How to Make a Living from Crafts

"How to Make a Living from Crafts" provides a fundamental blueprint for anyone running, or thinking of running, their own craft business. It tackles the major dilemma faced by crafts people: how to convert infrequent craft sales into a regular income. By showing you how to create multiple income streams and pass on your skills and knowledge to others, the book explains how you really can turn your hobby into a paying job.In this book, Margo Price shares her tried-and-tested techniques, perfected from over ten-year's experience of running her own sewing business "Time4me Workshops". While sewing is used as the example, the practical ideas presented in this book make essential reading for anyone hoping to make a living from any type of craft.Find out how to turn your hobby into a businessConverting your hobby into a money-making operation isn't always a smooth transition. You will need to change your attitude, get serious and act professional. To make a living in a craft business you must adopt a business-like attitude, become more focused on money and profits, and take a objective look at what it is you produce, and why.Learn how to make crafts that will make you moneyIt's easy to get attached to your work and think everyone will have the same warm fuzzy feelings about your creations as you do. Think again. The biggest mistake is to make what you want rather than making what people want to buy. As with any new product or service, testing the market is key to your success.Discover how to make a fair profit for your creationsHow much should you charge? Most people can't tell you the cost, overhead, or the time put into a making a craft item. When pricing your crafts be sure you include your time and expenses and ask for a price that will make you a profit. This is crucial to your success.Learn how to advertise your craft and your businessWhile craft fairs are a good place to test and sell your wares, you must also have a presence on the internet. But, although it's tempting to think that once you are on the internet, people (and sales) will find you. They won't. You need to advertise yourself. There are numerous ways to do this and many are free.Find out whether you really need your own websiteHaving your own website can be expensive unless you (or a friend) have the skills and time to do it. There are ways to become part of an already established website, set-up your own online shop - and all for free. But don't think you won't have to promote it. Constant promotion, both online, using social media, and offline, is key.Discover how to get your own online shop - FOR FREETurning a seasonal craft business into a year-round stable income can be a difficult transition to make unless you get creative about how you are going to sell yourself and how you are going to get repeat business from your customers. A common mistake amongst crafters is failing to look after the needs of their existing customers.Learn how to create multiple income streamsDon't get locked into the thought that the only way you can make money in crafting is to sell the products you've made. Some of the most successful crafters also write, teach, sell their designs or publish their own books. Teaching is a great way to make money in the crafting field.Learn how to make teaching the bedrock of your businessIn addition to explaining the easiest way to run your craft business, this book explains the best way to organise and run your craft classes (or workshops), whether from your own home, the garden shed or some other local venue.Other books by this author include: "How to Sew with Confidence", "How to Get Started in Free-Machine Embroidery", "How to Dye Your Own Fabrics" and "How to Design & Make Fabulous Cushions".