The art and craft business
I decided that I will write about the small business for woman and the craft shows. I started my small business couple years ago. I started the craft business I embroidery and sewing and I have in this issue pretty lot of experience.
Who tries to make some money in a craft business?
- Somebody is handy,
- Creative
- Lost their job, or can’t go to work.
- Is in retirement
Yes, you have made the decision but what can you choose?
1. Select your business entity
If you are a specialist in crocheting, or knitting, then you can focus a customer group and start to work according to their demand. Increase your experience, and go to school to learn new technical.
2.Think about how worth for you the craft business
You may pay attention to the thrift, time, and how your customers like your goods.
Thrift. The time people spend with limitation of their money. Your merchandise has an expense like investing in material, your work and time. You should evaluate those aspects and develop your business.
Time. It is an important aspect, but in the beginning you are forced to invest more time than it is worth. You will collect your experience because any city has different customers, any craft show has different vendors, merchandise and demands of customers.
3. Identify your customer
If your customer is children you can make caps, gloves, mufflers, scarves. They are not so difficult like a pullover, and you don’t have to make so many sizes.
How will the people like your goods?
That is the most difficult question for me. I am from Europe, and our taste, is different than here. The people like anything which is unique.
Like I was at a craft show where a vendor sold an old window and she painted a sunflower on it, or show- flakes, etc. It costs about $40 or more, and she sold many of them.
Very popular is the quilting; many classes and schools teach the woman to do quilting work.
4.Find a good vendors and distributors
Where can you buy the good and reasonable material, tools, machines.
5. Make a business plan
6. Create your publicity
Establish a website, write blog, advertising,
7. Start to sell.
Where can you sell?
For example: eBay, Etsy, your web site, craft shows, shop, consignment shop etc.
8. Marketing
Control the competitor, market. Analyze your business, traffic of your web site.
9. Fallow the news
Lows, techniques, fashion.
10. Make your own policy
It has to content the shipping, return, claim, etc.
I will about all of these 10 steps write the details according to my experience in the next time. http://artsandcrafts.about.com/od/startingyourbusiness/a/startcraftbusiness.htm http://www.craftbusinessguide.com/
