Marketing Tips from Successful CraftersWritten by Eileen Bergen
From feedback I have been getting in short time since I started TheArtfulCrafter, I’ve learned that many of my readers are working long and hard at their crafts, but still are having a hard time realizing success. I don’t pretend to have all answers. There is just too much going on for one person to be able to solve all your problems. However, let’s break it down into two parts and then try to apply basic business solutions to each part. The Product I’m a pretty good cook. I’ve won awards from my local culinary arts society and have even been invited to give a lesson or two. However, when I try to make a new recipe, especially from some of most popular food and lifestyle magazines, I am usually very disappointed. Why? In my opinion it is because something is usually missing, either from ingredients or instructions. Now you’re saying to yourselves, “what’s this got to do with anything?” Well, most crafters are constantly searching books, magazines and web sites for free patterns. Like “free recipes” noted above, however, I think something is always missing. Simply put, best crafters are not going to give away their best designs for nothing. Much of what you get for free can be helpful, but only as a starting point. You would not be reading this article if you weren’t interested in selling your craft. Now put yourself in buyer’s position. Is she seeing exact same craft made over and over again made by different people at same show? If she is, only reason she will buy from you is if your price is lowest. So let’s try to do something to differentiate you – to make a common pattern special – to make it you. Oversize it or miniaturize. Use metal instead of wood, or wood instead of plastic. Change designs slightly to make craft prettier or more practical. Instead of painting on a design or applying a decal, add a carving or incision that adds texture and dimension. Use your imagination and sense of creativity. Always use best materials and methods of manufacture. If you shop carefully, you can get fine supplies either on sale or in clearance bins. Many online sellers are offering same supplies you see in stores for 40% to 50% less. The quality of your materials is one of first things a buyer will notice. Don’t turn her off by using cheap, chintzy materials. Do same with your manufacturing methods. Are your seams straight and even? Did you use a nice copper braid, even when glue would do? Is you paint or stain evenly applied and unstreaked? For every craft, there is always some extra little touch that shows you’re a pro – that your product is worth more than guy’s at next table. These steps might take you a little longer at first, but once you get rhythm down, you’ll find it really adds little to time and cost of making your craft. Once you get this far, you face more daunting problem… Marketing When you are trying to sell a product, you’re up against a whole universe of retailers, not all of whom are crafters. There are millions of products for sale in all price ranges in all sorts of different venues. How do you sell yours? I have said this before, but it is worth repeating: in this age of mass production, where every store in every mall seems to be selling same thing, people have an appreciation for unique handmade product that required more than movement down an assembly line. If you followed some of tips in first part of this article, you are already a step or two ahead of field.
| | Have You Forked Your Fish's Tail?Written by Dan Pednleton
“Have You Forked Your Fish?” Written by: Dan Pendleton www.ez-money-maker.comHello Internet Friend, It’s been a few weeks since my last article and I pray that all is well with you. You know, I didn’t how hard it would be to lose a loved one (my mother), and how long something like this would linger on. It’s tough! But life goes on and we must rebound. Recently while sitting in hospital room by my mother’s bed side, my wife, both my sisters and I were talking about old times and swapping stories when my older sister, Gail, started to tell us about her and her husband’s fishing adventure and how she was able to would catch more fish than him. As she continued, she explained to us how she was now able to bait her own hook and remove fish from hook once she caught it, without his help. She was quite proud of herself because she had never been fishing until she met Johnny, her present husband. Now, she’s an expert. What a thrill! I knew she was a fisherman(woman) at heart. As time passed and Gail continued with her fishing story, she finally came to a point that absolutely floored all of us so much that we thought we were going to have a massive heart attack and be admitted to hospital ourselves. We still laugh about it nearly two months later. What’s amazing is, that sis was so serious I don’t believe she realized what she said until she said it, and way she said it. And, without hesitation she launches out with all too important remark, “and I forked that fish’s tail.” Trying our best to hold back tears which flowed at a rapid pace from laughter, one of us, and I don’t know which one, asked sis what devil was she talking about! “I mean you know, that’s when you take your knife and cut that fish’s tail so you know it was you if you catch it again.” she replied.
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