Craft, Inc.: Turn Your Creative Hobby into a Business (Paperback)

~ (Author) "Do you know the extent of your creative potential? It's hard to gauge if you haven't given it any roo, to grow and develop..." (more)
Key Phrases: fictitious business name, New York, Fred Segal, Internet Resources (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Craft, Inc. is the hipster business primer for entrepreneurial crafters to turn what they do for fun into what they do for money. Pro crafter Meg Mateo Ilasco offers a step-by-step guide to everything from developing products and naming the company to writing a business plan, applying for licenses, and paying taxes. Chapters on sales, marketing, trade shows, and publicity round out the mix. Plus, in-depth interviews with such craft luminaries as Jonathan Adler, Lotta Jansdotter, Denyse Schmidt, and Jill Bliss provide inspiration and practical advice. Accessible, informative, and more than a little spunky, Craft, Inc. paves the way for today's creative minds to become tomorrow's trendsetters.

About the Author

Meg Mateo Ilasco is a designer, writer, and illustrator based in the San Francisco Bay Area. She was in grad school when she started designing wedding invitations for extra money, but the demand for her distinctive designs was so great that she eventually made the business full-time. Her company then expanded into stationery and accessories, and was featured on NBC's Today and in publications such as The Knot and Islands: Weddings and Honeymoons. She has since sold that business and is launching an eponymous housewares and gift company, Mateo Ilasco (www.mateoilasco.com). Meg is the author of You Can Wear It Again and The Space Planner, both published by Chronicle Books.

Product Details

• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: Chronicle Books (August 9, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0811858367
• ISBN-13: 978-0811858366
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5.5 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #15,272 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #14 in	Books > Home & Garden > Crafts & Hobbies > Reference
  #67 in	Books > Business & Investing > Small Business & Entrepreneurship > Entrepreneurship

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

31 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Perfect for the beginner!, January 5, 2008

By	Kitty Kellie "[e-mail]" (Lynnwood, WA United States) - See all my reviews

I purchased this book over Thanksgiving and just now got around to reading it. WOW! I wish I had done it sooner! I agree with all of the previous comments. This book is a quick read with much to offer the new crafter in the way of marketing and getting organized.

Taking advantage of the internet is a must for anyone in business these days and Craft Inc. has some wonderful gems to offer in that regard which I am putting to use as I write this. The information is laid out in a non-intimidating way that lets you decide which methods are going to be best for you.

I am inspired by the interviews with successful crafters of various mediums and how they got their start!

If you are thinking about taking your hobby to the next level, this is a good place to begin your journey and you will not be sorry you purchased this book.

Cheers!

22 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Hip and helpful, December 29, 2007

By	TeresaR "trartist" (currently IN United States) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

Barbara Brabec had written books on the crafting biz that are, I feel, the standard for what one needs to know. However, I am quite captivated by Meg Ilasco's take on the topic because she thoroughly modernized it (e.g. how one can fully take advantage of the Internet to promote one's business). Her style is highly readable and approachable. I like how interviews are interspersed with practical information. The attractive overall design of the book is also a bonus to potential buyers because, obviously, we who engage in the craft biz are naturally tuned to aesthetics.

My only criticism is that the Your Business Mind chapter could be a bit more in-depth, but given that the publisher probably wants to keep the book at the manageable size that it is, this chapter is still a good starting point, and it's up to the crafter to get more info from, say, the SBA.

I had borrowed this book from the library, but after reading it, I will definitely be buying my own copy.

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A must have for anyone selling handmade items, September 5, 2007

By	WillowTreeCreek "Willowtreecreek" (Arkansas) - See all my reviews

This book is an amazing tool. I am currently in the process of starting my own crafting business and this book is the best "guide" I have seen out there. Practical tips, great advise and interesting interview make it a wonderful book. If you plan to start your own business or even if you just casually sell on the internet or at craft fairs this book is a MUST HAVE!!!!