called Square, who processes my Credit Card transactions and asked about any precautions I should take before putting this order through. I was told to just make sure my account was Credited with the funds and as long as they notified me that the funds were in my account, there should not be any problem. Sadly, that was not the case.

I worked for two weeks to fill the order. I had already been paid upfront. Still, there was a nagging anxiety about the transaction.

Nurturing Creativity while Running a Business

One of my business goals for 2015 is to set aside 2-3 hours each week to make "things" without worrying about finishing it, selling it, or promoting it. This might mean a few of my other goals take longer to complete (building out my About page on Etsy, getting my website up and running after a 2 year hiatus, using Instagram for marketing), but I think making time for creativity will spill into the business side of things and bring greater success - not to mention happiness!

I'm out of practice when it comes to simply enjoying the process of making things and not worrying about if it will sell. I haven't totally figured out how to get over this hump so for now I'm just trying new things.

Last night a friend of mine hosted a gathering to make vision boards. Over 20 of us showed up and we started with a meditation and then just went crazy on the pile of magazines. Honestly I still don't totally understand how to make a vision board or how to use a vision board, I am so creatively blocked that I found myself ripping out images and words that would look good together so I could show it off on Instagram. It looked good, but it wasn't authentic so I tore them off my poster board and started over.

The woman next to me brought a Marimekko magazine and once I got my hands on images of their patterns the flood gates opened. I was able to tap memories of being a middle school kid making collages and suddenly it started to make sense.

My vision board is still a work in progress, I had to go home to start dinner and tend to my sick toddler, but I also wanted to leave some room so that I can add more later this week when I take time to create freely. I'll keep everyone updated as I find new ways to spend my creative hours. If you have any ideas or want to share what works for you I'd love to hear them!

The question of making a living and rolling the dice....

 I have been trying to get into larger (read: more expensive) shows and fairs over the past two years.

My latest one was the Northern Virginia Christmas Market in Chantilly, VA.

 Anticipating a great many people coming through the gate and it being a three day fair

I went into high gear for production. I tripled what my normal inventory would be. I priced each and every item. The boxes were packed and organized. I ordered tables and chairs and walls from the organizers in

order to not have to cart all that. I made phone calls to get more info about said walls....and was assured that they were solid walls.

 After packing the car, we realized that we needed the van so unpack the car and pack the van. We got a late morning start and hit the DC Beltway at rush hour :(

 Three hours to go 50 miles....

The walls were drapes, I couldn't display a lot of my art but the booth looked ok. I did have two tremendous neighbors that made the weekend a lot of fun.

 Houndstooth the Owl and several of his cronies are now living in new homes in Virginia.

 A delicious South American restaurant was nearby and the lovely Lindsay and I enjoyed it very much!

The ride home was a rainy blurrrrr......

I realized that a three day fair is only good for the promoters who can up the 'rent' fee.

Saturday is always a great day, if we could only have three Saturdays...

I recovered my investment, with a little more left over but not by any means did I make enough to gamble at it again. I also didn't need to pay for a room since my son lives in the area, if I had it would have been a wash. Now the person on my right sold an incredible infused olive oil that was to die for and she did a tremendous business. But she was the only one in my aisle that did. 

This particular venue was a bit too country rustic for my eclectic whimsical art.

But there is one called Crafty Bastards that is right in DC.........now where did I put those dice?

Selling One-of-a-Kinds in Today’s Retail Market: What are our Options?

For those of us that cannot wean ourselves from the love of making artisan crafts by hand, the constant dilemna is: How to market effectively and maybe…just maybe, have the chance of actually making a small profit through our businesses. Having gone the Craft Show, Home Show, Wholesale and Online Route, I cannot say I have the definitive answer, as it is different for everyone depending on how labor intensive your work is, how important it is that you are there to describe your process, and whether or not you have an item that can be mass produced in quantity or must be created as either one-of-a- kind or in small batches. But I have learned a lot in the 15 years I’ve been doing this since I left my position as a full time Art Teacher and set up a Ceramic Studio in my home. And I believe in Sharing because we’re not in competition, though it’s easy to fall into that trap. Really, We’re on the HVNY Etsy Team to encourage and enhance each others work and lives.

My business is making one-of-a-kind pieces of handmade ceramic and fused glass jewelry, and it is a multi-step process with creating pendant from raw clay, two eight hour firings, composing the necklace or bracelet or ring into a unique design. I plan to chronicle some of my ongoing marketing techniques, including successes and failures, and in so doing, hopefully shorten the learning curve for others. Currently, I have a Website, an Etsy site, I coordinate Craft Shows for others, (though am moving away from doing many myself), sell in some consignment boutiques, wholesale to Galleries and Crafts Shows and sell to a limited number of stores in the large Whole Food chain (in their Whole Body Depts.).

I guess what people might be most interested in right off the bat is how I got into Whole Foods as a vendor, which was an interesting process. I used to go fairly regularly to the Whole Foods in Ridgewood, NJ (where I lived until I moved up here to my little slice of Heaven in Warwick). I walked into their Whole Body Dept. one day when I was making a delivery to a consignment Gallery nearby. And of course, I was wearing one of my necklaces, which is always my most successful door to opening a dialogue about my business. I recognized the woman at the register and struck up a conversation.

Well, about 5 minutes into the convo, she commented that she loved the necklace I was wearing, and called over the Team Manager to look at it. The Team Mgr, in turn, said she thought the buyer would love the style and I made an appointment to meet with David. And I was IN. I said, “You mean I’m IN?” " Oh…you’re in", he said. Scads of paperwork, insurance forms, and getting UPC Codes later, I was selling at Whole Foods. Next, I approached another couple of stores in the chain who were eager to try out the line as well. And basically, that’s how it happened. So, the pros and cons.

The biggest PRO is the PR value of saying that you sell to Whole Foods, which of course, most people have heard of. Also, a lot of people with money shop there, and you never know WHO might walk in and discover your line, so to speak. It definitely inspired me to keep on my toes, bringing new designs all the time to keep the buyers interested. And now the CONS, of which there are many. Since my pieces are on-of-a-kind, I need to bring them to each store so that they can hand select. I have offered to email pics or send a “Pick Box” which I’ve done with other stores, but so far, No Go. I also need to sell my work to them at 50% of their Retail Price. Because my pieces are so labor intensive, and because I don’t like to move above the $50-$55 retail price, I end up with little or no profit once travel time, gas, time spent making the pieces, and materials are factored in. So, unless you can really rack them out, and have a great, easy to stock “Point of Purchase” display, it is very difficult to make any money, in selling handcrafted and “made with love” items to larger Chain Stores. Again, it’s nice to put in your Resume, and I’m grateful to have the opportunity, but for the type of product I market…definitely not a money maker. More of my musings to ponder next week….

Roberta Green from RGClay Creations

Setting up a Commuter Office

Like many creative entrepreneurs, I have a full-time "real job" that helps support my family while I work on building my small business. I am grateful for my job, but the long commute is my least favorite part of the day. Spending over 3 hours every day on a train isn't that fun in general, but what's worse is that I can't stop thinking about how much I would love to be spending those 3 hours filling orders for my shop, designing new products, or just building my brand.

I recently decided to take control of my commuting hours and make them "office" hours.The bright side is that every commuting day I get about 3 uninterrupted hours to spend on my business. The working conditions may not be ideal and yes, I'm pretty exhausted by the time I get on my train home, but I'm actually getting things done.

Here are my Top 5 Tips for a Successful Commuting Office:

1. To Do List. 
Keep a notebook handy at all times where you can jot down things you need to do for your business. Every morning I use the first part of my commute to pick the tasks I think I can handle on my morning and evening commute. Then I make a list for the day.

2. Block all social media.
It's too easy to burn 45 minutes mindlessly scrolling through Facebook. I went as far as deleting Facebook and Twitter permanently from my phone (I kept Instagram). If you don't want to delete the apps then keep your phone in your bag and out of reach.

3. Reading for inspiration.
I'm a big believer in reading non-fiction and biographies. So much motivation can come from reading about other people with ambitious dreams. My recent favorite reads were Jim Henson by Brian Jay Jones, and The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg. If you're a car/driving commuter then pop in some audio books!

4. Tools of the trade.
I often tote my laptop and Wacom tablet on the train so I can get some design work done, or just sketch. If you're a knitter then the train is an ideal place to get knitting or crocheting done. If your craft isn't portable then just try bringing a journal to make lists, dream, or doodle new ideas.

5. Give your brain a break.
Let's be honest, it's exhausting working multiple jobs, worrying about time and money, caring for our families and pets, making dinner, getting enough sleep - the list is endless. It's important to allow yourself a break from the madness and just zone out. Take a 20 minute nap, listen to some relaxing music, or flip through a magazine. 

Ryan - WickedMint

The Balancing Act

The key to keeping your balance is knowing when you have lost it – anonymous

When working full-time and also trying to grow a small business, it is easy to spread yourself too thin. Besides all of the hours that are spent working at a job that may not be your real joy, you may also push yourself to exhaustion and irritability, while working on the very thing that may be your heart’s desire.
We all have choices, and the often the relief of having a steady paycheck can trap a person into believing that this is more important than doing what you really love.

When the hours that are available to work on your craft are regulated by everything else that must be done, it can feel as though little is being accomplished, or that the process is moving too slowly.

Part of the balancing act of life includes family obligations, social activities, necessary chores, appointments, and unexpected events.

As I prepare to take a week and a half for summer vacation, I am accepting of the fact that the time spent exploring, relaxing, enjoying, will recharge me. In order to have energy for fresh new ideas, it is important to take time to relax, and realize that taking a brief break can be positive.

The act of balancing all aspects of life can be a challenging dilemma. Time passes quickly, and often while looking towards the future, we forget to experience the now.

Jenny - Reclaimed Designs

Inspirations for 2014, the computer saved the radio!

With the New Year comes an evaluation of the last year, followed by plans to improve the upcoming year.  Lately I have been improving my outlook on the world through many different outlets on the internet.  Many of them have been very inspiring for me to plan my year and take a new look on how I go through my life.

As a busy business owner and mother, it’s hard for me to go to lectures and workshops.  Lucky for me in today’s savvy media world, I can put on my headphones and take a class, listen to a lecture or have a discussion in a topic of my interest.   Radio shows about human struggles and accomplishments can inspire you in your everyday.  Now with streaming, I can listen  to most radio programs on my schedule.  I listen to my favorite programs or podcasts while working in my workshop.  Two I enjoy often are Hidden Kitchens and This American Life.  Don't miss King's Candy: A New Orleans Kitchen Vision.

Ted Talks offers diverse subjects and many inspirational speakers. 

Jarret J. Krosocczka offers his amazing journey from kid to an artist here.

Amy Cuddy’s Ted Talk about body language ends with a personal story at the end that is so inspiring. 

When I want to learn something new and want more then a how to book, I have been turning to online courses. Craftsy has been great. Classes I can watch or rewatch, paced on my own time.  They also offer free courses to get you hooked.

A new site I found is Skillshare.  They have designed their learning experience to be a project.  There are videos followed by assignments that apply to how you want to use the skill they are sharing.  I promised myself that I would become better organized so I needed a system to get all the to dos out of my head so I could be less stressed and get the important things done to achieve my goals.  I got myself set up with a system with Tiago Forte’s Get Stuff Done Like A Boss:Design your Workflow and double your productivity in 21 days.  

I have also enjoyed Jeff Staple’s A Staple of Branding: How to Start Your Fashion Company.

His story with mistakes and successes in business is useful beyond just making apparel.

A friend has started Creative Life Coaching, Karmen Lizzul where she does radio broadcasts with people about creativity.  One broadcast was  with Erin Cochran of Revealing design.  If you have ever found your workspace has gotten a little out of hand this is the lady to listen to.  She has some great ideas and revelations on how to create a space that lets you enjoy and focus on what you do.  

Listen Here

I've got my space cleaned out, my goals set, my inspirations and mentors playing in my ears.  2014 is going to rock!

Karen - LarkPractial

Ceating Success From the Inside Out: Selling Your Uniqueness

No two pop-tarts are alike and the same goes for people.  Yes, it’s true.  I was going to use the analogy of snowflakes, but that’s so overdone.

Seriously, though, as small business owners selling on Etsy and at craft fairs, we can often feel overwhelmed and lost in a sea of other artists and makers.  When we feel this way, it can help to take a step back and get introspective about who we are and what unique points of view, skills, and strengths we have to offer the world.  Then we can use that powerful information to present ourselves and our products in a way that no one else can.  Unlock your special pop-tartness right now, with these steps.

Know your greatest qualities.

We all have pre-conceived notions of what makes us special, but the people who know us, love us, and work with us can tell us what they consider to be our best qualities from a totally different perspective.  So ask them and don’t be shy about it.  Set up a free account with Survey Monkey and create a one-question online survey asking at least 20 people you know what they think your 3 best qualities are.  You can make it anonymous if you like so that people can respond freely. 

Once you have the data, rank the responses until you can see what your top 5 best qualities are according to those who know you best.  Consider these top qualities and reflect on whether these traits are reflected in your brand and the way your present yourself to your customers.  Write down at least one specific example of how you can better incorporate or represent your top 3 qualities into your brand.

For instance, one of your top qualities may be that you are detail-oriented.  That quality will surely be reflected in your work, so promote that unique selling point.  Make it obvious for your customers.  Mention it in your Etsy listing descriptions how every detail is carefully considered by you before being executed.

Tell your unique story.

Each one of us is a product of our experiences on this Earth.  We all have stories that make up who we are. What are the big stories that have shaped your life?  Write down at least 5 one-sentence story points that define you that you feel your ideal customer would relate to; things like family stories, overcoming adversity, why you do what you do, how you discovered your art, accidents, near misses, exhilarating moments, losses, life experiences, momentous occasions, fortuitous events, etc.  Then turn each of these story points into a full-fledged story (write it down!). 

Once you have these stories, you can use them in different ways as your present yourself and your business to the world – through your About page on Etsy or your website, blog articles, or biographies for shops or galleries where you sell your work.

Think about your goal – you want to establish connections with customers who appreciate what you have to offer and who return to see what else you are producing.  For instance, when potential customers read your About page, they don’t want to just learn about you.  They want to learn what it is about you that can help them get what they want.  So make sure that you tell a story in your About page that shows customers what they can expect from you that they can’t find anywhere else.

Remember, there’s only one of you in the history of this world and what you have to offer is of value to others.  What is your unique story that will connect you to your customers? 

Resources.

Want to learn more about yourself, your strengths, and your best qualities?  Here are some resources:

Strengths Finder 2.0 by Tom Rath

http://www.howtofascinate.com

http://www.tonyrobbins.com/ue/disc-profile.php

Take Action Now!  Follow the steps above then leave a comment below.

In My Studio: Quality Control

Sarah with a basket making group in Northern Namibia

I was lucky enough to work in Namibia in Southern Africa for 3 years helping crafts people to make and sell products for the burgeoning tourism industry.

The crafts were mainly made from natural resources such as basketry, wood carving and pottery. I helped to design products they could make which would both appeal to tourists and be easily transported.

One of the main problems with the products was maintaining good quality control. As one way to illustrate this for people who spoke many different languages we came up with a list of '10 Commandments For Making Quality Craft Products'. 

I was looking at this the other day and was amazed how relevant  it is to crafts people everywhere- including us. So I thought I would share these Namibian 10 Commandments so we can all keep in mind the importance of quality control and to remember that we are only a small part of a much larger community of crafts people working all over the world.

 Quality is remembered long after the price is forgotten. Gucci Family Slogan


Good Luck and Good Making!

by Sarah Omura, SO Handmade

www.etsy.com/shop/SOhandmade1

In My Studio: How to Start Your Own Small Craft Business

When I first started my business So Handmade at the beginning of 2012 I was completely in the dark as to how to go about it. After much research and frustration I finally got it up and running. I realized how wonderful it would have been at the time to have a check list of all the steps involved to follow. So in order to save the same frustrations and endless research this is how I went about it, I hope it helps crafts people like myself on the ladder to starting new and successful businesses:

1. Brainstorm some name ideas.

2. If you are planning on creating your own website it's a good idea at this point to look online at Go Daddy or other IP address providers to see if any of the names you like for your business have a corresponding IP address that is available and affordable. I believe if you want your own website address it's best for continuity and ease for people to find you to have an IP address that is as similar as possible to your business name.

3. Decide on the name and buy the IP address. At this stage for a small amount of money you can also add on your own new business e-mail address which is great to keep your business and private e-mail addresses apart.

4. Go to the local county clerks office and register your business. There might be a form to fill out before hand so check their website. You will have a pay a small fee to register, approx $25

5. Register for an EIN (employer ID number) online at www.irs.gov/Businesses/Small-Businesses-&-Self-Employed/How-to-Apply-for-an-EIN

6. Open a bank account, shop around to get the lowest fees possible. I believe that having your personal and business bank accounts separate is much easier for book keeping purposes.

7. Design a logo

8. Take photos of your products and have prototypes ready to show potential retailers.

9. Get business cards printed remember to include your e-mail address, website, etsy shop address, phone number and even your facebook page address.

10. Develop a template for a letterhead/ invoices etc

11. If you registered your own website in step 2 now is the time to design your website. The IP provider usually includes a website builder program where you can easily use their templates and drop in your own photos and blurb.

12. Open a facebook page for your new business and invite all your friend to 'like' you. Try and keep this regularly updated with new products, craft fairs you are participating in and other news from your business

13. Start your own Etsy shop if you want to begin to sell to customers around the country and internationally

14. Investigate local craft fairs and apply to be a vendor

15. If you plan on doing craft fairs or selling direct to the public register online to collect sales tax: www.tax.ny.gov/bus/st/stmp.htm (if you are in NY state). You have to begin by filing quarterly but they will assess your payments and you may be able to file annually in the future.

16. Visit local stores that might be interested in stocking your merchandise.

17. Sign up for Outright to keep track of your income/ expenditure, this is a free book keeping website which helps to keep track of all your accounts and what's coming in and what's going out.

18. Remember to keep good records of your sales and expenditure for tax purposes. If you are working from home you can claim for utilities and also any childcare expenses.

"Do what you love in the service of people who love what you do" Steve Farber

Good Luck and Good Making!

by Sarah Omura, SO Handmade

www.etsy.com/shop/SOhandmade1

Creating Success from the Inside Out - What you need to do right now to maximize your profits

We might sell handmade scarves, beautiful one of a kind collages, jewelry, vintage finds, soap, pottery or any other untold number of products. It doesn’t really matter what it is – what’s important is that we are selling.  Selling is what sustains our livelihoods.  So how do we maximize our profits so that we sell more?

Blackbirds Baked in a Pie Tea Towel by wickedmint

It’s time to take a good hard look at our profit history.

I’ve known subconsciously for a long time that there are some jewelry styles that I just love to make but that don’t get many views or sell in my Etsy shop.  At the same time, I know that there are certain styles that sell more often.  But without actually sitting down and analyzing my profit history, I would never actually know the facts so that I could take action to maximize my profits.

Here’s what to do:

1.   Dig out your spreadsheet, software program or whatever it is that you use to keep track of the items that you sell/have sold.  You can do this analysis for any time period you wish – this year, last year, the last 6 months...  I did it for the last 3 years since that’s how long I’ve been in business.  Do what makes sense for you.

2.       Take out a piece of paper and think about how to divvy up the types of products that you sell.  Write down your categories.

You want to determine what percentage of your business income comes from each of these types so figure out how you want to compare.  For instance, if you sell hand knit outerwear, you could create these categories (mittens, hats, scarves…).  Or perhaps you sell different styles of outerwear, in which case you may want to divide your categories into children’s mittens, children’s scarves, adult mittens, etc.  For example, I sell earrings, bracelets, necklaces, etc.  I also have a bridal shop, so I created categories for bridal earrings, bridal necklaces.  For my own purposes, I also broke it down further into vintage style earrings, modern earrings, resin earrings, etc.

3.       Write down the total revenue you got in each of the categories.

4.       Next to each category list the average price point of the product. 

You probably have a range of prices within each category.  Look at what you sold (for your chosen time period) in that category and come up with the average price point (total revenue in that category divided by the number of sales in that category will give you the average).

5.       Determine what percentage of your total business income came from each category.  Do this by calculating your total revenue for your target time period.  Now divide the revenue for each category by the total revenue and multiply by 100 for the percentage.

Crow Steals Sun for the People by geminiriverrocks

Now you have written proof of what products sell the most.  You may already have known this intuitively, but seeing it on paper and seeing how much your best selling products are contributing to your bottom line can be very helpful for focusing your energies in the future on the products that are yielding you the most revenue.

I sell far more earrings than necklaces or bracelets.  Since doing this exercise I’ve given myself permission to go crazy making earrings and not worry so much about having enough necklaces and bracelets in my shop.  In doing this exercise, did you confirm what you already knew or did you discover some new insights as far as where your revenue is coming from?

A little plug to the fabulous Rich Happy Hot B School, the online marketing course that I am taking right now which is transforming the way I look at my business and teaching me how to turn my business into the best it can be.

Next time, I’ll talk about the number one thing I learned recently that we must do in order to prep our businesses for total success.