Home Based Craft Business.com

Someone pushed that big orange button over to the right. The one where you can ask me any questions.

Here is the latest question:

I've been interested in a while about starting a part time craft business but am not sure where to begin.  I want to try a variety of different crafts but I'm not sure what ones would sell best.  I love cross stitch but as it takes too much time I don't know how to price it without scaring potential customers away.  Could you please give some advice as to where to begin? Thanks Kate

photo credit: jsc*

And my answer was:

While it is nice to have a variety… it's best to start out with one
type of product. Then you become "The Queen of ……?"  You need to be
know as the professional or the expert in ???

So if you wanted to do cross stitch for example… you could do cross
stitch personalization of some craft product.

I'm just thinking out loud here:

So if you made bibs or teddy bears or aprons or what ever…

and then came up with several quick to stitch patterns that you
personalize  and then sell… that might be a good product idea.

You need to find something to cross stitch that's different… you
aren't going to sell a cross stitch wall hanging to anyone.

But you could become the "Queen of Cross stitch pillow cases for brides"
like supper special pillow case sets for the bride and groom with their
names embroidered on them.

Or you could become the queen of 1950's replica aprons with a cross
stitched - apple or cherry or pink poodle…

The idea is that you need to have a "niche" that only you fill. You do
it so wonderful and beautiful that lot's of shoppers will just have to
have it.

Brainstorm a bit and get back to me with your ideas.

Yes… Kate responded:  

I've been a lot of thinking and one idea keeps coming back into my mind that I just had to share with you. 

I am very much into personalized products as you may know and so I thought about creating teddy bear samplers. 

To give a brief description of the product I'll give you an example of a new birth in the family. 

Lets just say its a little girl.  I will use a stand alone teddy and dress it up as a little baby with a little pink (or any other colour) nappy and a dummy in its mouth.  As I want to incorporate a bit of cross stitch into the project I will stitch 'It's a Girl' on the back of the nappy.

As an optional feature; to personalize the bear and make it a sampler. I will either paint or stitch a little plaque with the important details of the birth (name, date, time ,weight etc) which will be placed in front of the bear.

I could use this same idea for weddings, christenings, birthdays, christmas, easter, halloween or just as a simple gift with no specific occasion.

My main goal is to produce products that have a sentimental value and that are personal to the recipient but not the same old thing that everybody gives as gifts.

I will continue to keep you posted on other ideas I have,
 
Thanks again,  Kate

I shot back a quick note to Kate with a few of my own ideas…

Hi Kate,

This is a pretty cute idea… the personalization aspect it what sets
you apart.

but… I might be looking for a Large bear instead of a cheap teddy…
Or a teddy that is really cute… I mean adorable in itself.

I was also thinking of Patchwork teddies… like ones made from quilts.

The plaque idea  would be better if it was a soft stuffed heart…  Or

like the old raggedy anns… that had the heart under the clothes as a
surprise that would be the personalized dates and names.

just some thoughts from me about starting a part time craft business.

Click here for more ideas about How to Start Your Own Craft Business. 

In today's mail… came an invitation to a really wonderful craft fair. It's one of those craft events that every homemade crafter dreams of… One of those shows that are so popular that you can't help but sell out of almost everything.

I've been waiting to get an invitation just this special for a long time. It's a dream come true and I better get busy making more inventory.

I am early for a change the day of the craft show. I need to spend extra time setting up my booth and attend to every last detail. Arranging my best products in eye catching display is very important to me. I worked very hard to get into this invitation only craft show… and I want to make a good impression. 

photo credit: Ebua Libana

The show has been open to customers for several hours and I haven't had nearly as many sales as I really thought I should have. There has been lot's of foot traffic and I see many customers hauling around armload's of merchandise.. so I know the wallets have been out.  

I take a short break from my booth to take a quick walk around to the other booths. Shockingly... I spy an amazing booth filled with merchandise similar to mine. the booth isn't any larger in size than the space I rented, but the set up is very unique.

The lighting is just right to showcase the colors of the merchandise.  

The booth backdrop colors are rich and gorgeous.

The table displays are not fancy or expensive but they are innovative and eye catching.  

I step closer… and see the advertising materials are stunning. Not expensive (in fact they probably cost much less than mine).

The crafter is standing in the center of a crowd… explaining in detail how she created one of her products. And if I peek around the crowd… I see her assistant, who can't write up the receipts fast enough.

Discouraged, I hang my head and head back to my booth.  I stop 10 ft. short of my booth and look with a critical eye at my empty and lackluster craft booth filled with crafts very similar to the others I had just witnessed flying into shopping bags. The prices were about the same… the colors and quality every bit as comparable… my booth was clean and neat. 

I have just learned the hard lesson of how someone selling the same craft… can out compete mine, not with price or better craftsmanship… but with style. 

[this isn't a true story that happened recently… it is a true story of my progress through the craft fair business and some of the lessons I learned the hard way] 

What are you doing to out compete your craft business competitors?  

Marketing and Selling Your Handmade Jewelry: The Complete Guide to Turning Your Passion into Profit

photo credit: buniqa… It’s all about attitude and the can-do spirit. Learning how to start your own craft business isn’t hard… it takes time and dedication. Of course, you must have a product someone wants to purchase.

I started making home made crafts when I was pretty little. We made candles and corn husk dolls. (Yes, it was a long time ago I thought it was really fun to sell our things together at the county fair. We never made much, but it was enough to cover our expenses… and I guess I never lost that fever to make and sell.

Years later… after college, marriage and baby carriages, I started making things again for gifts. Then the fever started again… and I made extras to sell.

Even more years later… I started carting tons of crafts and an elaborate craft booth to markets all over the state. It was great fun and I met so many interesting people.

And… once again, several years later, I opened a consignment craft store to help local moms sell their crafts.

My husband and I finally said enough. But the run lasted almost 20 years. Did we get rich? No… but we always made a profit.

I found a great starter article:

Starting a home craft making business is just the thing for those who love working with crafts as a hobby. The quality and design of hand crafted goods is prized the world over. Furniture, toys, boxes and the like are used everyday. There is a definite market for craft making business opportunities.

Many products of art and crafts are marketable today. Everything from shipping crates to armoires is made from wood products. There is also an emerging market for hand made wooden toys. If you posses skill and talent, you can make money in the wood working business opportunities field.

Things you will need to start a craft business are fairly simple. You will need to know your state and local requirements for opening a business in the art and crafts business opportunities field. More importantly, you will need to know what types of items you want to produce. This will have a definitive bearing on the supplies and tools you will need to have on hand. Also think about joining a trade organization associated with woodworking. This can help guide you in advertising your work as well as shows and events to help showcase your finer pieces.

There are also more traditional means of sales in the home made craft business opportunities field. Trade shows, flea markets, arts and crafts fairs, malls and small outlet stores are all resources that need to be investigated. Marketing your custom designs to furniture stores and specialty stores is a great way to start your home craft business rolling. Make sure you do not over-book your business, however. You will need to consistently maintain your level of quality throughout the sales process.

You will need a good supplier of various art supplies. Though you should never use sub-standard materials, quality is especially imperative for toys, furniture, and other practical items that your clients will be using daily. A long lasting product will get you plenty of referrals.

Once you have established a relationship with a supplier for your homemade crafts business, you will need to consider your area and what your advertising should be. There are several ways in which you can market your products. Having a web site to direct clients to for a glimpse of your products is a fantastic way to get your name out there and to showcase your work. People who shop online will be quick to refer you if they have a pleasant experience and are happy with the outcome of the purchase.

There is also the artistic side of the craft making field. Sculptures, frames, and other art objects can be sold as well as toys. Your only limit is your imagination and your bravery to try new things. Crafts can be a fun and lucrative career. You need the ability to create as not only a practical goods, but as an artist as well. If you have dabbled in crafts, think of it now as a career. Craft making can be a fulfilling and successful endeavor.

Author Resource:-> Hunter Crowell is a researcher, avid money maker, and creator of Start A Home Based Craft Business, a web page setup to help artistic people earn cash. http://www.make-money-explained.info/craftbusiness.html

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