20 Questions Before Starting an Arts and Crafts Business
In this post, I am answering some questions that I got on Instagram about starting and running a craft and/or cross sew together business.
I don't actually have whatsoever intentions of doing this professionally; this isn't something I want to branch into and then to speak but I do recognise how difficult information technology is when you showtime desire to get started in business organization. Especially if yous don't know anyone who'south done it before. Or if the person you practice know who's done it earlier is on Instagram and non really a friend you could enquire questions also.
When I started Hannah Hand Makes I was lucky to exist part of a grouping of women that helped me get set up. And I've only been getting quite a lot of questions almost starting/running a business and then I'1000 answering some of them here.
You tin listen to the podcast episode below or go along scrolling to read the post instead.
9 Craft Business Q&Equally
i. "Should you starting time selling to family unit and acquaintances to test it or go all out?"
This question came from @domocraftstudio.
If past all out y'all mean invest loads of money in getting a website or purchasing loads of stock, etc I probably wouldn't practise that straight abroad. But y'all besides don't necessarily take to but get-go with friends and family either.
You can try those at first, information technology'southward kind of how I got started, simply just don't be put off or disappointed if they don't purchase. Friends and family might support you and like what yous do only they might non be your customer.
I sell cantankerous stitch kits and when I started there was nobody else in my family who cross stitched. You need to discover evidently people who do want to buy from you lot.
I always recommend, especially for craft businesses, just showtime on Etsy instead. This is something that you can practise without investing a lot of coin; it's pretty much gratis to start. You tin use this link and we both go 40 free listings if you set up a shop.
In that location are as well loads of tutorials online almost Etsy but they guide y'all through setting upward as well. I think information technology's only such a good entry point as it can put you in front of people who want what yous sell without it costing yous anything.
2. "What were the beginning steps you took to set upwards?"
This question came from @hannahsxstitch
I don't mind telling y'all this because I recall it's always interesting to hear how somebody got started with a business. Merely the way I started isn't what I recommend now.
So when I started selling Facebook was how all of the states crafters sold our items, and so I literally ready a Facebook page, I posted in some Facebook groups and just started selling that way. Now that actually can all the same work, I've seen it if yous're in the correct kind of Facebook groups. Simply Facebook shows and so much less of that kind of content on at that place now and obviously people who aren't on Facebook tin't find yous. And then I quickly realised that Facebook is express in many ways and information technology's not meant to be a place to sell on.
So the next step for me was Etsy so I also got accepted to Not on the High Street. That is like a sort of U.M. version of Etsy. Nosotros practise ship worldwide on Non on the High Street only majority are simply are targeting people in the U.K. It's kind of likea gift blazon of store; Christmas is very decorated on there.
And then subsequently that, only once I had Etsy and Not on High Street done, I started my website and email list. Then everything merely slowly evolved from there.
But I exercise think if I was starting from scratch right now I would bound on Etsy for sure. And I would probably either first blogging or at least prepare my own website a bit quicker just so I could start edifice my ain community straight abroad.
The one problem with places like Etsy and Not on the High Street is that people who buy from you won't always remember that it's y'all they've bought from. If somebody says "oh where did you get that cross sew together kit?" their reply will be "Etsy" and not "Hannah Hand Makes" and then that can be a little bit of a problem.
three. "Is there anything you wish you done differently in the early on days of your business?"
This question came from @kjoosowski.
This is hard; I feel like I don't want to regret anything because everything that you practice gets you to where you are today. And where I am today I'm quite happy with. Although I probably could have got here a bit faster if I did some things differently. Simply at the aforementioned fourth dimension, I had 2 kids at home for a lot of my business concern so I couldn't grow besides fast because I didn't want it to overwhelm me.
Put less effort into social media
I practise think at present I kind of wish I'd put much less try into social media at the start and more than into getting the foundations right. I was so focused on growing my Facebook page and my Instagram at the start. But honestly apart from my big summertime auction and a big Christmas sale I do on Facebook I don't sell through Facebook or Instagram unless I'k doing paid advertizement (simply practice non exercise that the start).
It's funny considering how much try I put in I notwithstanding only take similar 3000 followers on Instagram; not a big post-obit at all and I've had my Instagram business relationship for five years. I'k trying now to sort of concentrating more on stories and sharing backside the scenes with you and going live with you. And now I just kind of utilise social media equally a way to connect with you lot all and only let it be like shooting fish in a barrel and don't stress over information technology like I used to do.
I practice retrieve social media for some people is such a massive asset to their business organisation and they sell then much from it. But for me, it just never went like that.
Invested in business eduacation
I kind of also wish that I'd invested in help more at the beginning, only I say that knowing that Hannah five years ago would never have done this. But now I can see how much deviation actually paying for someone to aid tin brand.
I'm at present at a place where £200 goes on only business memberships every month and they have helped my business abound so much this twelvemonth. But if you would have told me even just last twelvemonth that I'd exist spending £200 a month on business coaching I would have laughed out loud.
I know at the start y'all tin't invest £200 a month in business coaching simply you lot could invest in some other things.
Obviously you have to invest a piddling in some stock at the beginning. But when I invested in help for the business the first time it was really a business parcel for £fifty. And at that time I was genuinely indecisive well-nigh whether I should pay for this parcel or not; at the start of a business every penny counts, literally, and I was determined I wasn't getting into debt for this business concern.
Then subsequently I invested in that bundle I wanted to change my website provider but I knew I could not exercise that myself. Then I invested in someone to practise that for me and that was £300. And again I was worried almost that £300 and that was only a few months later on. I went from worrying near spending £50 to worrying about spending 300 in just a few months. So y'all can see how that £l packet helped my business grow a niggling scrap.
So after that again I kept investing in courses; little odd ones here and there between £20 and £50 and then this year I invested in the biggest course I'd invested in and that was £450. And at present also I have memberships that are nigh £200 a calendar month. And then you can see how it's grown over the past three years (the showtime 2 years I did not invest in any help) and honestly not once have I regretted any of those investments.
You can literally starting time with a volume though; as I said I'm non telling y'all to go and join £150 when you're starting your business. Simply maybe purchase a book well-nigh marketing and branding or e-commerce. There are loads of books about marketing and business concern and things out there.
And in that location are too courses almost selling on Etsy; just have a little Google. They probably would take helped me so much at the start but that was not even something on my radar. I would not have even idea you lot know I'm going to go and buy a course to learn how to use Etsy. But now I wish I had invested in a little course only to sort of save me some time; I had two kids and my time was precious!
iv. "How did you choose your price points and how do you make your business organization stand out?"
This question came from @lottieglitter
Price points
It's tough when you get started knowing how to cost; you usually want to price a bit cheaper so people purchase your matter but then you also need to make sure yous're actually making a profit. So for me, I basically add together up everything it costs to make a kit, and then I add on the time information technology takes to bundle the kit and so y'all add on a percent for profit and you get the price. At that place are calculators online for working out prices.
You can have a footling look at what other people are pricing their kits for but try not to permit this influence you too much. I honestly used to be one of the most expensive kit sellers on Etsy. But I am very picky well-nigh the brands that I use in my cross stitch kits; I only utilise Elbessee hoops, Zweigart aida and DMC threads. Then I can't let someone else who doesn't utilise these brands, which are the almost expensive brands you tin can probably buy in cross stitch supplies, influence my prices, or I could end upwardly losing money.
Know your worth with your pricing. I do recall we start with low pricing when nosotros're getting started because information technology makes the states feel a scrap more than comfy. Merely don't be scared to heighten them a little bit. If you make a good quality product and have good customer service skills people volition buy from you.
Standing out
You have to try and find out exactly who you're talking to and what makes you dissimilar.
Cathy Heller talked about this in a recent podcast episode; what is the reason for us to all have different fingerprints? There'southward no reason for that, but she likes to think it is because we all are going to leave a completely unlike and unique banner on the world. And I have to agree with her.
It doesn't thing if there are 100 cross stitch kits sellers already out there. Y'all might be thinking well what's the point in me coming in and trying to sell. Well, nosotros all have different styles and nosotros all have dissimilar people nosotros attract.
So for me in particular, I'chiliad not about to create a crazy large pattern. I'thousand all about small and easy patterns and kits and I more often than not serve beginners in cross stitch considering I love helping get people started. I also love serving mums. I know that not every person who listens to this podcast, who follows me on Instagram or reads my web log is a mum. However, I do talk a lot almost how mums, in particular, can fit their hobby into their life considering that's where my passion is. I love helping busy mums who are running effectually all day accept some time for themselves. And so that's the two big things for me; I serve beginners and I serve mums.
Merely information technology's that sort of balance betwixt knowing who y'all're talking to but likewise recognising that people volition come into your community and into your business who aren't that exact person besides.
I could be that your mode of production makes you lot stand up out as well. I think of Satsuma Street; a lot of her patterns are all very similar and they have a definite style about them.
There volition exist something nearly your or your style; it might accept you a while to notice it simply there will be something that makes yous stand up out from everybody else.
5. "How much should I be investing in stock at the beginning ?"
This question came from @run up.far.sew.good.
So at first I recommend actually non investing in stock until you have some sales. You might need a little bit of stock to make things just then listing them and put your delivery times a couple of weeks. And then once you've got a few orders you can invest in the stock you need for the orders, plus a fiddling extra. Then one time you lot've got that little actress you lot can reduce your delivery times downward again. Eventually, you'll only starting time edifice up your stock over fourth dimension.
Even now I don't keep a whole load of stock, mainly considering of space. Simply also because I accept and then many unlike products and kits I tin never predict what'southward going to take off ane month. So I wait for the order to come in and so I make the kits upwards.
Then it just depends on how you want to work. If you just accept ii products or ii kits that you're selling you could brand a few of them upwardly and so have a quick plough around time. Or you ccan have a longer turn effectually time and make them every bit the lodge comes in.
6. "What's the best fashion to arroyo potential stockists?"
This question came from @themakersmarks
In all honestly I just Google brands that I want to utilise my cross stitch kits, wrote "wholesale" at the cease, and just institute different wholesalers that sell that make I want to use.
There are also trade shows (earlier the pandemic of course), I could merely never get to them because I was breastfeeding, and leaving overnight was not an option. I'd love to get to one next year though! If y'all're in the U.Thousand. there are trade shows in Birmingham (the next one will probably be Spring 2021) and there are probably some in London besides.
If you lot Google needlecraft wholesalers or haberdashery wholesalers a few will come up
7. "How do you lot find then much content to post daily ?"
This question came from @bryanjmills_
This genuinely made me express joy because I really don't post daily. Well, I judge I kind of exercise to my Instagram stories. I think I'm simply really lucky that my business is as well my hobby so I just find information technology actually easy to share what I'k stitching or any tips or tutorials. Only kind of share my life.
I know about of you then well and I meet all of your comments in the Facebook group so I merely know where you're struggling and I effort and help you. And also all the emails I get, they actually give me ideas sometimes for podcasts and blog posts. Even this episode came from having then many questions about starting a business. I thought well I may equally well just exercise a podcast most it and answer everyone'due south questions in one become.
8. "How long did it take y'all to be able to make a living out of your business?"
This question came from @les_broderies_d_ophelie.
I share a very long and personal story to this in the episode above, that would take way besides long to repeat here right at present. Just basically 5 years! It's tough starting a business and it takes a lot of conclusion, it really does. Businesses are not always that overnight success y'all might encounter on Instagram. Specially when you accept kids at dwelling who don't sleep and they breastfeed until I had two and a half. Simply I love Hannah Mitt Makes and couldn't think of annihilation else I'd rather be doing.
9. "Are yous currently hiring anyone?"
This question also came from @les_broderies_d_ophelie.
Then I have actually just taken on a virtual assistant but I'grand not hiring anyone else for right at present. Merely I'g going to tell you my Little Dream!
I would love one day to have space outside of my home where someone can come and help me or basically takeover fulfilling orders and making kits and that store side of the business. I love doing that but sometimes I prefer podcasting and blogging. I'd honey someone to only like come in and run the shop.
That's not going to be for similar some other two years probably, peradventure fifty-fifty longer, only that is my Picayune Dream right at present.
I hope these arts and crafts business questions and answers helped you if you're thinking of starting or already running a craft/cross run up business. Please exit any other questions you might have in the comments below and I'll exist happy to respond them ASAP.
And be sure to follow me on Instagram where I regularly do Q&A posts similar this to respond on the podcast. @hannahhandmakes.
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Music by:
Carefree Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed nether Creative Eatables: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
Source: https://hannahhandmakes.com/blogs/craft-business-questions-and-answers/
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