10 Annoying Things you’ll Deal With at Craft Shows
Craft shows can be a great experience, but many vendors give up on them. Some of the things mentioned in this article may be the reasons why. Knowing about common vendor frustrations can make you more prepared to deal with the uncertainty and unique selling/shopping setting craft fairs create. 1) Low profits When I…
How To Make Products that Boost Craft Fair Sales
If you don’t bring the right selection of products to a craft show, it will absolutely impact your sales. Your craft show product selection should: Show shoppers what you’re an expert at making (and that you are indeed an expert so they can justify spending their money with you) Introduce shoppers to something new/different (if…
3 (Easy) Steps to Define your Craft Business’s Brand
Many small business owners think a brand, or branding, is reserved for big corporations with recognizable logos. That building a brand is too expensive or complicated for a small handmade business. It can be expensive and complicated. However, this article will explain a simple way to look at your brand and how you can start…
10 Minute Triangle Pencil Case DIY (no lining required)
Using vinyl for this project makes it quick and easy to complete. Vinyl won’t fray, so you don’t need a lining (but can add one if you like). It’s also a durable material that is water resistant, so marks can be wiped right off. This pencil case pattern takes my basic rectangular pattern (which can…
13 Non-Promotional Emails to Send to your Newsletter List
When sending emails to your subscribers, you can (and should) send two types of emails: Promotional (asking the reader for something, i.e. to buy) Non-promotional (offering the reader something, i.e. valuable information) Your newsletter needs a healthy balance of promotional and non-promotional emails so your subscribers feel they’re getting value and aren’t simply being asked…
12 Types of Promotional Emails to Send to your Newsletter List
There are two types of emails you can send to your newsletter list: Promotional Non-Promotional An easy way to think of promotional vs. non-promotional emails is: >> Promotional focuses on asking the reader for something >> Non-promotional focuses on offering the reader something Your newsletter needs a healthy balance of promotional and non-promotional emails so…
10 Minute Pencil Case DIY (No Lining Required)
This DIY project is quick and easy and uses minimal materials so it may be a good item to add to your Etsy shop or craft show table (depending on your target market and current product line). You can easily alter the size of this pouch. This one is 8″ x 3″ once finished. Materials…
Simple Lunch Bag DIY (that’s water-resistant)
I love working with vinyl because you don’t have to serge edges and often don’t need to line your bags. Vinyl works great for a lunch bag because the outside and inside are wipeable (perfect for cleaning up spills) and it’s durable, so your lunch bag will look like new for years to come. Sewing…
Etsy Product Line Critique & Coaching Plan (GI Ceramics)
Tania owns a business called Geometric Illusion Ceramics . She reached out to me after reading my article: How to Develop a Product Line Using the 3 – 5 Strategy She knew she needed to reign in her product line but didn’t know how to get started. Tania agreed to let me use her Etsy shop…
How To Create a Marketing Plan for your Craft Business
The sales channel you focus on will determine the marketing channels and methods you use. Online marketing channels and methods are more effective in driving traffic to a website or online marketplace than a flyer will be, since the flyer reaches people when they’re not at a computer or ready to online shop. Who you’re…
6 Types of Events for Selling Handmade Products
There are several different types of events and some are better suited to certain products than others. There aren’t specific rules (aside from laws and permits) when it comes to the organization of an event, so themes, vendors, setups and prices can vary drastically. JURIED VS. NON-JURIED There are two ways organizers select vendors…
How To Start a Craft Business (Step-by-Step Guide)
Whether you’re starting a jewelry business, scrunchie business, candle business, or any other type of crafty business, the basic steps are the same. This article shares the essential steps to starting a craft business and is a simple quick-start guide. Each step shares a brief explanation and then links to articles to help you dive…
How To Find a Profitable Niche for your Craft Business
Whether you’ve been selling the same item for years or your product is still in the planning stages, it’s important to be continuously looking for ways to improve and stand out from the crowd at craft shows or on Etsy. This is where a niche can be helpful. The more you can narrow your product…
How To Find a USP for your Handmade Business
USP stands for unique selling position. In simple terms, it tells shoppers who your product is for, what makes it different and why they should purchase from you. There are different ways to develop a unique selling position but the formula I like to follow is: Niche Market + Niche Product + Benefit = USP…
How To Find a Target Market for a Jewelry Business
Starting a jewelry business without a target market in mind is sort of like planning a trip without knowing where you’re going, who you’re going with, how you’re going to get there, etc. >> You must know the exact location you want a plane to land if you’re going to plan a trip. >> You…
How To Find the Correct Target Market for your Craft Business
You’re in business to sell your products to people, right? So it makes sense that you should know who those people are and make your products for them. Who you make products for is your target market. Your target market should be the first thing you define when starting a business. Where most businesses…
The #1 Mistake to Avoid when Choosing a Target Market (for your craft business)
Aside from getting set up legally, choosing your target market is the first step every business should take…even before deciding on a product to sell. However, that’s not how most handmade businesses start. Most owners start with a product they’ve made (and friends and family have told them they should sell), then they go looking for…
What to Say at Craft Shows to Get a Shopper’s Attention
You don’t have a lot of time with each shopper. And many won’t even give you enough of their time to say much more than a “hello”. So every word counts. If you can say something that grabs a shoppers’ attention as they’re walking by, or as soon as they enter your booth, they’ll…
How To Find a Target Market for your Candle Business
Everybody likes candles. So if you make candles, everyone is your potential customer, right? Definitely not. That mentality is the quickest way to build a candle business that fails. As Marie Forleo says: If you’re talking to everyone, you’re talking to no one. Being too broad or general with your target market (or not having…
How to Develop a Product Line Using the 3 – 5 Strategy
In my last article, How your Creativity is Killing Sales, I mentioned using a 3 – 5 guideline when creating your products, which helps ensure you’re not offering too much selection. Sticking to this 3 – 5 strategy also helps ensure your product line stays cohesive. This article is a detailed explanation of that strategy,…