How to Make Money at Craft Shows


Book Description

Have you ever wanted to sell your handmade crafts or artwork at local craft fairs, but have no idea where to start? Or maybe you've taken the first step and have tried selling your art at a craft show or two, but now you're looking for ideas on how to sell more, how to make your booth more appealing to customers and where to find more venues to sell your handmade goods? You've come to the right place! I've been selling my own handmade creations, as well as the work of other artists, at a variety of craft shows and other events since 2004. I've learned a lot of lessons the hard way, and now I'm sharing them here with you so that you can learn from my experiences! In this book, I'll cover the basics of getting started selling at craft fairs, as well as how to design a great looking booth, how to give outstanding customer service & sell more and even how to find and create additional events at which to sell your handmade work. WHAT IT INCLUDES: - how to define your target market - where to find good shows - how much should I spend on a booth fee at a show? - how to make your booth look great - promoting your show & getting your customers there - my craft show tips & tricks - dealing with crazy weather & unexpected events - theft prevention - craft show supply checklist - how to give great customer service - how to use craft shows to create after-the-show sales - alternative venues to sell your work, beyond traditional craft shows - how to create your own events to sell at - tracking your inventory - how to create a personal & business spending plan - big hunkin' list of craft show resources WHO THIS BOOK IS FOR: This book will be most useful for someone new to selling at craft shows. I do cover more advanced topics as well though, including how to define your target market, visual merchandising, inventory tracking, and creating a business spending plan. The book includes worksheets along the way to help you. The information in this book is based on my experiences, selling in the United States, mostly in Louisiana. However, most of the information contained here is useful to anyone around the world who is interested in setting up a booth at craft shows, festivals or conventions. WHY I KNOW WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT: I did my first craft show in 2004. It was the Alternative Media Expo, put on by Antigravity Magazine here in New Orleans. I sold a few things, and learned a LOT of things. And I haven't looked back! I've done all sorts of events since then. I have sold regularly at the Frenchmen Art Market, and have done festivals around the New Orleans area including Bayou Boogaloo, Gretna Heritage Festival, Freret Market, New Orleans Earth Day Festival, and many, many more. As one of the founding members of the New Orleans Craft Mafia, I've even organized a variety of events, both with the group and on my own. As a group, we've created a monthly art market and the annual Last Stop Shop holiday market. On my own, I've also hosted home shopping parties, trunk shows and pop-up shops. In 2007, as one of the winners of Etsy's Upcycling contest, I even traveled cross-country to San Francisco to participate in Bazaar Bizarre at Maker Faire!




How to Make Money Using Etsy


Book Description

In a world where most products are manufactured by machines, Etsy offers an online platform for makers of handmade products and crafts to market and sell their goods to a vast network of buyers who demand unique, genuine products. To date, the site has attracted over 400,000 sellers who collectively have sold over 30 million items, generating more than $180.6 million in revenue. The only resource of its kind, How to Make Money Using Etsy--written by Tim Adam who has successfully been selling his products all over the world through his Etsy shop since 2007--guides readers step-by-step through the many stages of selling online. How-to topics include: Establish your Etsy shop Effectively photograph your products Post your products to optimize visibility and increase sales Brand your business Use social media like blogs, Twitter, and Facebook to connect with buyers and grow your business




How to Start Making Money with Your Crafts


Book Description

Starting with the basics and exploring all the exciting possibilities, this friendly guide helps hobbyists launch a successful and rewarding crafts business. Professional crafter and crafts show producer Caputo shares her first-hand experience on creating a unique and marketable line of products, taking care of business, and much more.




The Craft Business Handbook


Book Description

Wish you could turn your talent for making lovely things into cash? Bored of the 9 to 5 and dreaming of starting your own crafty business, but not sure where to start? Then this is the book for you ! The Craft Business Handbook has ALL the information you need to get started making money from your crafts - NOW ! From setting up as a proper business, producing and pricing your goods for maximum sales and profit, to the various options for selling online, at craft fairs, trade shows and getting your products into retailers, right through to gaining magazine coverage, promoting your business online and managing your business as it grows, this is THE essential guide for any would-be crafty entrepreneur! Whether you're just considering getting started with a crafty business idea, or already selling your wares and looking for ways to grow your business ( think sales reps, fulfillment houses and more!), this handy book - written by craft business expert Alison McNicol - shares tons of insider tips, practical information, and shows how you too can achieve Craft Business success! PLUS - some of the most successful crafty business people around share their stories - how they started and grew their successful craft businesses - prepare to be inspired with in-depth interviews from some of your favorite crafty entrepreneurs around! About The Author Alison McNicol is a serial crafty entrepreneur who has launched several successful craft businesses, selling her products in stores worldwide. She is also the author of several successful craft and craft business books, and founder of The Craft Business Community.com, an online community that provides resources and networking opportunities for crafty entrepreneurs from all over the world. Alison is also author of Craft Business Heroes: How We Did It ( 30 Creative Entrepreneurs Share the Secrets of Their Success)- a companion book to the Craft Business Handbook, featuring 30 more interviews from leading craft entrrepreneurs - Amy Butler, Amy Karol, Sublime Stitching's Jenny Hart, Subversive Cross Stitch founder Julie Jackson and tons more !




Making a Living in Crafts


Book Description




Craft Business Power


Book Description

This volume provides step-by-step directions for starting a craft business. Topics include: building the brand, price principles, auctions, taking photos, different marketplaces, promotion, and product launching. The authors present an in-depth case study of a crafts business that has achieved financial success in just five years.




How to Sell Your Crafts Online


Book Description

With over 400,000 sellers on Etsy, how can you make YOUR shop stand out and increase your sales? This is a key question for many crafters and artists who are selling online these days. Now here are all the answers and much more from author and Etsy seller Derrick Sutton. Based on Sutton's self-published guide, and drawn from his practical experience, you will learn how to boost your Etsy sales, attract more customers, and expand your online presence. He shares his proven online sales and marketing knowledge in an easily accessible format, complete with simple actions steps at the end of each chapter. Learn how to completely optimize your Etsy shop, website, or blog, and much more. Some of the topics covered include: -How to design a catchy Etsy banner -How to gain an instant analysis of your shop and where you need to focus your efforts -A crash course on photographing your items and key mistakes to avoid class -Fail-safe copywriting secrets -How to take advantage of Etsy's forums, Treasury, and more -The effective way to use Facebook and Twitter, and why so many people get it wrong A perfect gift for entrepreneurial artists, How to Sell Your Crafts Online offers crafters practical internet marketing techniques from an experienced Etsy seller that will pave the way for a profitable online business! Praise for Derrick Sutton's e-Guide Crafting Success: "This is really a great guide through the mind-boggling thicket of internet selling. It's so easy to follow and straight forward..." --- Etsy seller jenniferwhitmer "I definitely saw a difference in my sales after doing many of the things suggested." --- Etsy seller mishmishmarket "A true wealth of useful information." --- Etsy seller helixelemental "[The steps are] easily presented, so making changes to your shop can be done instantly as you are reading." -- Licky Drake, HappyGoLicky Custom Silver Jewelry "A tremendous amount of information. I learned more from [this book] than from anything I have purchased in five years." --- Etsy seller HandpaintedGifts




The Crafts Business Answer Book & Resource Guide


Book Description

Covers all aspects of managing a craft business, including accounting, legal issues, and taxes.




Stitch for Cash


Book Description

Stitch for Cash is a one-of-a-kind blueprint for finding success and generating profitable returns in this highly competitive industry.