Craft Business Book Review

Today, I'd like to give a little rundown of some of my books I have read recently which may be invaluable if you are running your own small craft business. You may have already read some but if not they are all worth checking out:

1. Grow Your Handmade Business by Kari Chapin

Kari Chapin is author of The Handmade Marketplace which I have heard lots of good things about, however, it was geared up to 'starting' a business so I didn't think that was very relevant. Instead I decided to give this one a go. The downside to this is that the author is American so some of the information is a bit vague, it also tried to cram a lot into one small book so it can feel a bit overwhelming. On the positive side, it is laid out fairly simply and the text is broken down into bite-sized chunks, there are no picture but a few graphics so it makes it less stuffy than some business books. The actual content is very professional and is a really good oversight into the internal workings of a successful small business. Personally, I would rate it 4/10 for inspiration but 7/10 for content and 6/10 for ease of use.

2. The Crafter's Guide to Taking Great Photos by Heidi Adnum

Most crafter's will say that getting good photos is one of the things they struggle with the most and I'll agree! I couldn't pass up the opportunity to see what tips this book had. It is a very attractive book, broken up into easy sections and with lots of great photos (of course). It runs through everything from start to finish and it doesn't assume that you have a super fancy camera or equipment set up. There are chapters for each catagory within the craft industry so you can find inspiration straight away but it is work looking at other catagories too to gain a real insight. The only negative about this book is the text is a little small in some places so if your eyesight isn;t the best, I'd dig out the reading glasses. Overall I would rate it 9/10 for content and 7/10 for ease of use. This would be a great investment for your business!

3. How to Style your Brand by Fiona Humberstone

Everyone I have spoken to about this book have fallen completely in love with it. It really is very beautiful and inspiring. Fiona Humberstone is a brand stylish, basically she makes your business look amazing. Branding is not just about a pretty logo, it is so much more and this book takes you on a process to discover exactly what your brand is. It is very interactive and you can follow the prompts throughout the book and learn so much. Obviously the photography is amazing too and the content is superb. I highly recommend this for any small business, even if you think your branding is complete.

Rated 9/10 for inspiration, 8/10 for ease of use and 8/10 for content.

4. Online Marketing for your Craft Business by Hilary Pullen

Out of the 4 books, this is probably my least favourite. Content-wise it is very good but I found it a bit stuffy to read and the red and green text was a bit offensive on the eyes. I think the information could have been laid out in a more appealing way as it does go quite in depth and gives some really vital information in the world of online marketing. The only issue I see is that is may become outdated quite soon as the online world moves so quick so I would suggest getting the most recent edition of it if possible. I rate it 8/10 for content but only 4/10 for ease of use.

I hope these reviews have been useful to you and your business, please remember they are only my opinions and everyone is different. The best thing to do is visit your local bookshop and have a browse, it is much easier to get a feel for a book as you flick through the pages. However, I will say that books are one of the best investments to your business as knowledge is invaluable. 

Planning for Craft Fairs

I know it is January and Christmas seems like a lifetime away but it is never too early to start prepping for Craft Fairs. There are a great variety of fairs nowadays and some can be a great way to gain local exposure for your business. In the run up to the festive season you will see a lot of gift fairs advertised but what about the rest of the year? Have you considered Summer fairs, School fairs, monthly or local farmers markets? Do you products lend themselves to Wedding 'fayres' or other niche fairs and exhibitions to suit your small business? Here is a run down of some of our top tips:

1. PLAN YOUR YEAR IN ADVANCE - get out your yearly calendar and realistically plan how many fairs you have time to do in the year. Take a look at previous years sales to find your quieter months and then have a look for any local fairs you might be able to fit in at those times. Avoid booking too many in November if you know that online sales are going to be busy and cause more stress. Most of the popular fairs are booked up many months in advance so if there are still tables available a few days before it might not be worthwhile.

2. RESEARCH THE VENUE - Before agreeing to a table do your research. Check if there is likely to be any passing footfall such as on a busy high street or shopping centre. Has the venue done any marketing or promoting of the event? Are there any other activities going on at the same time as the craft fair that may attract people through the door. If you can visit an event at the venue beforehand to get a feel for the place it can be really helpful too.

3. REMEMBER ALL THE VITALS - Mock up your table at least a few nights before and imagine everything that might happen during the day. Make a list of all the items to remember and pack everything in an orderly way to save time on the morning. Using a trolley bag or suitcase can be really helpful for transporting, much easier than carrying boxes. The basic list of things may include; stock, display props, tablecloth (large enough to cover the front of the table too so you can hide boxes underneath) additional lighting if required, business cards, float, receipt book, card machine, carrier bags, note /log book and pen for jotting down sales and finally snacks and refreshments as you don't want to spend all your profits on cups of tea!

4. DEFINE YOUR AREA - When you practise laying out your table try various options to see what works best. When you are happy with the layout, remove 20% of the items you have put on display then see how it looks. We have a tendency to over-clutter and it can be really unsightly and off-putting to customers. It either makes the table look untidy or confused. Remember you can take additional stock with you and replenish when necessary. Your items should be displayed in zones by either theme or product depending on what you sell, there should be clear signs and prices for everything and business cards or flyers should be prominent. I've always found bargain baskets or seconds baskets are great for attracting people to your stall and having a rummage, you should still be selective about what you include in your seconds basket as those items are still reflective of your brand and your business.

5. EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED - be prepared for things to go wrong, you may find you have a different size or shape of table to what you were told. Bring warm clothing as it may be draughty (if in an old hall or if you are placed near a door) Bring tools for repairing simple items or stationery for making additional signage for your table that you may have forgotten. Get to know the other stall holders as you may need to be leave your stall for a drink or a bathroom break at some point and they might be able to keep an eye on your stock for you. Don't leave anything valuable unattended.

6. CUSTOMER SERVICE IS KEY - make the right impression to passing customers. Try to dress professionally and avoid sitting down/ hiding when customers are near your table. Smile and greet everyone and if they stop to look at something, offer some insight into the item. Try to be relaxed and not too keen as that can put browsers off. Sometimes engaging in conversation can persuade people to purchase rather than walk away.

7. GO THE EXTRA MILE - leave a lasting impression on your customers by going the extra mile. It may make all the difference if that customers remembers your business and comes back in the future or recommends you to their friends. Ideas may include offering a gift wrapping service, a loyalty scheme or freebies with their purchase when they spend over a certain amount.

I hope this list will be useful to those of you starting out selling face to face, it can be a real mix of ups and downs and you will find some fairs are better than others. The best approach to have is to see it as exposure for your business and any sales you make on the day are a bonus, plus there is usually a great cake stall to take advantage of too!

Welcome to 2016

Hello and Happy New Year, I know we are already on the 17th January but it is never too late!

The Guild of Keepsake Artists took a break in the run up to Christmas, this was due to a number of reasons. Firstly, the Guild is helped to run by a number of volunteers who all run their own keepsake businesses and as you should be aware the months leading up to Christmas are generally the busiest, and I think 2015 was one of the best yet! We were underprepared for the lack of time we would have to update the blog and website but hopefully some plans we are putting into place this year will mean we can support our members in 2016 and beyond. Secondly, and really crucially you have probably noticed that organic reach through Facebook is at an all time low as they make changes to the way users see posts from pages. We have a number of tips we can share with you (in anther blog post) but it has affected us so badly that we felt it was time for a change and we would rather communicate through the tried and tested method of blog posts and the newsletters.

So, where are we now? There is a still a long way to go until we establish the blog but we have been planning away in the background. The first change you might have noticed is our new branding, we are lucky to have a graphic designer on the team and so we decided that a new year needed a fresh look, it is not too dissimilar to previous so you should still recognise us though! Our key values are still the same too, we aim to provide advice, support, networking and community and they will be playing a big part in our plans for the year.

As mentioned earlier in the post, we will be using this blog as our main communication channel to  share news, hints and tips on business and networking as well as getting to know our members. Please remember to bookmark the blog and look out on our social media channels where we will be posting links to our latest posts just for you.

We would appreciate any members contacting us at any time to tell us about their latest news or products and we are more than happy to share and promote those for you, just send us an email info@guild-keepsakeartists.com

Keep those eyes peeled for new and exciting content coming soon!

Meet the Maker - A Lasting Impression

We asked some quick-fire questions to Hannah Eustace-Raw about her business 'A Lasting Impression, here is what she had to say.

How did you decide on your business name? 

I wanted it to describe what I do so I wanted impression in there & I wanted to use the dots of the 'i's as a hand paw and foot print so I needed 3 'i's! 

What led you to create your business? 

Wanted to something other than be a full time Mum & we had to travel an hour to get casts done for my second son as the lady who used to do it in Harrogate had stopped. 

Is there one item that you’ve created which is more memorable than others?

My family hands raised impression as it took ages and was a huge experiment. I't now framed above my fire place so I look at it a lot!

What’s your most expensive item? 

The family hands raised impression at £250

What’s your most affordable item? 

A small fingerprint charm at £42

What are your plans for your business this coming year? 

Advertise & become well known in Harrogate

... a few FUN questions

What’s your most favourite BBQ food? Sausages

Which celebrity would you invite to a BBQ & why? 

Brian Cox as he's really made physics popular & he'd be interesting to talk to.

What’s your favourite drink on a summer’s evening? 

Oyster Bay Sauvignon Blanc 

Shorts or skirts? Skirts

Wedges or ballet pumps? Wedges

Day on the beach or a day shopping? Beach 

Favourite place to visit? Devon

If you want to see more work by Hannah, check out her Facebook page - A Lasting Impression Harrogate

Meet the Maker - Mini Treasures

We asked some questions to find out more about our Member Nicola Broom and her business 'Mini Treasures'.

How did you decide on your business name and how long did it take? 

About a week maybe slightly longer. I was aiming at babies & children as first but have taken another direction since & tend to be taking more adults prints & pets too.

What year did you establish your business? 2009

What led you to create your business?

Having had 2 ectopic pregnancies & losing both fallopian tubes, I had to undergo IVF in order to have my first baby in 2005. I wanted to capture as many memories as I could of my baby daughter as she grew over the years. I came across the fingerprint jewellery range & had one made for my birthday. I looked into a franchise but this wasn't for me so I found out about the training and Mini Treasures was born in 2009.

Is there one item that you’ve created which is more memorable than others?

I have created many memorable items for customers who have celebrated the birth of a baby or a much loved keepsake after the loss of a loved one. Whilst typing this I am looking at a fab keepsake of my own, my 2 daughters 2D prints. I never thought I would be able to have one child so to have two is a miracle.

What’s your most expensive item?

The single most expensive item would probably be a framed sibling casting like mine or a 3D casting I did of 3 sisters (it depends how many children). With the jewellery a customer may purchase an item & add to it as they have extra children so the cost can vary, you may also have a couple of customers buying a joint gift for a grandparents special birthday so they order a number of charms with the grandchildren's prints on.

What’s your most affordable item?

£7.50 for a newborn hanging heart plaque.

What are your plans for your business this coming year? 

Looking for a new logo but at present I don't have any ideas how I want it to look.

And now for the fun questions...

What’s your most favourite take away?

Love Indian takeaway, just had it this evening for our wedding anniversary meal whilst the children are asleep.

Which celebrity would you like to deliver your take away?

Ooooo that's a hard one lol.....David Beckham or Ian Somerhalder 

What’s your favourite drink on a summer’s evening?

Baileys with lots of ice

Trousers or skirts?

Trousers. I will wear skirts in the summer but you generally find me in trousers.

High heels or flats?

I do love a heel but most of the time I am in flats due to being a mum to a 3 year old & 9 year old, I have a lot of running around

Favourite time of year?

I do love to snuggle up in the winter but I would say summer as its nice to wake up to the lighter mornings, the warm weather cheers everybody up. You have more daylight hours.

Favourite place to visit?

Abroad I would choose Florida. We have been 3 times now. In the UK I love Leeds Castle, the gardens are lovely we purchased tickets in the Easter holidays & have been twice recently. Also love North Wales, we have family there & the mountain scenery is beautiful, especially around Snowdonia.

Want to see more work by Nicola, then stop by the website www.minitreasures.co.uk or the Facebook page 'Mini Treasures'

Meet the Maker - The Little Drawing Company

Danielle Freeman of 'The Little Drawing Company answered some of our questions about herself and her business.

How did you decide on your business name?

The business name took a while, at first I thought I would sell personalised items for the home, this developed into pictures OF people's homes and then onto portraits. "crafty & paintpot" seemed to umbrella lots of artistic ideas so it stuck. 

What year did you establish your business?

I registered the website last year and the domain names and have built things slowly. 

What led you to create your business?

I love drawing. I work part time in an architectural office as well, drawing and designing extensions and houses. I sometimes develop those drawings into watercolours, particularly if the design needs planning permission, as colour and 3D perspective help others to visualise the scheme. I've drawn all my life and its something I can just melt into. When I draw and paint the time seems to fly, I'm a bit of a night owl so usually my husband has to tell me to stop and go to bed! 

Is there one item that you’ve created which is more memorable than others?

The first picture that comes to mind is a watercolour I painted of a friend's house. My confidence was quite low at the time, I was looking to start work again and money was tight. My friend gave me some great advice and switched my motivation back on. As a thank you I painted a picture of his beautiful house. It was the first thing I had drawn since before my children were born and every time I look at it, I smile and feel motivated all over again. 

What’s your most expensive item?

An A3 Pencil & Watercolour painting is most expensive but I am looking to simplify my product range and look a bit more closely at branding... 

What’s your most affordable item?

We are currently about to launch our first 'Baby Event' an A4 pencil drawing of a your child for only £22 with free P&P.. 

What are your plans for your business this coming year?

Oooohh, I have sooooo many ideas, prints of celebrity faces, work on business branding and packaging, summer fairs, loads more competitions and prizes and obvious TONS more drawing etc. My brain sometimes buzzes at 100mph but I may have to invent a time machine that actually produces 'extra time' first.... 

A little bit of fun...

What’s your most favourite BBQ food?

Anything BBQ is a yes from me. Although nothing says summer like barbecued steak with crispy salad and an ice cold fruit cider....mmmmm!

Which celebrity would you invite to a BBQ?

Mmm, maybe James Corden, anyone that can make me laugh. 

What’s your favourite drink on a summer’s evening?

Has to be Kopparburg, chilled with some dry roasted peanuts... simple things. 

Shorts or Skirts? Skirts. 

Wedges or ballet pumps?

I have to be awkward here, I have a hybrid of both, slight wedge, open toe, ballet style feel and I love them. So I'm going for hybrid! 

Day on the beach or a day shopping? Day on the beach. 

Favourite place to visit?

My favourite place to visit has to be London. Its beautiful. Busy, vibrant, exciting and you never get bored. Don't get to visit enough so maybe I should plan more trips this year....where's that time machine.....

Meet the Maker - Elanique

We asked Sharon Barker of Elanique Jewellery a few questions to help us get to know her...

How did you decide on your business name?

The company is run by myself and my daughter Danyell. We played with lots of words associated with jewellery, we ended up with elegant and unique and came up with the name Elanique.

What year did you establish your business? 2013

What led you to create your business? 

My husband who lost his battle with cancer last year. He wanted Danyell and I, to continue and pursue our dreams.

Is there one item that you’ve created which is more memorable than others?

Yes, a finger print pendant for a lady who lost her son. It was an honour to create a memorable piece for her that would bring her comfort in the years to come.

What’s your most expensive item?

A triple heart pendant.

What’s your most affordable item?

As you will see from our Facebook page and website, we don't just create and sell silver items, we have a crystal range also, the crystal butterfly earring are probably our most affordable, in the silver range it would be a small fingerprint charm.

What are your plans for your business this coming year? 

I have just passed art clay level 1 diploma, and taking level 2 hopefully in October this year. I would like to create and make more bespoke and commissioned silver items, and we both want to grow the business further.

Some questions just for fun...

What is your dream holiday destination? 

I would say somewhere like Barbados, but I hate flying so that probably will not happen.

If you could take a celebrity on holiday with you who would you choose?

It would have to be Comedian Alan Carr, he would certainly take my mind off the flight!

Bikini or swimsuit? Swimsuit

All inclusive or self catering? Self Catering

What’s your favourite flavour of icecream? Ohh that would have to be rum and raisin.

One thing you couldn’t live without on holiday? Most definitely makeup.

Relax or explore? It would have to be a bit of both.

Want to see more from Elanique, visit the website www.elanique.co.uk or the Facebook page 'Elanique'