Craft Fairs are Over – What to Work on Now

 

The rush is over, sales have slowed way down and you’re either panicking, wondering where everyone has gone, or you know there are ebbs and flows to every business season and that you can use this downtime to your advantage.

 

When I worked in retail, January/February were painfully slow and it made it even harder coming off one of the busiest times of the year, Christmas shopping mayhem. Motivation, sales, and busy workdays were hard to come by but working for an organization that had been through this year after year, they knew what to expect, didn’t freak out over a drop in traffic or sales, and dealt with the downtime accordingly.

 

Whether your downtime is expected (after the Christmas rush), unexpected (a snowstorm that has people in a panic) or has no obvious explanation, how you deal with it can make all the difference. Below are some things to keep in mind and areas you can focus on:

 

COME TO TERMS WITH IT

This downtime can often be when small businesses call it quits. You’re putting in your best efforts but just not seeing the results you’ve come to expect which can lead you to feel like it’s not worth it or wondering what you’re doing wrong. It’ll be a lot easier to get through this time if you come to terms with the fact that business is going to be slower. It happens to everyone; businesses big and small. You can’t force people to buy your product or service in a time they don’t need it, so become comfortable with the fact that activity is going to drop at some point and know that it will pick back up again.

 

 

CELEBRATE SUCCESSES

It may take double or even triple the number of phone calls, emails, or posts it normally does in order to get a response but take the time to really celebrate it when it does come. You should also take this time to reflect upon the triumphs you’ve had throughout the year. When we’re in our busy period, we often don’t stop to reflect and truly recognize our achievements; the number of products you produced, the connections you made with other crafters, the sales, and all the customers you brought joy to. Big and small, you have a lot of accomplishments; take this time to truly celebrate them.

 

 

CONNECT

Think of all the connections you made through past transactions and events and get in touch with those people. Send thank you notes to the people who supported you in the past year or offer them a special discount as a thank you. Follow up with other vendors you chatted with at craft shows and see if there’s an opportunity to collaborate. Email that store owner who stopped by your booth and see if you can bring in some samples and talk about the possibility of them carrying your line. Who have you wanted to reach out to or thank that you haven’t found the time to do so yet? 

 

 

FIX LEAKS

Christine Kane is a blog I love to follow and one of the analogies she uses is “leaks” in our lives. These are the things that constantly nag at you but maybe aren’t an absolute essential to get done. Having spent the first year as new homeowners, focusing on renos, I could instantly relate to what a leak was. For me, it was the un-caulked baseboards, the outlets that needed to be updated, the scratch in the wall from moving the fridge that needed to be puttied. We lived in a completed home and most people wouldn’t notice these “leaks” but to me they were a nagging to-do list I walked past every day that took up just a little bit of my energy.

 

In business, these leaks may be; receipts you need to file, updating photos on your website, organizing your Pinterest boards, or any other tasks that have been on your to-do list for weeks, continuously being pushed to “tomorrow”. Now is the perfect time to get rid of those “leaks” and start your new year fresh.

 

 

ANALYZE THE PAST

Look back on the past year of business and be critical about which products worked and which didn’t. Maybe you started your business with the intent of selling prints of your photography but continuously had people asking if you photographed weddings. Explore this new possibility and see if it’s a viable business plan for you.

 

Take the time to look through Google Analytics and determine which products website visitors clicked on the most. Is there a way you can optimize the page to encourage more sales? Have another look at your product’s prices; do they still turn a profit or has inflation caused your costs to go up while your prices have remained the same?

 

Sometimes we get too settled into our business and forget why we’re doing something a certain way; “Because I’ve always done it that way” is not a good reason. You need to constantly analyze and keep an open mind about what will be best for business, not what you think is best. If you allow yourself to be honest and open, your business will be guided to its unique position making it a perfect fit for you.

 

 

GET CREATIVE

Take the time to explore different creative avenues and become motivated by other people’s art. Enjoy music, visit art galleries, take in a play, or let nature inspire you. Try to get away from the medium you usually work with and see if there are any techniques or ideas you can take back to your products. A pottery class may inspire some clay pieces in your jewelry line while learning to knit may open our eyes to different textures and patterns that could be mimicked. You can also use this time to take some classes and fine-tune your skills; just have fun with whatever you’re doing.

 

 

PLAN FOR THE YEAR AHEAD

Now is a great time to work on:

  • A new business plan
  • Marketing plan
  • Financial plan or budget
  • Blog posts
  • Newsletter schedule

 

 

SET SOME GOALS

Goal setting is a great way to get yourself motivated. Dream about all the things you’d like to achieve and where you’d like to see your
business go in the next year, then get it down on paper. These goals will help keep you on track throughout the year and help you decide what you should be working on when you’re feeling stuck.

 

 

PREPARE

Think about the things you can do now, to be better prepared for the busy times that are around the corner. Stock up on supplies, order more business cards, build up stock (even though you don’t have a consumer at the moment), plan your product lines for the upcoming season, research the craft shows you want to apply to; anything that can be done ahead of time, do it now.

 

For help setting financial goals for your business, and creating a plan that will make achieving those goals inevitable, check out THE SUCCESS PLANNER.

 

 

TAKE PERSONAL TIME

If you’re running your own business, you’re obviously driven. You work the hours you need to and do whatever it takes to grow your business and make your customers happy. This can leave very little personal time at certain points throughout the year. Your slow period is the perfect time to take a vacation or fit in all those things you haven’t had the time to. Spend some time reading, relaxing, getting outside, decorating, or socializing…and don’t feel guilty about it.

 

 

BE PATIENT

Of course, everyone wants to see immediate results and be profitable in their first year of business but very few businesses operate this way. It takes hard work, time, and plenty of ups and downs before you start to get a good feel for your business and become profitable. Know that this slow time will pass and even though it’s hard to imagine right now, you will be back up to normal pace again and working towards your goals.

 

 

Remember that this downtime won’t last forever and your business isn’t alone. Take a breather and enjoy a slower pace of life while it’s here!

 

 

 



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3 Comments

  1. Claire Malidore says:

    Very good advice. I like to stock up on inventory and get all the “to do”lists worked on in my slow time.

  2. Made Urban says:

    Thanks Claire! That’s a great time to build stock and cross off some to-do’s!

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