If you are reading this… you probably already have craft -'itis'. It's the disease of crafting and loving it!
And… you have probably entertained the idea of Crafting as a Business.
It's a logical progression. The most common reason for starting a home based craft business is… we need to make money to buy more supplies to make more crafts!
Now… if you are going to start a craft business… you need to be fairly serious about it. Just making and selling crafts without any business basics is a business doomed to failure.
What do you really need to start a craft business?
Oh all sorts of licenses, checking account, business marketing material, product displays, supplies for an office… etc. etc. etc.
But a business needs a foundation to begin. Not a bunch of stuff!
Foundation. Yes…You need a foundation. What is a foundation? A foundation is the first block that we build our business upon. Block by block… step by step… we build our business based on the first block in our foundation.
What is your foundation?
Is it a dream… a desire… an idea… or a thought of owning your own home business?
No… this is not what a foundation block is. Oh… dreams and such are how we get started with working towards having a craft business, but they are not what a foundation block is.
A foundation block is:
- Profitable product ideas
- Profitable pricing of products
- Profitable marketing
What is the common denominator on this list? Profitable. You shouldn't even dip one single toe into the waters of craft marketing… if you don't know how to be profitable as a craft business.
What??? You don't want to do all the work required to define profitable niches in the craft world?
Here is my advice. More business fail every day… because the business owner hasn't got a clue about making profitable products. You can make products or crafty items all day long… but are you creating a profitable business?
A wait and see if can be profitable attitude is usually the process of most beginner craft business owners.
Most customers don't need you… You need customers. You need customers that want your product at a price they feel is fair. They want quality products… and something they can understand, but is different enough that they can't buy the same thing at another craft fair… or worse yet… the department store.
So you many create unusual quality products that customers flock to buy. But… is every item you make and sell creating a profit for your business.
Do you know how to tell if you are making a profit? If you don't… do not start a business until you do.
You can find books and classes that will teach you how to tell if a product is really profitable. It's easy… it is not rocket science… and your not giving you or your business a fair chance of survival if you don't know this basic information.
Crafting as a business is a great part or full time income building opportunity. Don't sabotage your dream because you don't take the effort to create a profitable crafting business.
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