Start Your Own Arts and Crafts Business (Self-Guided)

Lesson 1

Where to Start: Niches and Trends

You can't look into the future. Or can you? In this first lesson, you'll explore how to find your own niche within your chosen craft. Then, you'll learn about resources for spotting future trends and making your business a success!

Establishing Your Business Identity

You've heard the expression "It's all in a name." But how do you determine which business name tells the public what you're all about? In this lesson, you'll get some foolproof guidelines for choosing the name that's right for your business. You'll also learn how to secure your name and design a logo your customers will remember you by.

Choosing the Right Location for You

Claiming your own work space is thrilling and scary at the same time. In this lesson, you'll explore your options, from the home studio to the retail space. Most important of all, you'll learn the secret to choosing the right one for you.

Designing Your Work Space and Buying in Bulk

In this lesson, you'll learn how to design your new work space for increased productivity and safety. The lesson will talk about setting up workstations, choosing work surfaces, lighting, organizing and storing craft supplies, and going green. Then, you'll learn how to buy your supplies in bulk to maximize your profit.

Marketing in the Arts

What makes marketing in the arts and crafts business different from marketing in most other enterprises? You'll know the secret when you finish this lesson. You'll also know how to create a marketing strategy to get the word out about your new business. How will you put this plan into action? With tried-and-true marketing tools you'll learn here too!

Protecting Your Work

Figuring out how to price your work can feel like a mystery that might even stump Sherlock Holmes! If you aim too high, your products won't sell, and if you aim too low, you'll be out of business before you know it. In this lesson, you'll discover a formula for arriving at the best price while leaving yourself enough wiggle room to be flexible. You'll also learn how to protect your work through copyrights and through insuring your business against loss or damage.

But I Hate Sales!

Thinking of you-the-salesperson can sometimes make you-the-artist feel like you've been dropped into the Twilight Zone! But everyone has an inner salesperson. In this lesson, you'll find out how to see sales in a new light—one that meshes with your personality and creative integrity.

Wholesale, Consignment, and Galleries

How do you get your craft products into the marketplace? In this lesson, you'll explore how to get your crafts into retail stores at wholesale prices, place your products on consignment, and approach galleries and develop long-term relationships with them.

Online Selling, Craft Parties, and Your Own Retail Store

Retail is competitive, and you have to know your stuff to succeed. Whether it's the ins-and-outs of how to sell retail through craft parties, or some of the principles of setting up your own retail store, it's in this lesson! You'll also learn how and where to sell retail to a worldwide market on the Internet.

Craft Shows: Part 1

There are thousands of craft shows every year, so how can you find the best (most lucrative) craft shows to be in? In this lesson, you'll learn what the insiders know: how to find the best shows and what you'll need to get into them. You'll also see how to plan the details of travel and lodging and get an idea of what to bring along to ensure a smooth craft show experience.

Craft Shows: Part 2

Once you're in a craft show, you'll need to pull those craft lovers out of the aisles and into your booth! In this lesson, you'll discover how to design booths and displays that draw people in and how to keep them there with compelling demonstrations, solid craft fair sales, and smart marketing techniques.

Teaching Your Craft

Teaching can be fulfilling both financially and emotionally, and it can also be a great marketing tool for the rest of your business! In this lesson, you'll learn how to find teaching opportunities, design your curriculum, and price and promote your class. By the end of this lesson, the final one, you'll have everything you need to approach your local craft supply store, art school, or continuing education department with a professional proposal for your class.