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

Article From eArticles

Sometimes… you are just surfing the internet… and you come across something so cool… you just want to share it… right now. Well, that's how I felt when I read this article about a crafter that started her business without even knowing that was what she was doing.

Funny huh? She was frustrated by the lack of cute hats for babies that would actually shade their precious little heads.

I bought hats for my kids when they were little… that I am not allowed to share photos of… ever. Just not cute, but they got the job done.

Will fashion conscious mom's forgo their babies safety because baby hats don't make a fashion statement?  

Apperantly their is a need for cute baby hats and The Little Hat Company was born! 

To see the little hat company website 

To read the original article about:  The Little Hat Crafter That Could

How to Use IRS Forms For Small Business to Shelter Thousands of Dollars of Home Business Profits
from Self-Employment and Federal Taxes

Barbara Brabec’s eBook, Secrets to Maximizing Schedule C Deductions: Proven Strategies for Cutting SE Taxes to the Bone, offers a crash course in how to save a bundle on taxes and become a more educated and savvy taxpayer.

"If you operate a business from home and file a Schedule C form, there are many things you can do right now to lower the amount of self-employment, federal and state taxes you will have to pay on this year’s business profits," says Home Business Maven™ Barbara Brabec, author of Homemade Money and seven other books for home-business owners. Her eBook, Secrets to Maximizing Schedule C Deductions, includes the proven strategies she has used for more than thirty-five years to cut her self-employment taxes to the bone.

Brabec, who has been self-employed for most of her adult life, has been helping home-business owners to greater financial success since the early 70s. "It’s not how much you earn in your business, but how much you can keep . . . away from the IRS," she emphasizes. "Your goal should be to get as many deductions as possible listed on your Schedule C form to keep your self-employment taxes as low as possible. This will also lower the amount of federal and state taxes you will have to pay."

The topic of taxes is considered boring to many, but saving money isn’t a boring topic, and this book isn’t boring, either. "It’s humorous, entertaining and chock full of tax tips and information to help you improve your bottom line," says Bill Ronay, Events2000.com.  It’s also a crash course in how to save a bundle on self-employment taxes and become a more educated and savvy taxpayer.

"Accountants rarely (if ever) remind business owners about deductions they might be overlooking, or tax strategies they might implement," says Brabec. They just work with the figures they are given. That’s why it’s so important for business owners to make sure they haven’t overlooked any deductions, and that they understand how different tax strategies can lower their taxes overall."

Included in Secrets to Maximizing Schedule C Deductions is a checklist of 65 Schedule C deductions (with discussions on most of them), plus detailed information on eleven categories of indirect and direct expenses related to the Home Office Deduction (one so many business owners are reluctant to take for fear of an IRS audit). But this is not what's likely to trigger an audit, says Brabec.

Emphasis is also given to the tax benefits of hiring a spouse or child to help with the business, as well as to the tax dangers of hiring independent contractors (especially to craft businesses who may be using homeworkers to produce goods for sale). More tax-safe options for hiring outside help are suggested in the book.

Tucked here and there throughout this helpful eBook are two dozen special tips on such things as why you should think twice before making your spouse a partner in your business instead of an employee; why married women who use a different name for their business may be losing Social Security credits by filing a joint return with their husband; and why selecting the wrong auto expense method in the beginning can be a costly mistake.

Closing the book is a Resource Chapter that includes 75 links to tax-related web sites and articles, each offering additional information on specific tax deductions or strategies discussed in the book.

Secrets to Maximizing Schedule C Deductions is a 62-page PDF eBook ($27) for U.S. taxpayers who file a Schedule C form. Add this information-packed eBook (tax deductible, of course) to your eBook library today to be alerted to tax deductions you haven’t been taking in the past, learn how to avoid costly IRS tax pitfalls, and perhaps save hundreds or thousands of dollars in taxes not only this year, but every year in the future. Click here to order or get additional information. (You can sample the book without charge prior to ordering.) IRS Forms For Small Business

The dream of owning your own craft business… working from home… selling your crafts to a ravenous market… pocketing big profits… IS IT A Dream? How can you start selling crafts to make money? It’s possible… but it takes 2 things.

• Unique products
• Marketing expertise

That’s it? Just these two things? Yes… but these two points are huge and very important.

Unique products… must be of high quality.. and something with a unique twist that no other crafter is using.

Marketing expertise… well that includes so many pieces of a huge marketing pie.

You must have good display.

You must be able to present yourself, your product and your business in a professional manner.

You must be able to figure out how to reach a huge market… stop waiting for them to find you.

Homemade Money: Bringing in the Bucks: A Business Management and Marketing Bible for Home-Business Owners, Self-Employed Individuals, and Web Entrepreneurs Working from Home Base

If you’re serious about making money selling crafts, you must have an education in business and marketing.

Your product may be the most wonderful, unique craft that anyone has ever had the pleasure to view.

But if it’s not selling… you aren’t marketing yourself or your craft product properly.

Selling is an art. So to sell your craft - art… you need to also know the art of selling.

Make It Profitable!: How to Make Your Art, Craft, Design, Writing or Publishing Business More Efficient, More Satisfying, and MORE PROFITABLE

Years ago… when I first started to get the idea that I could actually have a home based craft business and make a profit creating my one of a kind products - I found the “bible” of crafty entrepreneurs.

Want to know which book I used??? My all time favorite craft business author still publishes this book, and updates it regularly… Her name is Barbara Brabec.

At that time the book was titled “Homemade Money”. Perfect title… but she has gone on to expand this information and produced it into a variety of different books.

Handmade for Profit!: Hundreds of Secrets to Success in Selling Arts and Crafts

Barbara is an old timer in the business of selling crafts… but don’t think that she is outdated.

Barbara Brabec keeps up to date on all the latest marketing trends and teaches in plain… easy to understand and use terminology.

Well… she isn’t really old in my opinion… yes, she has been in this business for a good long while, and knows her stuff… but she is still incredibly young at heart! … and busy!

She even has her own website, with updated current information to help you get started making money selling crafts.

The Crafts Business Answer Book: Starting, Managing, and Marketing a Homebased Arts, Crafts, or Design Business

Over the years, Barbara has become a publishing powerhouse… she has helped many a (I mean a Huge Amount) crafter to reach success.

If you need the best craft business information to help you start and grow your craft business… Barbara Brabec is the one to ask.

In fact I just talked to Barbra today and she let me in on a little secret. Her latest book, QUICK MONEY SECRETS—How To Quickly Raise or Borrow Needed Cash is about to be published. Stay tuned in… I will be posting a review soon.

“It’s not how much you EARN in a home business, but how much of your earnings you can KEEP … away from the IRS,” says Barbara Brabec. She says the strategies in this eBook have enabled her to keep thousands of dollars of business profit that otherwise would have gone to the IRS. “They will surely work for YOU, too,” she adds. (Note that this eBook is for U.S. taxpayers only.)

Selling Crafts to Make Money

If you haven't gotten your hands on this free report… well you must not be serious about starting your own craft business.

It is free! And… it answers 10 Questions about how to start and run your own craft business. Did I mention that it's free? Click on the picture that says FREE REPORT and sign up today!

I recently recieved an email (yes… I'm on the mailing list, I can always learn something new) and Chuck Smith was asking all of his readers to answer some questions in a poll.

It's like free advise! Chuck has a website kind of like this one… that he wants to be the best it can be. And… useful for everyone who needs help and advise about the business of crafting.  

His site is updated regularly with ton's of great information and if you have questions… you are free to ask, just like you can here on this website.  

So now you have two craft business guru's that can help you grow your business and prosper. It really is about being a community and helping each other. 

As soon as you sign up… you will start getting updates in your email box. That's only when he is giving out really great information or helpful advice. No spammy stuff.

In case you didn't know… Chuck Smith is the author of this great little guide… How to Start Your Own Craft Business.  

The cover may not be flashy… but it isn't a book you can buy at any store… you can only get it from Chuck and if you pay today… you will be able to have the book in your hands almost instantly!

Running a craft business is just like any other business… You have to have a plan, a schedule and the knowledge to succeed. He puts all the information you need to get started and have a plan and keep your books and…. etc. etc. etc.

It's only $27 and it's guaranteed. If you don't find a ton of valuable, useful guidance and ideas in this book… just contact Chuck within 56 days and he will refund your money.  

Click on the green book cover and check out all the details. It can't hurt to look! :) 

Yes… Starting Your Own Craft Business is a wonderful idea… you can work part-time or full-time on your business… use it as extra income… or what about boosting your retirement lifestyle?

Go on… click on the green book…

Today is a good day… it's a day to get your craft show display ideas in order. I know you want to also see some photos of craft show displays.  

Did you click on the picture to see this pictures of a craft show display?  Pretty cool huh?

And… the same site has another page with a ton of tips and ideas that she used to develop her craft booth display.

Here is the link:  Craft Show Display Ideas 

The idea is to fit an open… easy to shop area in a 10'x10' space… the normal craft show booth area alloted.

Your display ideas should be versatile.   Every show has different set up areas. Some are grass, some are dirt, some are pavement or cement.. and some will be indoors. You craft show displays must be able to adapt. Take pictures of your booth area and others at every show and keep them in an idea file.  

It's important to keep trying to upgrade your booth displays.  As you make some cash… invest in something that will make your booth stand out and your products more impressive.

Go now and check out this site… I suggest you print out and save some of the information and photos of craft show displays. 

I recently got an email from Rob at Craft Show Success Secrets with information about a new book that is perfect for those of you who are thinking about how to wholesale crafts.

For home based craft business owners that might be thinking about selling their products wholesale… you know… having your craft item for sale in boutiques and retail stores across the nation. How will you get started? How do you sell to businesses that will stock your handmade items in their shops?

And… what do you do if you get an order for 1000 of one item… and it must be shipped in 30 days?

How will you package your products?

How will you ship your products?

What are standard wholesale agreements and contracts?  and what should you avoid in those contracts to keep yourself out of legal hot water?

What kind of labels do products require?

All these questions and so much more is included in this book… and you can get it today. Really. You just pay for it… and then download it and print it out on your home computer. What could be easier than that? 

Oh… and you have 8 weeks no risk guarantee. If you don't find the book helpful… then you can get your money back. What a no brainer.  :)  Just click on the picture of the book… and you will be whisked away to the exact place you need to be… learning about selling your crafts in the wholesale market.

If you haven't joined up for the mailing list on Rob's site…. your missing out on a lot of great tips and current information.