Crafting a Successful Small Business. Joanne Dewberry
table) but make sure you clear up every single pin (husbands get cross if you don’t!).
You are your own boss, so you can pick and choose your hours, how and when you work, how and where you sell your products, the orders you take on and what price to charge. You can run your business exactly how you want – you’re not answerable to anyone.
Cons
Income is variable and irregular.
It takes a lot of effort to get your name ‘out there’ – especially when you probably just want to be creating products.
When you first start up there is you and only you. YOU are jack-of-all-trades; photographer, accountant, PR, sales, customer services, tea maker, etc. It can be incredibly hard being spread so thinly, especially if your products are time-consuming to make. However, they are all necessary parts of making your business successful.
You can get lost amongst other crafters, especially on websites such as Etsy or MISI.
Competing products produced in factories can be made at a fraction of the price, so stay clear of the obvious and think unique, kitsch and limited edition.
It can be lonely working from home. Make sure you join business networking groups to learn new skills and meet other small business owners. Also think about attending craft coffee mornings, enabling you to network with fellow crafters. If you can’t find one, then start your own!
You can easily be distracted by people, the telephone, social networking, cleaning, etc. Procrastination is easily succumbed to when working from home.
Margins can be low, therefore make sure you have a good pricing formula and that you know the cost of all your materials. Also, ensure you factor in the cost of your time.
Paperwork can be vast for a small business! For example, handmade toys require a CE mark. You are responsible for knowing the relevant laws.
Many of the crafters I have interviewed made the same point about having their creative license copied as soon as their product is ‘out there’. Unfortunately, those tools which enable you to promote your business online can be your downfall too. When your products are selling well you inevitably open yourself up to being easily copied.
You can lose motivation, passion and interest.
Turning a hobby into a business has a huge learning curve. I believe that to be successful you need to have had experience in all the key areas and know the ins and outs of how the whole business fits together.
What skills do you need?
Many people I spoke to had been taught crafting skills by family members such as mothers and grandmothers. I do think you need to have a degree of creative flair, passion and interest – as well as patience! – to turn a hobby or new skill into a successful business. Skill-wise, there are so many ‘How To ...’ books out there that you can pretty much learn to do anything. Save your start-up capital by borrowing books from the library, buying second-hand books, reading blogs about crafting or watching ‘How To...’ videos on YouTube. And remember: practice will make you better. My first few party bags were awful but I soon learnt what worked and, just as importantly, what didn’t. I used old clothing and pillowcases to develop my technique rather than spending money on new fabrics. Keep in mind ways you can cut back on spending money in the beginning.
If you want to do more formal training there are plenty of courses available. Try your local adult learning centre, where you will find a variety of craft courses, such as sewing (how to use your machine and how to make specific items), painting and drawing, jewellery-making and upholstering furniture. They are normally day courses, over a weekend, or short courses of a few hours a week for six weeks or so. They are generally between £50 and £100 (however if you receive various benefits you can get the courses at a reduced rate and sometimes even free but you will need to check at your local adult learning centre). For sewing courses, check out your local haberdashery shop if you’re looking to develop skills or learn how to use your machine correctly. These can cost around £25 to £40, excluding materials.
Andrea Palluch (www.skinbistro.co.uk) used Google and word of mouth to secure the training she required:
“I found all my skincare courses online after years of searching. They were around £150 per day. I gained my Diploma in Aromatherapy from a course recommended to me by an aromatherapist I met on one of the skincare courses. In total, including anatomy and physiology and five days in the South of France, the cost was around £3500.”
Course prices vary depending on who is running them, where they are located and whether there is a qualification or a new skill to gain. Do your research and ask other local crafters whether they did any training, and if so where. If your start-up capital is very small you could always arrange sessions at your home. Invite other crafters along, share skills and techniques and try new things.
I believe that when starting a small crafting business, the pros outweight the cons. It can entail a lot of hard work to promote but that’s really no different to any other business. However, if you are also making products then your day-to-day running time is much more limited. If you are serious about moving from hobby to profitable business there is a lot to consider. Let’s get started.
Activity #1: Handmade Card
by Erica Martyn ( oddsandsoxlets.co.uk )
You will need
A computer and printer
Card stock/paper/tall card blank
Odds & Soxlets ‘Toots’ Digi Stamp Collection – two patterned papers, character and sentiment digi stamps
Colouring pencils and ink pad
Adhesives and cutting tools
Strips of white and pink ribbon
Sticky pink gemstones
Method
Step 1. Email: [email protected] using the code JDCSSB-TOOTS to receive a FREE Toots Sock Monkey Digi Stamp.
Step 2. Extract all of the elements from your digital file and print to your desired sized. Print both patterned papers onto basic, plain, A4 white paper.
Resize the character digi and fit into a circular shape as a cutting guide, then place the sentiment below to the required size using whatever software you have available and print onto basic plain white card.
Step 3. Once you have printed all your elements, collect together all the things you will need and find a suitable table/desk space to make your project.
Step 4. Cut out the spotty patterned paper to fit your card blank. Cut