Handmade to Sell: Hello Craft's Guide to Owning, Running, and Growing Your Crafty Biz

by Kelly Rand, Christine Ernest, Sara Dick, Kimberly Dorn

Overview

Business advice for enterprising crafters, by crafters
   No one knows more about helping handmade businesses than Hello Craft, the nonprofit trade association for crafty entrepreneurs. Written by the directors of Hello Craft, Handmade to Sell is the most complete, up-to-date, and authoritative guide for DIYers seeking to learn every aspect of selling, marketing, and branding. Based on the Summit of Awesome, Hello Craft’s annual business conference, this book covers topics including:
• Developing successful product lines
• Copyrights and trademarks
• Taking perfect product shots
• Using analytics to boost your online sales
• Selling at fairs, shows, and other retail outlets
• Diversifying income through licensing and teaching
• Hiring and outsourcing
   Throughout, you’ll find expert tips and invaluable strategies and advice from some of the most successful indie crafters and artisans. Whether you’ve only contemplated selling your crafts or want to grow an existing handmade business, Handmade to Sell offers essential guidance for anyone who has ever dreamed of making a living from what they create.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780307587107
Publisher:	Clarkson Potter/Ten Speed
Publication date:	07/10/2012
Pages:	176
Sales rank:	1,050,154
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 8.10(h) x 0.70(d)

About the Author

KELLY RAND is a cofounder and executive director of Hello Craft, a director of the Summit of Awesome, a Crafty Bastards organizer, and coeditor of CraftingaGreenWorld.com. CHRISTINE ERNEST is Hello Craft’s communications director. SARA DICK is the CEO of Hello Craft and a director of the Crafty Bastards arts fair. KIMBERLY DORN is a cofounder of Crafty Bastards and Handmade Mart.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 Making Things

The Handmade Movement 11

Fulfilling Work 15

Chapter 2 Starting Your Crafty Biz

Eyes Wide Open 23

Don't Quit Your Day Job-Yet 24

Business Formation 25

A Crafty Education 31

Owning Your Awesome 33

Chapter 3 Learning the Nuts & Bolts

Getting Paid 36

Pricing Your Work 40

Keeping Inventory 43

Accounting 44

Paying Taxes 45

Copyright and Trademark 48

Arranging for Health Insurance and Other Benefits 54

Chapter 4 Creating Something Awesome

Having a Passion for Your Work 58

Meeting a Need 59

Telling a Story 60

Doing Market Research 61

Developing a Product Line 62

Branding Your Business 63

Chapter 5 Selling Online

Chapter 6 Selling at Craft Fairs

Chapter 7 Talking Shop

Chapter 8 Marketing

Chapter 9 Expanding Your Business

Chapter 10 Walking the Work

Resources 170

Index 175

Editorial Reviews

"If you're a crafter who's dreaming of quitting your day job, this book will provide you the necessary know-how. Hello Craft is a non-profit trade association dedicated to crafters and the handmade movement, and their insider knowledge makes them a natural (and adorable) guide to its nuances." --BUST Magazine

"Once you have a business plan in place, how do you DO a business?...This book demystifies the art of pricing, branding, and photographing your work; helps you understand tricky concepts like copyright and taxes; and prepares you to sell in face-to-face venues (like fairs) and online." —Bead and Button Magazine

From the Publisher