Recently, I received a question from one of the Quilting Business community members from Ottawa, Canada. Since it was about starting a business, I thought it was very applicable to the Craft Business community as well. Over the past week, we’ve exchanged a few emails, and we’ve discussed Assia’s desire to have a quilting business. […]
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If you want to succeed in today’s over saturated business environment, you need to have a story for your craft business.
Why? Because people are completely overwhelmed by the amount of information they process on a day-to-day basis. With hundreds of television channels, regular and satellite radio, and not to mention the Internet, today’s buying public is exposed to hundreds – if not thousands – of marketing messages each and every day. It’s getting harder and harder to stand out in the crowd, and most businesses are becoming part of a generic landscape with very little distinguishing them from the next provider in their market. You can barely distinguish one pizza place from the next, one gas station from the next, one plumber from the next.
Which businesses stand out from the crowd? It’s the businesses that have an easily identifiable story that resonates with their market. A story that defines what the business is about, and what customers and potential customers can expect in every dealing they have with your business. And, a story that your customers will tell others, passing your story along and championing your cause.
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I’m getting ready for work, but I just found this incredible interview of Dana Meanor of DLPom Hancrafted Expressions. Dana combines soaps and paper making in her craft business (as well as some incredible jewelry). Her soaps are handcrafted pieces of scented art, and her packaging is made by recycling ink-free paper into her packaging […]
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Craft business owners live for the seasonal craft fairs and trade shows that allow them to showcase their goods during the holiday buying season. But if you decide to exhibit at one of these events – and why wouldn’t you? – remember that the craft fair or craft show will be packed with men and […]
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Jill Smith, of Carlisle, Pennsylvania, turns old “junk” – broken watches, jewelry, silverware, old buttons, and more – into wearable art that she sells at craft shows and some local gift shops and antique stores. And, she is a great inspiration for those of you who are wondering whether or not you have what it […]
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I just came across this wonderful article on the WAHM Spotlight by Diane Palmer of www.Make-Crafts-For-Cash.com about “Growing Your Newsletter List at Craft Shows.” In the article, Diane talks about using a drawing to entice people to sign up for your email or paper newsletter. If you’re going to have a successful craft business, a […]
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One of the biggest mistakes that crafters make when they first start selling their crafts (and a mistake many craft business veterans make) is to discount the impact that packaging and labeling have on sales success. I talk about packaging and labeling in my book, “How to Start Your Own Craft Business,” but I just […]
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