General Crafts Tips and Projects
A Word of Advice for the Beginning Crafter
By Eileen Bergen
A Word of Advice for a Beginning Crafter
By Eileen Bergen
http://www.theartfulcrafter.com
Even though my site is fairly new, I have been getting letters
from crafters looking for advice on how to get started selling
their wares. I thought that this letter and my answer would
be of interest to anyone beginning a new home business.
This is an example:
I would like to get started selling crafts to make some extra
money, but I don’t have a lot of it to spend. I can sew a
little. What is the best way I can make some money quickly?
Betsy by e-mail
Dear Betsy,
I have a little bit of bad news for you. Getting started in
any business, crafting or otherwise, is not something that
can be done quickly or cheaply.
First let’s look at the product you want to make. You say
you know how to sew, but that really does not give me enough
information. But assuming you have good sewing skills, what
is it that you plan to make? Is it a hand appliquéd vest or
a hand made hot pad.
The truth is that the market for each is vastly different
and that some things are worth much more than others. If you
are serious about getting a business going, you must start
with a quality product that people will pay a nice markup
for. Among other things, this means using good quality materials
and unique or
original ideas.
You can get many patterns for free on the Internet and in
magazines, but I believe they are only starting points. The
best patterns will not be given away for free. If you are
going to start with a free pattern, you have to do something
to make it different - to make it your own. You must have
something good to
sell.
Any business is going to require time and effort to get going.
If you’re working at home and are surrounded by distractions,
this might be harder than it sounds. You must act the same
as if you were going out to an office or factory to work.
Set aside certain hours that are devoted only to your business.
Set aside space just for your business. Buy the tools you
need to do quality work.
You need not buy new equipment. Check out what’s for sale
at eBay or at garage sales and flea markets. Buy your materials
when they are on sale or from the clearance bin. Buy online.
The same products you see in stores can cost 33% to 50% less.
The important thing is not to scrimp. Your customers will
know it and your sales will be affected.
You will have to devote some time and expense to advertising
of one sort or another. You have to find customers or you
are just wasting your time. Local craft shows are a good place
to start, as are online auctions at sites such as eBay or
Yahoo.
I really can’t tell you what your budget should be. It need
not be enormous. But this is definitely not something that
can be done for free, nor will you get rich quick.
Please go to www.theartfulcrafter.com/craft-business.html.
Read the articles I wrote and check out some of the resources
I recommend. You will be starting out with a lot more ammunition
than most.
Good Luck. Let me know how things work out.
Eileen Bergen
http://www.theartfulcrafter.com
Your Guide to Fun & Profits from Crafts
About the Author
Ms. Bergen has had a varied career, first as a special education teacher and than, after getting a MBA degree, as a vice president of a major insurance company. For the last eight years she has been creating and selling her crafts.