Handmade to Sell: Hello Craft's Guide to Owning, Running, and Growing Your Crafty Biz [Paperback]

Kelly Rand (Author), Christine Ernest (Author), Sara Dick (Author), Kimberly Dorn (Author)

Book Description

Release date: July 10, 2012

Business advice for enterprising crafters, by crafters
   No one knows more about helping handmade businesses than Hello Craft, the nonprofit trade association for crafty entrepreneurs. Written by the directors of Hello Craft, Handmade to Sell is the most complete, up-to-date, and authoritative guide for DIYers seeking to learn every aspect of selling, marketing, and branding. Based on the Summit of Awesome, Hello Craft’s annual business conference, this book covers topics including:
• Developing successful product lines
• Copyrights and trademarks
• Taking perfect product shots
• Using analytics to boost your online sales
• Selling at fairs, shows, and other retail outlets
• Diversifying income through licensing and teaching
• Hiring and outsourcing
   Throughout, you’ll find expert tips and invaluable strategies and advice from some of the most successful indie crafters and artisans. Whether you’ve only contemplated selling your crafts or want to grow an existing handmade business, Handmade to Sell offers essential guidance for anyone who has ever dreamed of making a living from what they create.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"If you're a crafter who's dreaming of quitting your day job, this book will provide you the necessary know-how. Hello Craft is a non-profit trade association dedicated to crafters and the handmade movement, and their insider knowledge makes them a natural (and adorable) guide to its nuances." --BUST Magazine

"Once you have a business plan in place, how do you DO a business?...This book demystifies the art of pricing, branding, and photographing your work; helps you understand tricky concepts like copyright and taxes; and prepares you to sell in face-to-face venues (like fairs) and online." --Bead and Button Magazine

About the Author

KELLY RAND is a cofounder and executive director of Hello Craft, a director of the Summit of Awesome, a Crafty Bastards organizer, and coeditor of CraftingaGreenWorld.com. CHRISTINE ERNEST is Hello Craft’s communications director. SARA DICK is the CEO of Hello Craft and a director of the Crafty Bastards arts fair. KIMBERLY DORN is a cofounder of Crafty Bastards and Handmade Mart.

Product Details

• Paperback: 176 pages
• Publisher: Potter Craft (July 10, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 030758710X
• ISBN-13: 978-0307587107
• Product Dimensions: 6.2 x 0.6 x 8.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #51,460 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #45 in Books > Business & Investing > Small Business & Entrepreneurship > Marketing
  • #62 in Books > Crafts, Hobbies & Home > Crafts & Hobbies > Reference

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 21 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars the 101 for a handmade business degree July 19, 2012

By Lisa Linnell-Olsen

Format:Paperback

This newly released book from the founders of the nonprofit "Hello Craft" is meant to be the basic guide for entrepreneurial business management for crafters. Hello Craft has offered workshops in business skills throughout the country, and is now offering the information in this book. Many books on starting and running craft businesses have appeared over the years. "Handmade To Sell" is a modern, updated version that traces through the recent handmade retail movement and includes important social media marketing advice and online retail information. This book covers a lot of ground, including developing a business plan, what type of business to form, initial starting up, pricing,trade shows, craft shows, when to hire employees and more. If there were such a thing as a college handmade retail business degree, "Handmade To Sell" would probably be the main text for the required 101 class.

And good advice is important in small business. A common statistic is that close to 99% of all small businesses fail within their first 3 years. What most people don't realize is that the successful businesses overwhelmingly had a better handle of business knowledge before they started. This is why it is critical to find successful mentors, do your research, and have handy guides to help you set up your business. Having a nice craft product is a very small (but important) piece of the business puzzle. You also need to get a good background in small business education. This book gives that start.

The start of the book traces a history of the current handmade retail craze. Personally, I believe that Gen Y will not let this be a cyclical fad. The increased technology and mass production that is everywhere has created a backlash love of locally produced, one of a kind items. Throughout the text, the idea that buyers want a personal connection to products is emphasized. This book gives three or four different formulas to suggest pricing your items. Many of the other books I read only gave one formula - which doesn't work in the real world. The need to develop various markets and income streams along with how and where to do so are given throughout the book. The proper role for online resources and how local, personal markets will affect your business are explained. Many anecdotes and personal stories of different successful crafters are scattered throughout the book, giving a real-life and personal feel to how this business works.

Scattered throughout the written text are numerous website addresses of different craft businesses for examples, online places to sell, and occasionally where to find more information. For example, in the section on taxes, the writers suggest going to www.irs.gov for further information. It is true that the IRS is its own best authority on tax advice. Many of these references are not listed in the appendix. I would also liked to have seen more references for those wanting more information on a particular topic. The advice given for writing a business plan is very brief. For some crafty entrepreneurs, it will be all the advice they need. Others will need to go deeper. I hope that when the next edition of this book is released, it includes a by-chapter list of online and print resources for those who feel they need more information. Also, since so many references are not in the index, it would be handy to read this with a highlighter and some sticky flags since it is good for lots of information you may need in the future. Of course, if these were added into the next editions by-chapter index, that would not be necessary.

Overall, this is a really good book for those looking to modernize their craft business, or those just getting started who don't have a current business education. I want to stress current here, because a good advertising campaign will understand current online media, and if you haven't updated your advertising strategies in the last decade, heck, even two years, you probably need this book.
[I received a complimentary copy of the book to review on my knitting site- BellaOnline Knitting. My reviews are always my honest opinion]

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Craft business September 18, 2012

By P. A. Ladd

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

Very helpful hints and ideas about starting your own craft business. Easy to understand and put into practice.
Would recommend to family and friends if they are interested in getting paid for their talents.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book November 11, 2012

By Mary Wall

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

This is an excellent book. It has a lot of good information. This book covers everything you need to know about starting out selling your own crafted products.