Buttons, Banners, Backgrounds, and More! Easy online help to make your indie business brand look better.

I realized this morning that it had been a while since I posted some useful resources for indie business. Part of my role as an indie business owner is constantly researching how to improve it. A lot of times, this has to do directly with fiber art and feltmaking, but it also means dealing with developing my "funky felter" brand as well as the more technical details of the business end.

While researching recently, I came across a few neat websites that can help you with making banners, avatars, buttons, and more for your Etsy shop, website, blog, or whatever you need. A couple of these sites provide free backgrounds and digital photos and images. The other two are sites that can actually help you build buttons, banners, ads, avatars, and more. You can make them online without the use of any software on your own computer which is very handy. Although I haven't had a chance yet to explore every detail of these sites, I thought that I'd go ahead and share with you so that you can be exploring while I am too. Hopefully you will find them to be useful.

For Background Photos/Images
Grunge Textures
CGTextures

For Creating Banners, Buttons, Etc.
Cool Text
Banner Sketch

If you have a link to a great site for free backgrounds, banners, avatars, buttons, etc., please share it in the comments.

How to increase traffic to your blog: things that I've found helpful and suggestions from you too!

So how do you get more visitors to your blog?  High traffic in the blogosphere is always desired.  It is not like in the real world where you usually can't wait to get away from the busy, overcrowded city streets and sidewalks.  Any traffic to your blog is considered good traffic.  Yes, "good" traffic - seems like a paradox if you consider the real world applications, doesn't it?  But here on the internet pipeline, especially for the small business owner, you want as many visitors and as much traffic to your blog and websites as possible.

There's a list of things below that I've found to be helpful in increasing my blog traffic.  This is kind of a "show and tell" post though so please follow up by leaving a comment with your own blog address and at least one way you've found helpful in increasing your own number of visitors.  

Ways that I've found to be helpful in gaining more visitors:

• I started posting more information on indie business topics and fiber art topics along with some personal tidbits here and there.  This provides a useful resource to my fellow small business owners as well as attracts new readers through search engines.  It is always appreciated and helpful to share relevant information about your area of expertise and life lessons so I recommend that you incorporate it into your blog.
  
• I use my tags and titles more wisely now.  I fill them with recognizable keywords so that search engines will find my posts.  I also try to use good keywords throughout my article posts themselves.  For example, if you google the phrase "handmade labels" my blog article on the subject is in the first few listed on the topic.  It has gotten quite a lot of viewers because of that high page ranking.
• I submit my blog to top search engines so that they will be certain to find me.  I also submit my etsy shop url and other websites to search engines.  Try looking at the site FreeWebSubmission.com for a listing of where to submit your own sites.
• When I post a topic that I think is particularly useful concerning indie business or fiber arts, I make it known by posting in forums that I belong to.  I try to be discerning about this and only post about my most useful topics so that I don't get spammy about it and annoy others in the forum.
• I join blog catalogs and other blog promotional sites like Scoutle which all help in driving traffic to your site and increasing your internet search engine page ranking.  If you look at the right side bar on my blog toward the bottom, you can see a list of a lot of the blog catalogs and other promotional sites that I am a member of.  Just click on the icon links to sign up yourself.

That's the basics of what I've been doing to increase my blog traffic.  And, of course, post regularly and enjoy writing about what you are posting because it shows through in your articles.

As far as my blog traffic goes, it is steadily increasing.  The most daily views that I have had recently was just over 600 - yay!  I regularly have anywhere from 50 - 200 views per day on average.  It is exciting to see your blog's readership grow along with its subscriptions.  Happy blogging to all of you out in the blogosphere, and please share your suggestions and your own blog link in a comment!

Persistence is free but invaluable: the single most important trait (besides talent) for the handmade artist or crafter

I have been frequenting the Etsy forums lately - probably much more than I should. With so many like-minded artists and crafters to chat with and a never-ending stream of crafty information it is very hard for me to stay away. While surfing through the endless posts there, it seems that I've noticed one distinct theme among many Etsy sellers' discussions, especially in the Business Topics section. And, as usual, it has to do with selling, in particular, how to sell more. Whether it is a new seller discouraged because they haven't had a sale yet or a seasoned seller discouraged because of the lagging economy and thus lull in sales or a question of how to promote or market more in order to sell more, it all falls in the same category of wanting to sell, sell, sell! Don't get me wrong, I am not putting down this behavior - hey, on Etsy, there are many shops to compete with, not to mention the entire world of internet shopping. It is only natural for a business person (large or small) to be concerned with how to boost their selling. All the chatter about it has made me think what is at the core of success in this area.

Although successful online selling in the realm of handmade arts and crafts has a lot to do with the product your offering and the talent of the artisan, I think that ultimately it is persistence that can define overall success. I know that mentality probably seems simplistic, believe me, I know! I, like many others, spend most of my day on small tasks that add up to improve my business. Whether it is about making the product itself or finding new ways to promote that product, there is a huge amount of effort that goes into running a small indie business. Yet, it is the dedication and willingness to repeat those necessary tasks that ultimately grow a successful business.

And yes, I have seen some sellers on Etsy who appear to have overnight success, but what does that mean, other than that their persistence can be focused in other places than marketing efforts. A successful seller still has to have the stamina to remain persistent in their task of delivering a good product, or they may not be successful for long. Then there are sellers who want that kind of success or another kind of success, depending on how they choose to define the word, and have other tasks to be persistent with so that they can achieve what they're after. All-in-all, what it boils down to, is the willingness to keep on going - creating, promoting, selling, and repeat. I have found that the longer I do this, the more "successful" I become.

Here are some of my suggestions to remain persistent..........................

1. Develop a routine. Yes, you artsy fartsy artist, keep track of your time. I'm sure that there are some of you that are already list makers and note takers, but for those of you that aren't, try to develop some rhyme and reason to your day so that you can be the most productive all-around with creating, promoting, and selling. If you aren't a full-time artisan, this can be tricky, but even if you are a part-time, weekend, or evening artist or crafter, try to set some time goals for your week. Such as, you may choose to spend X amount of hours this week on your goals.

2. Set some goals. So what is your intent with your small arts and crafts business? Do you want to make it full-time someday (if it isn't)? Do you want to start consigning or wholesaling or selling online (if you aren't already)? Do you want to develop a new product line, etc.? It is easier to be persistent when you know what you are being persistent for so set some basic (non-overwhelming) goals for your indie business. You can do this yearly, monthly, or weekly, or as I do, set goals for all three time frames.

3. Get organized. This means everything, yep, everything. Organize your work space, your business papers, your online venues, etc., etc., etc. I admit it; this is the one that I probably have the most trouble with - especially the paper work part! Although, I find that when I have a nicely organized space to work in, it helps me to organize my thoughts, achieve goals more quickly, and persist in my creative and business endeavors.

4. Get legal. So if you haven't already done it, and you're serious about being a part-time or full-time money-making artist or crafter, you need to make sure that you have all the proper paperwork in order. This can vary from state to state and city to city so check with your state's government website and your city's website to see what you need to do. You may ask what this has to do with persistence. Well, if you think of your business as "the real deal" with all the necessary paperwork, you are more likely to take it seriously in my opinion and persist for its success.

5. Develop your art/craft. This comes up a lot in the design courses that I teach at a local community college - students are still trying to find their niche. I know that it took me several years to come across fiber arts and feltmaking and to realize that it was this media that I could ultimately express my style. Although I am an experienced graphic designer, the truth is that my style and talent can ultimately be best seen in my fiber art creations. Sometimes it takes much time and experimentation to find the right media and talent for you - the one that will wow people and make them think that they can't live without your creations! Be persistent in finding this as an artist or crafter.

6. Do listen to others and don't listen to others. Wow, how confusing is that statement? Let me break it down for you. Always have an open mind and heart to others suggestions, but also have self-awareness to be able to judge what information you're receiving. Not all advice will be useful to you and your chosen art or craft. Be able to discern what is necessary information that will help you and your business grow. Persist in your endeavors. You are your own boss ultimately!

7. Don't be afraid to............... You fill in the blank here. Whatever it is that you know deep, deep down will help you to move to that next step in creating or promoting or selling or whatever, but you're just too afraid to do it - Don't! Just don't think that way. There is a quote that I love, although I'll probably mess it up and I have no idea who the author is, but here it goes..........."What would you accomplish, if you knew that you could never fail?" So what would you accomplish and what are you going to accomplish?

The image is that of a billboard that has always stuck in my mind for one reason or another. You can find the full story behind it along with several other inspiring stories at The Foundation for a Better Life.


And, as usual, here are some helpful links for you. Hopefully, these will help you to be more persistent in your arts and crafts endeavors.................

Routines, Schedules, and Organization:
Organizing Your Crafts and Hobbies from suite101.com
Home Based Craft Business Tips to Work at Home Effectively
Craft Room group on flickr - see photos of how others organize

Small Business Legalities and Development:
U.S. Small Business Administration - a resource for small businesses
Canada Federation of Independent Business
United States Patent and Trademark Office

Crafty Forums for inspiration, information, and advice:
Craftster.org's Forums
Etsy's forums
The Felting Forum
The Switchboards

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.

Another Storque Article: Confessions of a Jan, being an Etsy Middle Child!

I recently had another article featured by Etsy's online blog, the Storque. My first featured article was about felting trends and the felters of Etsy. For my second article, I interviewed four sellers that are all middle children of Etsy like myself. Say it loud, say it proud "I'm a Jan!" - not a cute newbie and not a seasoned top seller on Etsy, but rather somewhere in the middle in Etsyland.

The people behind the Etsy shops of NorthStarAlpacas, ScottGarrette, CastoCreations, and DumbKidDesigns all volunteered to share their "Jan" experience with me. Here's the intro..................but you'll have to visit the Storque article for the rest, and please do make a comment here or there. I'd love to know what you think of it. Also, there is a thorough list of links at the end to help you improve your Etsy shop and arts/crafts business.

"Do you ever feel that you're kind of in the middle — not an Etsy newbie, but not an Etsy top seller either? So maybe some days you're a little like Jan of the Brady Bunch crying 'Marcia, Marcia, Marcia!' at those envious and admirable top sellers because we all know, at this point that, you're certainly not as cute as those newbie Cindy's out there who are just starting. Nonetheless, you may be feeling a bit like Etsy's middle child at a crossroads of decision making at the beginning of 2008. I find myself personally to be in this middle area (just call me Jan) where I'm trying to decide whether or not to take my business to the next level from part-time hobby business to full-time business, or whether to just enjoy it for what it is. Some of you may also feel the same.

Come on, confess if you're a closet Etsy Jan! There is no shame in finding your way as an Etsy middle child.........."
Go to my Storque Article to read more!