5 Super Cheap Things to Help Brand Your Small Arts & Crafts Business and Make It Look Big!

At one point in time (seemingly eons ago now), I was an actual graphic designer.  I must admit that has helped me tremendously with developing an online arts and crafts business.  I can make all my own graphics, packaging, and other branding materials.  You don't have to be a graphic designer though or even dabble in it that much to make your small indie business look very professional and run with the big boys.  Over the years, I have learned some very inexpensive ways to put up a good front and make my business look professional on a budget.  I thought that I'd share my top five cheap things with you.  I hope you find it helpful.  (FYI - Most of these tips assume that you have a computer and printer and a basic level skill at using them.)

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Brand Yourself on a Budget!

1. Get a logo!  You need to have one consistent name and/or image (even if it is just your name in fancy lettering) to represent your business.  This can seem daunting I know if you aren't that computer savvy.  Well, my advice is... if you aren't a graphic designer or up on the latest graphic software, hire someone to make it for you.  You might be thinking "Isn't that a load of cash to have done?"  The answer is.... NO!  Check on Etsy, ArtFire, and other handmade type websites for some great deals on logo design.  There are some talented designers offering their services very cheaply on the side at these places.  Take advantage of it if you need to.  And, if you aren't a designer, please don't try to whip one up for yourself.  A bad logo image can do more harm for your brand than you probably realize.  Do what you do best and pay a little to have others do the rest.  Trust me on this one.  It is worth it!
2. Get packaged!  If you are an online business, you still need to represent your product well with its packaging and labeling.  You also need to be somewhat consistent in colors and style.  Here's some cheap ideas to get you started...  Buy a pre-made stamp(s) or have a custom stamp(s) made with your logo on it to use for making hang tags, clothing labels, return address labels, stickers, bookmarks, etc., etc., etc.,  The possibilities with a stamp are really endless.  (Click here for a post on custom stamps and branding.) I also offer tagging and labeling stamps in my new Etsy shop.  Another option is to once again check out Etsy, ArtFire, or another handmade type website for some great deals on tags and paper goods for packaging.  Your local hobby shop also carries great paper goods as well as decorative scissors and paper punches to make your own tags and labels.  If you are a little computer savvy, you can easily use it to print some labels to cut out.  Then, of course, you can always make your business cards do double duty by punching a hole in the corner and attaching it to your items with a cute ribbon.  That brings me to my third point...
3. Get some business cards!  There are several places online that offer a dandy little tool to help you design your own business cards quickly and easily.  I personally like OvernightPrints and have used their services for a couple of years now and always been satisfied.  I highly recommend signing up for their promotional emails too.  It is totally worth getting a little spam for the great deals that they offer on a regular basis.  You can often get a discount or 100 business cards for free with their promos.  Another option is to have a business card size custom stamp made.  You can simply stamp several new cards at once when you run low.  Finally, if you are a little computer savvy, you can print your own business card designs on card stock paper.  Be careful doing this though because they can look cheap and be flimsy, and you don't want your business represented as cheap.  You just want to be cheap with your business budget.
4. Get a domain name!  To this one, I know that you might say "Yikes!" because it seems a bit advanced and costly, but it really isn't.  You have options for this that are inexpensive and don't require any graphic design skills on your part.  First of all, it can be as cheap as $5 per year to register your domain business domain name.  I highly recommend that you visit a site like GoDaddy or another registry site and pay the small registry fee to at least own your own domain.  If you don't buy it someone else will eventually!  This actually happened to me with the domain name "funkyfelter" when a real shister bought the name and emailed me relentlessly to purchase it for an outrageous amount of money.  Fortunately, I like my current domain name ("thefunkyfelter") and did not need to own the other one.  It is a good lesson to learn though so purchase your domain business name, or something similar to it if it is taken, for future use.  Your own domain name also gives you credibility as well as allows you to be found more easily when searched for online.  Now on to the website...
5. Get a website!  This is the part that may really blow your mind.  Take a deep breath!  It is really not that complicated.  You have a few options, some of which are even free.  First of all, you can use your existing domain name to point to another location like your blog or your Etsy shop.  If you plan to open up any other shops, like an ArtFire shop or etc., I don't recommend pointing the domain directly to your shop.  A blog is a good alternative though.  You can register one for free at blogger and other places.  You can also easily design and modify your blog with side bar content and article posts.  You can have links to all your other online shops and networking like Twitter and Facebook Fan pages.  A blog can be a good home base that costs you nothing.  Another upside to having a blog is that they are highly indexed by Google searches (especially blogger which is part of Google) and, therefore, you will be more easily found by others searching online.  This is especially true for those who post regularly and use their titles and label keywords well.  Another cheap option to a blog is a one page website that can be used as a home base.  You will probably need to pay a little more with your domain registry though for actual web hosting if you go this route.  If you check (um, you guessed it!) Etsy, ArtFire, or another handmade type site, you can find one page web designs for fairly inexpensive to purchase considering what an ad agency or freelance professional would charge you.  If you go this route, do ask for references or examples of their work if they don't have it readily available.  Also, ask them if they know about "SEO" and how to optimize your site so it is found easily in searches.  Depending on what domain register you used, sometimes they offer free design templates for one page websites with your registry; therefore, you wouldn't necessarily have to pay for web hosting.  And, although I am not very familiar with them, there are some free online design templates available if you search for them.  I think that these would require some computer knowledge though as well as some design instincts to make them look professional and appealing.  Unfortunately, I have seen arts and crafts websites that used free templates, and it has not enhanced their brand.  Quite the opposite!  So be picky about going that route.

There you have it.  From several years of selling online, that is the basic things that I recommend to get you started when you are also considering a tight budget and developing your brand.  (A tight budget is usually all that I have to work with anyway!)  I also recommend doing steps 1 - 5 as closely together as possible.  If you do one little thing at a time, then decide to revamp your brand later on, it can be time consuming, costly, and difficult to transition.  Think ahead and know how you'd like your small arts and crafts business to represent itself to the public.

As an aside, there is one more thing that is totally free and invaluable in developing your brand.  Time.  If you are serious about making your small indie business self-supporting, you must be willing to spend quality time on it daily.

What are your most and least favorite Artsy Craftsy Forums out there in Cyberland?

There are a LOT of forum venues out there on the world wide web.  It really seems endless.  I do find forums to be helpful though.  Let me clarify: if you know where to go and have a good question or keywords to search, you can really find wonderful information and wonderful people to communicate with.  On the flip side, some forums are not worth my time any more, and sometimes there are forums which can be a little hostile in nature no matter what you post and who responds.

So.... I am asking you, yes Y-O-U, what forums do you like most and frequent, and perhaps, if you are brave enough to share, what forums do you like least or find least helpful?  Please leave a comment with your answer or post it to your own blog and leave a link in the comments.  (You might even ask your own readers what they think.)  Inquiring minds (okay so maybe just me) want to know.

Here's my answer for ya...
Bestest ever forums that I either frequent often or find very helpful...
www.feltingforum.com - just love it for all kinds of great fiber info and swell people too.
www.theswitchboards.com - although I don't frequent it very often anymore, it is a great resource for small arts/crafts businesses and women in business.
www.kcetsy.ning.com - this one is private because it is my local Kansas City area Etsy team, but I really love the forum that we have and the group itself.

Then there's....

www.etsy.com/forums_main.php - Etsy's forum... uh, well, I use to absolutely love it.  I still find it quite useful to search for great information, but I don't post there like I use to.  I find the atmosphere to be mean-spirited now, and I often feel like I am being picked on.  It makes me sad.  I am not putting it on my "least" list because I really don't have any forums that I feel are a complete waste of time, but I would put it on my "be cautious" list for others.

and...

http://www.artfire.com/modules.php?name=forums - ArtFire's forum... like the rest of ArtFire, it has great features and is very easy to participate in.  I honestly haven't been there that long so I don't have a strong opinion either way, but so far so good...


There you have my list...  What about yours?

What are you doing to boost business? I'll share & you share to improve all of our sales!

After going quite a while without a sale in my Etsy shop, I was thinking today and in previous days how I could boost my business in such a bad economic year. Since my items are not necessities, but rather decorative, it can be a hard sell during such harsh times. I know that many of my fellow artists and crafters can relate so I wanted to start a little chain of sharing - the sharing of business ideas. I encourage you to post the top things that you are doing this year to improve your business which will hopefully help all of us to improve our businesses as well. You can either post it in the comments below or make your own blog post about it, but please do take a minute to list your top notch ideas and help each other.


Here's what I'll be doing to boost business:

• I plan to branch out by selling some fiber art supplies as well instructional felting kits. I find that it is much easier to sell supplies than finished items in hard economic times. I guess that supplies are seen more as an investment and necessity than finished decorative items.
• I am going to start doing freelance graphic design and web design work for reasonable rates. I'd like to focus on offering my design services to artists and crafters. I think it is good to utilize all of my skills to earn a living in such hard times, and I feel that I know where artists and crafters are coming from and will be able to serve their needs best.
• I will be pursuing more publicity opportunities. I would like to write to online design blogs and sites as well as magazine and book publishers to try to obtain some features. It can result in great free advertising and only takes a little of my time to do.
• I am going to work on my schedule and organization. I have been sorely lacking in the past year about having a strict work schedule on my days off from teaching. I treat those days as part vacation days and part work days. It would be much more beneficial to me if I took things more seriously when it comes to running my home business.
• I am not going to get discouraged so easily. I have found lately that every little knock makes me want to just tumble over. It hasn't always been that way, but having a small business feels like an uphill battle with the economy as it is. My focus needs to always be in the present - not worrying about the past or the future, but working hard in the now.

What will you be doing this year to boost business? Please share your ideas...........

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.