The Business of Crafts

from Craftfinder.com

Creating an Image

Creating your image as a professional crafter should be your number one priority, if you are serious about making it a business. Before you can create packaging, price lists or contact suppliers there are a few steps you need to take:

1. Give your business a name, address, and a phone number, and since your reading this online your email address, and if you have a website your URL.

  • Be creative with a name, have it describe what you sell. It will be with you for a long time so plan it carefully. Many use their own names such as Marie Young’s Polymer Clay Creations, or Marie Young’s Designer Florals.
  • Your home address is fine. However, if you are going to sell wholesale, I highly recommend a P.O. Box.
  • Your home phone is fine, but during the hours of 8 AM – 5 PM you should answer your phone as Good Morning or Good Afternoon. If you have children they should never answer the phone during these hours.

2. Business Cards are a must. Once you have the above information compiled order business cards. If you shop around you can get 500 cards for less than 10.00. If you do not have a Copy Center near you there are literally hundreds of companies on the web. Use the business cards as means for advertising your business.

3. Stationary, there is no excuse not to have stationery. They sell decorative paper everywhere including Walmart. To be a professional crafter, stationary for requesting catalogs, making price lists, or writing letters is an absolute must.

If you are on a computer you can make your own, just play around with the fonts in your word processor until you find one that is complimentary to your product style. Include: Your business name, address, phone number (fax number if you have one) and your email address.

4. Signs – if you use signs in your booth, whether it be at craft shows, or consignment shops, make your signs look professional. If you cannot print or calligraphy then ask someone to do it for you. Writing on a piece of typing paper looks tacky and does not do your product justice. Use poster board or heavy artist paper. Use decorative scissors for the outside edges. If you do use typing or copy paper make the sign on the computer with attractive fonts, then put the sign in a clear acrylic frame.

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A Crafter I Met – With an Image

This past fall I attended a craft show that was rated as a four star event. It was held in an extra large facility and consisted of 4 floors, and over 300 vendors. The crowd was above normal for a craft show, however, not for this particular event, it was in its 20th year.

The first and second floors were crafters who participated in this event for a number of years, the new crafters were on the third and fourth floors.

As I made my way thru the show I took notice that the customers were doing a lot of looking. They went from the first to the fourth, hardly making a purchase. I was there to observe and take notes on the buying habits of craft show attendees. When I went to the fourth floor, there were 60 craft booths, with a wide range of products. One booth in particular gained my curiosity as there were customers lined up 3 deep to see what this particular crafter was selling. I made my way through the crowd, and what I observed even surprised me.

This vendor made muslin snowmen. Each dressed differently, all with hats scarves, vests resembling a hobo theme, no two alike. They stood about 6-8” tall all with painted and button faces. They were displayed nestled in Christmas garland. The table was draped with Christmas plaid fabric to the floor. There were 6 different painted ceramic village buildings all with lights, also nestled in the garland. The table was 8 feet long and there were only 25 snowmen on the table at once.

Each snowman was given a name and a birthdate, along with a simple verse, or quote, displayed on a hang tag. As the vendor sold them, (many customers buying multiples) she would ask the customer if they would like for her to sign them (knowing that no one would say no). Once she signed the snowman, she reached behind and pulled out a gift box that she had stamped Christmas designs on with a sponge. She included her own business information on the bottom of the box with a rubber stamp. She wrapped the snowman in tissue paper, put it in the box, included her business card, and politely thanked her customer, adding this box will protect him from year to year, and I do accept custom orders so feel free to call.

An ordinary product for the Christmas season, snowmen, you see them at several craft booths. What made her booth and product so special?

  1. She set the mood with her display. Christmas plaid fabric, garland and lights.She only displayed 25 at a time, giving the appearance of a limited amount. If she had all 400 on the table at once, what would make them so special?? Supply and Demand!
  2. She had a simple quote, or verse along with a given name and birthrate, giving the snowman an identity as if a limited edition.
  3. She treated the product as an artist, asking the customer if they would like for her to sign them.
  4. She provided a decorative box for gift giving and or storage.

The average price for a similar snowman at this same show was 10.00-15.00. This crafter was selling her snowmen for 25.00-30.00 and getting it (as I said the customers were standing in line 3 deep). By the end of the show she only had 13 left and she started with 400.

Do the math – 387 x $25.00=$9,675.00+ for a 2 day event!!!

I am convinced that because her snowmen were like so many that I have seen before, it was her display, packaging and selling technique that sold her product. She created an image of Supply and Demand by only displaying 25 at a time. She went the extra mile, by including a gift box, a hang tag with a name and birthdate, and her autograph.

It doesn’t matter what you make. Packaging and display play a very important role in selling your product. You have competition at craft shows, in craft malls, in consignment stores, party plans, wholesale, it doesn’t matter where you sell your product but rather how. Do you offer something special that sets your product aside from your competition?

Do you make quilts? Give the history on a tag.
Dolls? Give them a name and birthdate, as well as a signature.
Florals- include, Created and designed by your name
Potpourri – blended exclusively by your business name
Candles- Proudly made in the USA by your company name

Be proud of what you make, when given the chance advertise and proudly present that your item is handmade is the USA. Show your customers the uniqueness of your product. Go that extra mile.

If you create a display rather than setting up a display it will pay off by the appearance alone. Your image to the consumer will be that of quality and pride.

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Some Packaging Ideas

Before you decide on packaging for your product, I strongly recommend that you take a trip to a Gift Store, Hallmark Store, Department Store or even a Walmart. Look specifically at packaging. You will get some great ideas! Visualize what your product would look like with the various packaging ideas you see.

Hang Tags are the least expensive and most versatile way to add packaging to your product. They are also a very good way to get your business information on each and every product you make. You can tie them on, insert them with a tagging gun, or tape to each product. It doesn’t matter what you make, they will work for all products.

Adding hang tags or other forms of packaging to your product are the finishing touch every product requires. They can also serve as the To and From for gift giving, as well as, a place to put your price. But most importantly they represent that you are a professional crafter.

Making Your Own Hang Tags

Supplies:

  • Artist Paper – Artist supply section. Higher quality of paper.
  • Decorative Scissors
  • Paper Punch
  • Rubber Stamp, Sponge Stamp, Stencil, Stickers or Dimensional Paint
  • Ribbon, Raffia, or Twine,
  • Typewriter, Computer or Pen (calligraphy)
  • Glue Stick
  • Ruler
  • Pencil

Directions:

  • Decide if you want a folded hang tag or a single hang tag.
  • Use heavy artist paper, measure and cut tags that are complimentary to the size of your product. Use decorative scissors for a professional edge. On the front of the tag put the design via stamp, stencil etc.
  • Make your script simple but informative. I use white bond and glue to the decorative paper. I find it easier to read, and I can change it at any time without ruining the actual tag.
  • Punch a whole in the upper left hand corner, if your going to tie it on the product. If you are going to tape it on there is no need for a whole punch.
  • Very simple and easy to make, but the statement you add to your product is very rewarding. The best advertisement you can give yourself!

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More Packaging Ideas

If you sell small individual objects that may entice the consumer to steal, offer your product in poly bags and tag. This increases the size of the product appearance and is less likely to be stolen. Many product are packaged this way, this concept is great for hanging on a display, pegboard or otherwise.

Corsage bags also make an attractive package tied off with raffia, ribbon, jute, a material that will compliment your product. Include a hang tag with the product information. Corsage bags are clear and crisp and the consumer can see the product clearly.

Hint: Don’t use satin ribbon if your product is Americana, a paper ribbon, raffia. or jute may give it a better look. You can find corsage bags from floral suppliers, or try your local florist. Maybe you can add to her order and get a great price!

Gift baskets are a great gift ideas. Make them a ready to give gift by incorporating a finished look. A shrink wrap system is worth the investment. Also add a bow, ribbon, raffia, paper ribbon or jute. Include a hang tag for a finished look. If in the beginning you cannot afford a shrink system, then a clear plastic film wrap will do a great job, tied off with a complimentary ribbon, raffia, or jute.

Gift boxes come in a variety of sizes, styles, colors, and shapes. They are available from numerous companies that specialize in retail packaging. You can add a decorative touch to them with stamps, stencils, sponges, etc.

Corrugate boxes are available in a variety of sizes (find them in packaging supplies in Yellow Pages). IDEA: Decorate the outside of the box with stencils, stamps, or sponges use colored excelsior in the bottom of the box, nestle your product in the center. Tape it shut, use raffia as a decorative finish, add a hang tag with your information include a To and From. Have one open on display — and sell them ready to give as a gift. Add the cost of this packaging back into the price of your product, customers will pay a slightly higher price to have the gift already packaged and ready to give as a gift. Advertise-Ready to Give as a Gift- Great for Christmas corporate gifts!

Sacks:

When your customer makes a purchase from you, offer them a sack to carry their purchase.

Lunch sacks are great for small purchases. Stencil or stamp images that compliment your product. You can make your own out of potatoes, or sponges. Also rubber stamps, stencils, or even dimensional paint and create your own image.

If you use manufactured rubber stamps its OK to stamp with them for packaging purposes, as long as you don’t sell a product that you have stamped without permission from the manufacturer, be safe, and ask the store if you are purchasing an Angel stamp, (meaning free to use) or call the manufacturer of the stamp you are using to get permission. Document the conversation.

Grocery sacks with the store logo cut off, glue on strips for handles. Rubber stamp, stencil, or dimensional paint a complimentary design and tie raffia on the handles. Your customers will love it.

If your budget allows it, some craft and discount stores sell plain gift bags in a variety of sizes. IDEA: Decorate them according to the season using stencils, sponges, or dimensional paint. Sell them along with you product line, you would be surprised how many customers would buy them. Include tissue paper, ribbon or raffia for tying on the handle, add a gift hang tag- you’ve just added another product to your line, and you’ve given your customer a great way to give a gift!

Look in your yellow pages for packaging printing companies. I was able to find a manufacturer that printed flour sacks. I had 2.5#, 5# and 10#. Customers would come in just to buy the sacks.

Muslin cloth sacks with a draw string are also great for small items. If you sell jewelry try finding jewelry cloth sacks, some are sold at retail merchandising and display stores. You could make it an optional buy item for the consumer.

Go to your local cake decorating supply store, they sell poly bags, boxes and have some great packaging ideas. Great for smaller type products.

Tissue paper is very inexpensive, use it when wrapping the customers purchase, they will remember you for doing it.

Packaging can be fun and very rewarding. Customers will pay extra if the product they purchase is ready to give as a gift. Look around, specifically at packaging, you will be amazed as the ideas begin to flow. It doesn’t need to be expensive just appealing, and complimentary to your product. It will definitely add value to your product!