~photo by Kelly Sikkema from Upsplash
What if We Could Make a Living Doing Something We Already LOVE?
I think anyone who loves to make and create has dreamed about doing it full time. Why not? Other people sell their creations at fairs and other local events. And these days there are online shops like Etsy.com. It's easier than ever, right?
Sure there are easier ways to sell your homemade goodies these days. And yet how many dolls or pot holders are you willing to make? Do you really want to spend all your time making soap? If you don't mind making the same things over and over again, great. But if you are more interested in the creative process, creating a brand and then pushing those items that you want to make will take some time.
While I am not here to discourage you from starting a small business, I am going to suggest that you spend some time really thinking about what your business will look like in your future. Making things is great but there will be paperwork, taxes, and accounting to consider. Which means less time making and more time in the office with bookkeeping.
~photo by Karly Santiago from Upsplash
You Should Love What You Are Making
Just because you are starting a business, that does not mean that you cannot be creative with what you sell. That could be part of your marketing strategy, the fact that you only make a certain amount of something: It's called "limited edition." (It's probably why there are fashion trends.)
And yes, you should love what you are making. I used to tell my children that most jobs have some aspect of it that you might not like so much. But the job that you have you should enjoy it overall. If you think you can sell a lot of handmade soaps, great. But if you don't like the process what's the point. Or if you need to always make something different, again soap making might limit your creativity. Think about not only what you are making now but what you might like to make in the future.
What's Your Brand?
I think the best thing you can do, and this can be pretty fun, is brainstorm. Get a pad of paper and write down everything you can think of with regards to your new business.
- what are you making to sell?
- do you already sell your items locally but want to sell on-line?
- do you want a logo?
- do you want a business name?
- who will be your clientele? will that change over time?
- what's your price range?
- is there a market for what you want to make and sell?
- how is your handmade item different and unique? why would someone want it?
- is your handmade item completely unique? what's the competition?
- are you willing to teach?
- can you find something similar to your handmade item, and how much does it sell for? is that a reasonable price?
- how much would you have to sell to be able to pay your bills each month?
The fun questions will be more about the details:
- what do you plan on making?
- who are the items for? will you have a variety of items for different ages?
- can you make smaller items for impulse buying
- will you have samples, if you are selling food? or smaller items in a pack if you are selling homemade lotions, etc.
- packaging is always interesting: how do you make the purchase special? decorative bags, bows, unique boxes and bottles should be considered
~photo by rocknwool from Upsplash
My Least Favorite Part: PRICING
How do you decide what to charge? Well, that my friends is difficult. I have read that you should take the total cost of supplies used for the project and then times that number by 3. So if I bought a skein of yarn for $20.00 to knit a hat (and used all the yarn) then I would times that by 3 and I should charge $60.00 for the hat.
Would you pay $60 for a Merino wool (soft!!), kettle dyed (beautiful colors!!) handmade winter hat? Probably not. But I have several that I made for myself and they keep the coldest wind off my ears in the winter. I love them. But could I sell them? Not at that price. So I would have to reduce my price or not make them to sell.
I have taught others how to knit in classes at the library. So instead of losing money by selling the hats at a lesser rate, I chose to teach others how to knit. It's a worthwhile experience and some people end up with a new skill.
So taking the materials and increasing the amount 3 times may work for some items but not for others. Another way to figure out what you should charge is to see what others are charging, that's where Etsy can help tremendously. I really do appreciate seeing what others are charging for soft cloth dolls since I have no idea on what to charge.
I Always Love To Hear Your Comments On This Topic
I personally like to keep things local. I would rather not send my handmade goods through the mail. Things get lost or damaged along the way and that just bugs me, to say the least. Plus, there is something to be said about meeting the people who enjoy what you have made.
Never, ever forget that your handmade creations are a gift to the world. It's an expression of love. And if you can, consider teaching others your craft. What a blessing it is to share what you love making with others who want to learn.
God bless and be well, friends!
