I'm very proud to now be a part of 1000Markets!

If you are an artist or crafter, you may have already heard of the online site 1000Markets. It is an extraordinary online sales venue for high quality, handcrafted items from art to jewelry to wearables to food, and so on. It is also a juried site with an amazing design layout that represents top quality artists. I am beyond thrilled to have been accepted there as one of their artisans! My new 1000Markets shop just opened today. It will house my couture lines of hand felted scarves, jewelry, and other wearable pieces. I have great expectations for 1000Markets and am extremely excited to be part of the site and the community there. Please visit my new shop often as I will be adding handcrafted products weekly.

A Handmade Felted Wool Hat is waiting for the Baby's arrival which is hopefully soon!

I began to make the baby a felted wool hat for this winter several weeks ago. Since I created it through a process of needle felting first, then finally wet felting at the last stage, I was able to work on it at my leisure and decorate it when I had the time and the will to do so. I finally finished it this weekend. Although I didn't use any kind of pattern or precise sizing method (mostly a guessing game this time around), I think that it is just the right size to fit her in the winter when she will need it. I've made quite a few adult size hats, but this is the first baby size hat that I've made. I'd like to make her a few more handcrafted hats as well as some felted wool booties to match. For now, her teddy bear is keeping watch over this hat and wearing it until she arrives.

So what have I been up to lately? Handmade felted wool geode beads and more...

Although mainly I've been up to being pregnant and all that's involved with that, I've also found a little time to do some small feltmaking projects. Right now I have to stick to less physically active felting so I have been creating felted wool beads, balls, and cords, along with other little things. I can make these rather easily without overdoing it, and it helps me to continue to express my creative side which I feel the need to do every day. It also keeps me busy and my mind off of constantly wondering if today is the day when my little one will decide to arrive into the world.

As you can see in the photos, I just finished a batch of felted wool geode style beads. They are in all colors and sizes. These are so much fun to make because I always forget what colors are inside until I cut them open at the end of the felting process - it is like a little surprise present with each one! I don't know exactly what I will do with them yet. I may sell some as supplies in my Etsy shop, make some into pincushions, use some in jewelry and hair accessories, or a little bit of everything.

So that's what I've been up to as far as felting is concerned. As far as the pregnancy goes, all is well which I'm very thankful for. I have my 39 week checkup on Monday so it is not much longer!

Yay! My needle felted flower pendants have been featured on Cuteable!

I got a little email yesterday from Lynsey at Cuteable. It was letting me know that my needle felted flower pendants were being featured in a post. I am honored and thrilled! Thanks so much to Lynsey!

If you regularly stop by my blog, you've probably seen me post a few times by now about one of my felted goodies being featured somewhere. You may be wondering how to get your lovely handcrafted items noticed and featured. There's a great article over at Modish about contacting blogs to submit your work. It is a must read in my opinion and is very well written. That is actually where I got the idea to get in touch with Cuteable about my felted goodies, and they responded which in turn became a feature for my needle felted flower pendants.

If you are trying to grow your hobby into a business or just want more sales, it is vital to get your name out there for the recognition and free exposure. This means that you may need to take the initiative and spread the word yourself so don't be shy! Go ahead - send out a polite email or two and let others know about your quality handcrafted items. The worst that can happen is no response at all which is where you started anyway. And, not all of my features have been through contacting blogs and sites. Most of them come from those blogs and sites finding me first, but this is because I have a strong online presence and good product to offer. Essentially, it is a big marketing circle. Don't be afraid to reach out to site and blogs, but also do your best to have a good brand and online presence for them to find you too.

A Little Milestone coming up . . . 2 hearts away from 2000 in my Etsy shop!

Just had to share . . . It looks like I might hit the 2000 heart mark this week in my Etsy shop. I'm only a couple of hearts away. Whoohoo! When I closed my shop during the month of June for a vacation, I lost quite a few hearts - at least 50 or so. It made me a bit sad, but now I'm almost to 2000! Maybe by the end of the week, my shop will reach it.

(By the way, for those of you unfamiliar with Etsy's heart system, it is a way for other sellers and buyers to mark your shop as a favorite.)

The Funky Felter's Blog Contest Giveaway! A Handmade Felted Flower Ring in Your Choice of Colors! Whoohoo!!

It is finally time for my first blog contest giveaway! You have a chance to win a custom color felted flower ring. So what do you have to do to enter?

1. Leave a comment with a link to your favorite item in my Etsy shop and a bit about why it is your favorite item. (Yes, okay, it is a bit of a shameless ploy to get you to my Etsy shop, but it is my contest, and I'll do what I wanna!)

2. Sign up for my monthly email newsletter by going to this page. Then you'll receive a confirmation email to validate your sign up. If you've already signed up, thank you and there's no need to do it again. If not, please sign up for my monthly newsletter to receive the latest felting news, business tips, and shop promotional discounts. (I promise that you will not be spammed with relentless promotional email - just a once monthly email newsletter and the occasional great sale or discount.)

3. Check back at the end of next week for the winner to be announced. If you're the lucky winner, I want to make sure that you know it and get your custom color felted flower ring in a timely manner. (And, of course, get so excited that you dance around the room while singing and laughing uncontrollably, um, or is that just me?)

The winner will be chosen through Random.org at the end of next week on Friday, August 8th. There will be a post that day announcing the lucky, lucky winner!

All About Labels for Handmade Items: labeling and the law, a DIY clothing label tutorial, and helpful resource links for label makers and sellers

If you sell handmade clothing or accessory items, labels are a necessity. Not only because it is good branding practice to attach your company information to anything that you sell, but also because it is the law that you include information about the origin, content, and care of your products on an attached label. Even for the little guy or girl with a small indie business, the US Federal Trade Commission requires that you declare certain information in the form of a label on your clothing, fashion accessories, and some other handmade items. Most beginning artists and crafters don't realize this at first, but it is important to know the laws and regulations pertaining to what you are selling - labeling is just one. I am not going to go into details of what is and is not required to be on a label because it can vary. Instead, I'm providing several links for you in my resource information below. Please read for yourself what is required specifically on your own product labels.

After realizing that I needed to label my handmade felted wool items, I researched what was necessary to include on those labels for my personal items. Then I proceeded to research how to make labels and where to buy already made labels. There are many options for labeling your handmade items. You can make labels yourself. You can purchase labels from another handmade artisan such as those found on Etsy. Or, you can buy professional quality woven labels from a manufacturer online or locally. The choice is up to you. I initially had chosen to make my own labels, but eventually I plan to invest in some professional quality woven labels for my felted fashion accessories.

Since many beginning artist and crafters are on a tight budget, the do-it-yourself method for label-making is usually the best route for a crafty person. Below are some basic instructions on how I have made my own sew-in labels. There are many other ways to make your own labels so check my resource information for some helpful links. And, if you have the cash and aren't feeling crafty about label-making, then purchase some from a handmade artisan or from an online company. You'll find suggested sources in my resource information below.


Making Your Own Labels (the funky felter way):

Necessary Materials:
computer, inkjet printer, scissors, a ruler, a table top work space, an iron, a pillow case to lay on the ironing surface, about a yard of thick cotton fabric or cotton canvas material, and machine washable dark t-shirt transfer paper.
*You will also need a graphic image and/or text information to put on your label; you can do this yourself via a computer or buy a design off Etsy (see resources).


Step-by-Step Instructions

1. First you will need to have a layout page of your labels in the form of a computer file for printing. If you are a bit computer design savvy, you can make an image or images to use as your label and a label template to make a page of labels. If not, you can use a simple word processing program to make text only labels with a template. Or, you can buy a label design graphic from a talented Etsy seller to use. (If you are wanting to make the label graphics or text yourself, you can find some helpful templates at Avery.com - their label templates work well for this project.)

2. Once you have your file page of labels ready to print, you will need to have an inkjet printer handy along with your dark t-shirt transfer paper (as seen in the photo). Simply print your page of labels onto the dark t-shirt transfer paper by following the instructions given on the transfer paper's packaging. Since the transfer paper is pricey, you might want to only print one sheet at first and follow-through all the instructions to see how the labels turn out.


3. After you've printed a page of labels on the transfer paper. Follow the instructions on the transfer paper's packaging to iron it on to the thick cotton material or cotton canvas (as seen in the photo). I suggest that you cut your fabric to the size of the transfer page prior to ironing it on to make it easier to handle during the process.

4. Once you've ironed the transfer page onto the fabric according to the transfer paper's packaging instructions, let it sit for a few minutes to cool. Then you can remove the parchment paper backing before cutting out your labels. Once your labels are cut out, you can sew them onto your items.



Another Way to Make Easy Labels:
If you'd prefer an even easier way to make labels...... you can use a customized stamp, fabric ink, and ribbon. Simply ink up your customized stamp and put it on cut sections of ribbon. You can then sew the ribbon in as a label.


RESOURCE INFORMATION

US Label Law Information:
USA Textile Labeling Requirements When Selling Your Handmades on About.com

Tutorials for Label Making:
Craftster.org's Tutorial for Personalized Labels
Make your own labels by Allyson Hill

Etsy Sellers Who Make Labels:
Jennifers Jewels
Custom Courture Label Co
Mommie Made It
Rohm Custom

Etsy Sellers Who Design Label Graphics:
Color Fiesta Graphics
Pixel by Pixel

Commercial Label Makers:
Name Maker
Distinctive Designs 21, Inc.
Northwest Tag and Label
Heirloom Labels
General Label
Clothing Labels 4U
Lucky Label


**Please note that I, the funky felter, am not affiliated with any of the suggested label sellers, nor do I endorse or recommend their services. I am simply providing their links as resources for you to evaluate.

How to get started wholesaling your handmade arts and crafts items: a guide to the basics of wholesale for your indie business

When I first thought about wholesaling my handmade felts, the task of getting organized to do so seemed daunting. As I researched all that was necessary to be prepared for wholesale, there were a lot of varying opinions on how you go about it. I can honestly say that I've been reading article after article and forum post after forum post on the web about how to wholesale for the last six months or more. Every bit of information that I could find I've tried to evaluate how it relates to my small, independent arts and crafts business. Since I do make all of my items by hand, it is a very different situation than a large company that mass produces. The word "wholesale" has to really be defined in terms that are appropriate for the handmade artisan. This is what I've tried to do for myself, after much research and interpretation. I thought that I'd share some important things that I've discovered while setting up my fiber art business for wholesaling.

The easiest way for me to convey what I think are the most important basic things to know about wholesaling is just to list them for you. I also think that this is the easiest way for you to receive the information without feeling overwhelmed. I know that I felt very overwhelmed at times while researching articles on the web. I really just want to tell you the basics of what I learned as well as point you to some helpful online information and resources. The following is my recommendation list of where to start when wholesaling your handmade items. Then you'll find some helpful follow-up links that I've come across during my research.



THE BASICS OF GETTING STARTED IN WHOLESALING:

1. Set your retail prices based on wholesale. I see a lot of artists and crafters who sell online that do not account early on for the possibility of wholesaling later. I was one of those in the very beginning. I only charged a little bit for labor and tacked on a little more for materials cost, and there was my retail price. How wrong I was to think this way! I have since learned that I need to be a more scientific about calculating my wholesale price and resulting retail price. There are many formulas to use to do this so you need to find one that enables you to pay for materials and receive a fair wage at wholesale price which should be 50% off your current retail pricing. (In other words, your retail price should twice your wholesale price.) This brings me to the next point.........

2. True wholesale price is half, or 50%, off your current retail price. I know from many, many forum posts that I've already read on this subject that this statement will make some artists and crafters moan and put you into a state of denial. At first, my reaction was exactly the same because 50% off my original retail prices seemed very steep, and frankly quite ridiculous. I even tried offering 20-40% off my retail prices to interested brick and mortar shops, but the truth is that, in most cases, a shop expects the standard of 50% off when purchasing wholesale. If you look at it from their point of view, they have to be able to mark up your item to cover all their costs as well as make a profit. Also, they do not want you to be underselling them if you sell elsewhere. I admit that there are some shops that will accept a lesser discount, but the true wholesale price standard is at least 50% off your current retail pricing. The good news is that you are making your money buy selling in large quantities so if you've set your retail prices well in the beginning, then you should still make a great profit when wholesaling.

3. Decide your minimums: per item and per order total amount. Through researching this topic, I have found that how you set your minimum numbers is entirely up to you. As an artist or crafter, our items vary so much that the minimum number of items or order total amount for wholesale will be heavily dependent on what your specific items are, whether it be jewelry, potter, fiber art, etc. Of course, you will want to set your item minimums so that you are selling in a large enough quantity to constitute a wholesale price. For instance, on smaller, less costly items, you may require one dozen (12) per item style as a minimum order, but for larger, more costly items, you may only require half that amount as a minimum. Or, perhaps you want to require one set minimum for everything, say 10 or 15 per style. You also may want to set a minimum order total. For instance, maybe it is not worth your while to wholesale unless the minimum order amount is $300 or more. Then you would set your total order minimum to that amount. As you can see, it will all depend on what you choose to set so that you can make a profit from wholesaling and it be worth your time.

4. Put some policies in place to protect you and your buyers. If you have an Etsy shop, you probably already have some policies in place on payment, shipping methods, refunds/returns, etc. You need to do the same when presenting your wholesaling options to a potential buyer. Be clear to the shop owner or representative on how you will handle these important subjects by putting your policies in writing to go with your wholesale options.

5. The Wholesale Linesheet: present your wholesale options in the form of a brochure, catalog, or listing. Before starting to research the topic of wholesaling, I don't think that I'd ever heard the term "linesheet" before. It seemed very intimidating to me to have to come up with a linesheet for my wholesale items, but I have found that it is much easier than it seems. A wholesale linesheet is just a way to convey your wholesale options to interested shops. It can take on many different forms such as a small brochure, full-color catalog, or simple document listing. Whatever form you choose, be sure to include all the necessary information such as item name and number, description, sizing, colors, etc. Often times, prices are listed separately, but since I created my own linesheet, it contains pricing as well. You would also benefit from presenting all the information in a very organized way with item photos. It is also good to include some type of order form with it. Your linesheet can be similar to any mainstream catalog that you've seen or, if you're not that design savvy, a simple, yet organized, document with listings would work. Your linesheet is only a means to present your wholesale options so there are many ways to do this, but it is necessary to have something to present to shops. Also, I recommend that you have it in both digital and print quality form so that you can email or snail mail your linesheet as necessary. (Please see the resources listed below for links to much more information on linesheets.)

6. Make it easy for shops to contact you about wholesale options. Once you are completely organized for wholesaling with minimums and policies set and a linesheet ready, start making your desire to wholesale known wherever you have a presence. My main presence is online so I have made known my willingness to wholesale on all my online venues such as my Etsy shop, my blog, and my fiber arts website. If you have a personal website or blog, I also recommend that you integrate a wholesale request submission form or at least a list of your required information from shops to be emailed to you. This information could include the shop's name, contact name, physical and mailing addresses, phone number, email address, website (if applicable), a little about the shop itself, what their interest is in your items, and their tax i.d. number.

7. Know who you are wholesaling to. Perhaps you are only planning on approaching local area shops to carry your items, but more often than not, you will be approached by shops worldwide, especially if you have an online presence where you actively advertise your wholesale availability. If you do wholesale or consign at local shops, then you will probably meet with the shop owner in-person at some point and browse the shop itself. This is really the best way to get to know who you are selling to and who is representing you, but this is not always possible with a global market. If you do plan to wholesale abroad, I highly recommend that you get to know as much about interested shops as possible. You may not be that picky about who represents your products and how they are presented, and that is entirely up to you. I always like to know a little about shops that inquire for my wholesale options. It is especially nice when they have a website or blog with photos of their store front and a listing of other represented artisans. At the very least, you do need to the basic information that I listed in number six for your records and tax purposes.

8. Start selling! This part can take time (I know from experience!), but be patient and continue to promote. You may even consider approaching local shops in person about carrying your items, but be respectful of shop owners and try to call ahead for an appointment if possible. You may want to email shops or send out postcard announcements letting them know about your wholesale options. There are many, many ways to attract new wholesale accounts. You really just have to see what works for you and continue to run your business as usual.


I hope that the above information is helpful. Although I am certainly no expert on wholesaling my handmade items and have just begun the process, I am happy to share what resources I have found along the way and give you my take on how things work. There are many links below to articles and forums that I found to be interesting and informative when it comes to setting up your arts and crafts business for wholesaling. I hope you can pick and choose to find what helps you the most. Best wishes to any artist or crafter who pursues wholesaling! And feel free to add your personal experiences, insight, and information in the comments.



INFORMATIONAL RESOURCES PERTAINING TO WHOLESALING:

Wholesale Rep Sites for handmade artisans:
GreatRep.com
WholesaleCrafts.com
MyWares.com

Wholesale Linesheet Examples:
Fashion-Incubator's What is a linesheet? - a detailed description of what to include in a linesheet and how to organize one.

Fashion-Incubator's Line sheets revisited - a follow up to their original article above with added information and links.

Jewelry Line Sheets by Rena Klingenberg - although geared toward jewelry artisans, this has good linesheet information for any professional artisan.

Sales Materials: The Dreaded Line Sheet on StartUpKidsLine.com - shares the experience of creating a linesheet and what is involved.


Informational Resources for pricing, pursuing wholesale, and promoting:
Tips for Pricing Your Handmade Crafts - suggestions on how to price your items for both wholesale and retail based on labor, materials cost, etc.

How to Price Your Handmade Goods - an in-depth article on the business of art for the independent artist or crafter which contains a lot of good information presented with many aspects in mind.

Selling Wholesale - an article on wholesaling handmade items by Christie Beach, co-owner of Out of the Barn Primitives, with easy to understand basic information:

Home Jewelry Success Tips by Rena Klingenberg - although geared toward jewelry artists, this site's information can apply to other artisans as well.


Arts and Crafts Sites' Forums and Other Resources:
The Switchboards Forum - great info on wholesale, promotions, press releases, and much, much more!

Craftster.org's Forum section Opportunities for Crafters - some information on possible promotion opportunities involving web, print, and film as well as some listings for shops seeking handmade items.

Etsy's Forum - if you search for "wholesale" on Etsy's forum, you will come across many Etsy sellers' posts regarding their experiences with wholesale which can be very, very helpful.

The EtsyWiki - this Etsy resource has an entire section devoted to wholesale.



**the photo image is a portion of the front cover of my wholesale linesheet brochure. If you'd like to request a full linesheet of my wholesale items, please visit my wholesale request page.

Come feel the felted goodness in person! KCEtsy Trunk Show this Saturday!

Don't miss out on some fuzzy felted goodies at the Kansas City Etsy Street Team’s Artist Trunk Show. Come buy some holiday gifts (or some goodies all for yourself) at this local KC area indie arts fair. Browse and buy unique, quality, handcrafted items and support your local artists and crafters!

Here's all the juicy details:

Date: Saturday, November 10, 2007
Location: Bella Dance Studio
Address: Bella Dance Studio, Westport Center, 508 Westport Rd. Suite 102, KCMO, 64111
Admission: FREE
Hours: 3pm – 8pm
URL: kcetsy.blogspot.com

Description:
Shop local and shop handmade from local artists and handcrafters in the Kansas City Area who sell their wares on www.etsy.com. A wide range of high quality, unique, handcrafted items will be available. Here is just a glimpse at what this show will have to offer. Amazing wool felt creations; stunning mixed media and digital art; beautiful ornaments, stationary and pendants using vintage art; chic handmade wearables; classic accessories for babes and tots, and much, much more!

During the show enjoy music by DJ Labeaugot, and sample foods by Personal Chefs.

For a list of all our local Etsy artists, visit our KCEtsy blog. View pictures of our recent work at our KCEtsy Flickr group.

Text description of show contributed by member of KCEtsy - tinystitches.etsy.com.

Buy Handmade this Holiday Season! Indie shopping at its best! A Guide for your Gifting!

There's a movement that has started to buy handmade for the Holidays. It is a terrific idea that benefits both the maker and the recipient. Not only are you supporting a hard working artist or crafter, but you are also providing a gift that has meaning and was made with skill and great care. I personally encourage you to buy something handmade for your loved ones, coworkers, neighbors, whoever, this Holiday season.

So where do you begin?
First you can sign the online Pledge at BuyHandmade.org - "I pledge to buy handmade this holiday season, and request that others do the same for me." Commit to buying your gifts from artists and crafters who put time, love, and care into what they make.



Next you can pass along your new philosophy to all your friends and family. Be sure to let them know that you are supporting the "Buy Handmade" movement and that you request they do the same for you and others this Holiday season. Sometimes all that it takes is giving someone else that knowledge. For many people, who are use to the same holiday rush in department stores, they may not have even thought of simplifying their lives by focusing on buying handmade for the Holidays. Giving a handmade gift for the Holidays is meaningful to both the maker and the recipient.

And finally, START SHOPPING! So where do you go and what do you do to find handmade? Just check out the list below for some helpful hints on places to find unique, quality handcrafted gifts.

Online Sources for great handcrafted gifts:
Etsy.com - Your Place to Buy and Sell All Things Handmade! (and my personal choice)
Mintd.com - An Australian based site full of uniquely handmade items.
Dawanda.com - A European based site full of uniquely handmade items.
Lov.Li - A community and marketplace for art, craft and all handmade products.

Online Indie Shopping Guides and Blogs:
IndieCollective.net - An indie shopping Holiday Gift Guide
IndieShopping.com - Another indie shopping Holiday Gift Guide
IndieFriendly.com - A Directory Of All Things Handmade
Smidge.ca - A wonderful blog that reviews the latest and greatest in indie design
IndieFixx.com - Yet another wonderful blog that reviews indie design
IndieGalore.com - And one more wonderful blog that reviews indie design

And if that isn't enough for you, be sure to check out your local arts and crafts fairs too.
Event Calendars and Guides:
MyMY.us - A listing of Indie Events
IndieCraftShows.com - Yet another great listing of Indie Events
LunaCraft.com - And one more great listing of Indie Events
**You can also check your local newspaper for upcoming arts/crafts shows!

And a Happy Handmade Shopping to all!

Meet some of my fellow crafters . . .

While at the Urban Bazaar this weekend, I had the pleasure of meeting several other vendors. That was really one of my favorite parts of the entire experience! I was excited to find several local talented artists and crafters to chat with about their experiences in selling handmade items. It is always nice to get ideas and gab about what you really love to do in life - create and be crafty!

Here's a list of several of my fellow vendors along with their website addresses and/or Etsy shops. Please go browse and see what they have to offer . . .

sylviac.etsy.com - a wonderful KC photographer and aspiring author. You can also check out her literary blog at sylvias-journal.blogspot.com

BellaArtandDesign.com - these are two of the sweetest crafty ladies that you'll ever meet. They offer a range of hand painted totes, jackets, and linens.

alteredeleanors.etsy.com - a funny, quirky local crafter who makes some amusing paper crowns with titles like "Hussy" and "Tramp." She also does altered clothing and some custom orders.

janay-a.com - a fashion designer and fiber artist who is also just a wonderful person and extremely nice to chat with! You can also visit her Etsy shop at abstractpretty.etsy.com

Well, I know that I've left out a few of my fabulous fellow vendors, and I apologize! I need to go find your business cards so that I can add your sites for all to visit. I hope some of my readers take a peak at these great ladies' shops and sites!

Upcoming Kansas City Event . . . Urban Bazaar

West Bottoms Urban Bazaar
I'm a vendor at this local event on Saturday, Sept. 15, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 1221 Union Avenue, Kansas City, MO, in the West Bottoms. If you're local or up for a drive, please stop by, browse, and do a little shopping! The bazaar features several local artists and crafters, and admission is only a dollar for the Saturday event!

My Husband's Crafty Fish

Check out these little wooden fish that my husband cut out on his scroll saw! I'm so excited for him. He's just starting to get into woodworking and has a natural talent for it. These cuties were a few of his first freehand creations on the saw. They're only 1 - 2 inches in size. I think that they would make great pendants if they were sanded and polished. Hopefully, he'll open up his own Etsy shop in the future with his handcrafted wood creations.

The KCEtsy Trunk Show is coming soon . . .

Mark your calendars for this Friday!
Come and see what the talented local artists and crafters of Kansas City have to offer! This event is Friday, August 24th, from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. at Bella Dance Studio in Westport Center, Kansas City, Missouri. I'll be there selling my funky felted items. Several other Kansas City Street Team members will be selling their locally handmade goodies also. Come, browse, and meet the artists. Oh, and buy a few things too!

Creating a Brand for a Small Arts or Crafts Business

We live in such an advertising based society that it has made me think about the importance of branding for the little guy in business for him or herself - specifically the artists and crafters out there like myself. My professional background is graphic design, and I now teach computer design courses for a local college. We cover visual identities, branding, and logos in my classes, but it seems to always be geared toward the large corporate businesses. This is understandable in a text book, but creating a visual identity, or brand, is certainly not just for the giants of industry.

It is very important that any size business put a professional face to the public. After all, you are likely competing with some of those giants of industry that have very large wads of cash in their pockets to advertise and market with. Something as simple as having a logo and creating a "brand" for yourself can really put your small business ahead. Whether you sell your handcrafted goods online, at craft fairs, in retail boutiques, or all of the above, you will in part be remembered solely by your logo and brand. Yes, that's right; we live in a commercialized visual society so make yourself memorable.

When I started selling my handmade felted goods almost a year ago now, I wasn't really thinking about it being a business. I had done freelance graphic design work for several years and considered that my small business focus. I honestly didn't think that my felt making could make an income worth being called a small business, but it is, it really is! I feel very, very blessed to be pursuing my two passions for a career - teaching graphic design and fiber art. That being said, I quickly realized that I needed to create a brand. I'm a trained graphic artist so that in itself was a substantial help, but anyone can do little things to present themselves professionally and market their small art/craft business like a pro.

It all really starts with making your brand, or as many see it, creating a logo for yourself. First you'll need a business name. This may already be established, it may be your own name, or it may be something that you need to think about. A good name is important, but the presentation of that name can be even more important. Next you'll want to develop a logo for your business name. This can be a visual or graphic element, it can include text, or it can be text or initials all by themselves. Also, you'll want to consider what spirit that you want it to portray. Do you want to be seen as sophisticated and high-end or quirky and fun (my personal choice!)? The possibilities are endless. You may need to sit down and list some key words to describe your business so that you can truly narrow down the look that your going for. If all of this intimidates you, then there are many wonderful freelance designers out there that would be happy to help you create a logo and get your brand started. Their services have a wide price range depending on the professional that you choose so be sure to ask ahead of time for their fees and range of services. Also, get references and ask to see a portfolio or examples of past work.

Well, that's the first few steps on the road to creating a brand for your small business. Once you've chosen a name and developed a logo, you can press on to creating a visual identity for yourself - a brand. In the coming weeks, I plan to share a few posts with you about how I've gone about doing this. For instance, I've developed a website, made labels and product cards with my logo, established an online presence, and there is much, much more to be done. I know that there are many more knowledgeable, well-established artists and crafters who have much more well-developed brands, but hopefully, I can share a little with you about what I'm doing and still learning to do.