How to Plan Inventory & Create a Production Schedule
I’ve created a bonus set of worksheets, which you can download for FREE HERE. to accompany THE SUCCESS PLANNER. If you would like all of the worksheets to plan all aspects of your business for the entire year, you can download THE SUCCESS PLANNER here. If you’ve downloaded THE SUCCESS PLANNER you’ll already have some…
How to Find More Customers for your Handmade Business
If you’re currently lacking sales or want to increase sales, you need to find your path to more customers. Sometimes I find it easier to work backward. Determine the end goal (find more customers) and then determine the step that must happen right before you gain a new customer, and then the step before that,…
What to Pin to Pinterest to Sell your Handmade Products
I explained in this article why I think Pinterest is one of the best platforms for handmade businesses. If you haven’t read that article yet, you should have a quick look so you understand how your Pinterest account, boards, and pins can help get you on the first page of Google (and why the…
How to Get Etsy Sales From Pinterest
Pinterest is my absolute favorite social media platform. Not only does it allow your posts to be linked right to your website (can’t say the same about all platforms *ahem Instagram*), but your pins also have the opportunity to be found when people are searching Google. Why do you want to be found…
How to Create a Holiday Collection for your Handmade Business
Launching new product collections is really important for a handmade business. They create buzz and give people a reason to buy. Think about your favorite clothing store. If they simply carried the same products, day after day and week after week, would you feel any sense of urgency to head in and…
Handmade Jewelry Trends (2019)
Jewelry is a popular category in the handmade community and that often means a lot of competition online and at craft shows. If your jewelry brand is fashion-forward and follows the trends, here are a few ideas you may want to incorporate into your holiday collection. There are so many “trends” that come…
Christmas Craft Trends for 2019
This article stems from one of my most popular articles CRAFT TRENDS FOR 2019 as well as HOT ITEMS TO SELL AT CRAFT SHOWS IN 2018. I research and write these articles at the beginning of a new year, which means by the end of the year, trends may have changed, so I thought I…
How to Start a Craft Business with No Money
When a craft business is a side project, it often means there’s some sort of a shortage of time and money. When I started my handmade business, it was because I was tired of working for someone else, not having enough creative control, and I wanted something bigger and more meaningful to work…
Where to Find Craft Shows to Sell Handmade Products
Craft shows are a great way to generate revenue and move a lot of stock (when executed properly). First, you must find craft shows in your area (or an area you can travel within and stay profitable). To do so, you may use the following ways: 1 – Social Media Social media is a…
Craft Show Table Layout Tips
When creating a craft show display that stands out, you must consider the layout. Once you get your craft show table layout perfected, setup will be a breeze. It will then be a matter of rotating products into each section to coordinate with the season, demographics of the event, or the theme of the event….
3 Steps to Improve Sales Pitches at Craft Shows (or Online)
Introverted, shy, nervous, or none of above but wanting to become a better salesperson? There are 3 steps to do so. We often feel we have good knowledge of our product, our customers, and ourselves but it’s important to get really specific for a deeper understanding of each area. These 3 steps can also help…
10 Ways to Get More Buyers to your Craft Show Table
Although craft show organizers should be doing their part to get lots of shoppers to the event (if they don’t have a marketing plan, it’s a red flag, watch for these ones too before you commit to any event), those shoppers aren’t guaranteed to be interested in your products. You know who is guaranteed to…
Most Handmade Businesses Get an F in this Area
There are usually only a few things that throw a business of its path to success: Lack of demand for the product being offered That may be because there’s nothing different about it, learn how to correct that here…and a few more tips are here Too much selection is causing shoppers to make NO selection….
5 Ways to Know if People will Buy your Handmade Product
Parts of this article are from my ebook HOW TO SELL HANDMADE BEYOND FRIENDS & FAMILY There’s no way to guarantee your business will succeed or your products will sell, no matter how much research you do. But you can get a good idea of whether you’re…
50 Prop Ideas for your Craft Show Display
These ideas are in my ebook MAKE MORE MONEY AT CRAFT FAIRS. If you already own the ebook, you’ll find a few NEW ideas, examples, and sketches in this article. Although there are many photos out there that are great examples of the techniques I share, it can often be difficult to find the…
Why I Quit Craft Shows & What I’d do Differently
A lot of people feel like throwing in the towel when it comes to craft shows. If you don’t find the right ones, with the right organizers, bring the right product and create an amazing display, they can be anything but profitable. Although a handmade business can be successful selling only online and…
5 Things Crafters Waste their Time (& Money) On
I made this list based on areas I wasted my time when starting my handmade business. I was able to see positive changes when I corrected them so I think the changes can be beneficial to your business too. I also based it on the mistakes I commonly see other handmade businesses make. I wish…
How to Prune your Business for Maximum Growth
In gardening, to keep plants healthy, you have to regularly trim away dead and living parts of it. The same must be done to keep a business healthy. If you’re not sure it makes sense to cut off perfectly healthy areas of your business or which areas to prune to promote growth, this…
2 Key Points Your Craft Show Display Must Convey
Craft shows have been levelling up since I sold at my first one in 2005. They’re in bigger venues, attracting bigger crowds, and are better organized, branded, and marketed. Craft show vendors are no longer crafters making random items and seeing if they can earn a few extra bucks. They’re business owners focused on profits…
How to Start a Successful Handmade Jewelry Business
Starting a handmade jewelry business is a good way to make money on the side. And it’s a business that can easily grow into a full-time business. I come across a lot of handmade businesses and love to challenge my ideas and theories to see if they match up with how handmade businesses,…