Grow Your Handmade Business: How to Envision, Develop, and Sustain a Successful Creative Business


Kari Chapin - 2012
    Start growing your business beyond the dining room table and leave your day job behind.

Stitch 'N Bitch: The Knitter's Handbook: Instructions, Patterns, and Advice for a New Generation of Knitters


Debbie Stoller - 2000
    Step-by-step instructions illustrate every technique.

How to Sell Your Crafts Online: A Step-By-Step Guide to Successful Sales on Etsy and Beyond


Derrick Sutton - 2011
    Now here are all the answers and much more from author and Etsy seller Derrick Sutton. Based on Sutton's self-published guide, and drawn from his practical experience, you will learn how to boost your Etsy sales, attract more customers, and expand your online presence. He shares his proven online sales and marketing knowledge in an easily accessible format, complete with simple actions steps at the end of each chapter. Learn how to completely optimize your Etsy shop, website, or blog, and much more.Some of the topics covered include:- How to design a catchy Etsy banner - How to gain an instant analysis of your shop and where you need to focus your efforts - A crash course on photographing your items and key mistakes to avoid- Fail-safe copywriting secrets - How to take advantage of Etsy's forums, Treasury, and more- The effective way to use Facebook and Twitter, and why so many people get it wrongA perfect gift for entrepreneurial artists, How to Sell Your Crafts Online offers crafters practical internet marketing techniques from an experienced Etsy seller that will pave the way for a profitable online business!Praise for Derrick Sutton's e-Guide Crafting Success:This is really a great guide through the mind-boggling thicket of internet selling. It's so easy to follow and straight forward... --- Etsy seller jenniferwhitmerI definitely saw a difference in my sales after doing many of the things suggested. --- Etsy seller mishmishmarketA true wealth of useful information. --- Etsy seller helixelemental[The steps are] easily presented, so making changes to your shop can be done instantly as you are reading. -- Licky Drake, HappyGoLicky Custom Silver JewelryA tremendous amount of information. I learned more from [this book] than from anything I have purchased in five years. --- Etsy seller HandpaintedGifts

Craft Business Power: 15 Days To A Profitable Online Craft Business


Jason Miles - 2013
    It has never been easier to start a craft business. But how do you sell your art or craft products in the age of Amazon? How do you use the Internet to find and serve high-quality customers?In Craft Business Power the founders of Liberty Jane Clothing share their journey to build a profitable online craft business. They've sold over a million dollars of products online and they outline a 15 day plan for launching a profitable craft business that is easy to follow, filled with practical advice, and proven to work.If you want to start or expand a craft business buy Craft Business Power today!

The Handmade Entrepreneur-How to Sell on Etsy, or Anywhere Else: Easy Steps for Building a Real Business Around Your Crafts


Dani Marie - 2015
     What if you could start your day out with an excited shout instead of a frustrated sigh? Unfortunately, selling handmade goods online is no longer as simple as throwing together a product listing and waiting for sales to roll in. There are now millions of people with handmade products and they are all eager to build a sustainable income. The Handmade Entrepreneur uses precise methods based on proven marketing techniques to set you above the competition. It teaches you how to create a genuine business you can count on rather than a bundle of shop pages and social media accounts built on a foundation of guesswork. What You Can Expect to Learn from This Book: • How to take DIY pictures that get clicks and sales • How to set up a shop that turns visitors into buyers in under two seconds • How to price your items • How to write titles and descriptions • How to brand your business with DIY techniques • How to rank your pages • How to find targeted audiences • How to build up your list of followers • Where to promote your listings • How to sell without selling • How to form relationships with people who can send you extra sales • How to start a "buzz" about your products • Which tools to incorporate into your business The goal of this book is to free you from having to rely on any third-party website for your sales. Yes, you can take advantage of platforms like Etsy, and you should, but websites come and go, and if all your sales come only from that website, you run into trouble every time there are algorithm changes, a saturation of sellers, or cheaper products to compete with. You are trying to generate sales, which means that you are trying to run a business, which in-turn means that you need a real business plan. Brick and motor stores don't just buy a bunch of goods, throw them in a building, and hope people will come. They plan, study their target market, pick a perfect store location, and prepare to market themselves. Just because you sell online does not mean that you can skip all of these steps. You have billions of products to compete with online and a crowd of shoppers who have an overwhelming number of options before them. You must prepare your storefront, get your products ready, know your audience, and then know how to market to them. Optimizing Your Shop for Sales Dani starts out showing you how to prepare your products with photos that attract clicks and sales. It doesn't just tell you how to do it, though. It SHOWS you. Thanks to the help of many carefully selected Etsy sellers, there are many example photos for each point. In addition to this, the author only shows you DIY photos to prove that you can do it all on your own. Next, Dani discusses how to optimize your shop. She goes through every aspect such as banners, profiles, descriptions, tags, and titles. You will learn how to optimize your pages so that people stay there instead of leaving instantly. This can be done by creating an inviting environment with images and content that buyers can skim through in under two seconds. If buyers can determine that your page is worth staying on in less than two seconds, you have won the battle. Finding Targeted Audiences and Marketing The issue with selling online is finding people who would be interested in your products.

Etsy 101: Sell Your Crafts on Etsy, the DIY Marketplace for Handmade, Vintage and Crafting Supplies


Steve Weber - 2012
    Start your own business selling one-of-a-kind treasures shoppers can't find in regular stores. For crafters, it's a revolution. Never before has it been so easy to start a worldwide crafting business with millions of paying customers -- with no up-front investment --all in an afternoon! If you're a skilled crafter, artist, or antique hunter, you're 90 percent there. Just follow the step-by-step instructions in this book to register at Etsy, photograph and list your items for sale, and rake in the cash. Learn how thousands of Etsy crafters, young and old, have launched their business on a shoestring, usually part-time at home. Customers discover your items because of good old-fashioned word of mouth-with an Internet twist, courtesy of Facebook, Google, and Etsy itself. You'll learn the best tools for making it all work, no computer geekery required. You'll see how to sell more items more quickly, earn more money, and have more fun, spending more of your time doing what you loved in the first place-creating new things, finding new treasures, and meeting lots of new people obsessed with the same stuff as you. Even if you're shy! -- Read easy-to-follow guides for registering on Etsy.com and selling your handcrafted items, vintage finds, or crafting supplies. -- See how crafters like you have built a full-time business from scratch. -- Learn how to price your items to maximize your sales and fatten your profits. -- See how to photograph your items like a pro and avoid the amateur mistakes. -- Learn how to process your Etsy payments and avoid scams. -- Get legitimate tax deductions for your home studio or office, and travel expenses. -- See examples and insider tips from dozens of Etsy's top sellers. -- Learn to use keywords to drive visitors to your Etsy shop. -- Learn techniques for getting word of mouth and "free advertising, and why paid advertising is usually a waste of money. -- Take your business to the next level by attracting wholesalers and retailers. -- License your designs to extend your reach and create more cash. -- Automate your administrative chores with Etsy apps.

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


Meg Mateo Ilasco - 2007
    Plus, get inspired by--and learn from the mistakes of--artists/business owners such as Jonathan Adler, Lotta Jansdotter, Denyse Schmidt, Jill Bliss, and many more.

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


Kelly Rand - 2012
    Written by the directors of Hello Craft, Handmade to Sell is the most complete, up-to-date, and authoritative guide for DIYers seeking to learn every aspect of selling, marketing, and branding. Based on the Summit of Awesome, Hello Craft’s annual business conference, this book covers topics including:• Developing successful product lines• Copyrights and trademarks• Taking perfect product shots• Using analytics to boost your online sales• Selling at fairs, shows, and other retail outlets• Diversifying income through licensing and teaching• Hiring and outsourcing   Throughout, you’ll find expert tips and invaluable strategies and advice from some of the most successful indie crafters and artisans. Whether you’ve only contemplated selling your crafts or want to grow an existing handmade business, Handmade to Sell offers essential guidance for anyone who has ever dreamed of making a living from what they create.

The DIY Bride: 40 Fun Projects for Your Ultimate One-Of-A-Kind Wedding


Khris Cochran - 2007
    The DIY Bride helps brides put their stamp on the big day without breaking the bank. Written by the creator of the number one Web site for wedding crafts, DIYBride.com, this fun, easy guide showcases unique, easy-to-do craft projects that range from beautiful handmade announcements and invitations to personalized favors and much more. Khris Cochran includes valuable cost-comparison sidebars that clearly detail the huge savings involved. She also shows brides how to involve their friends and families in the project-making process, making this a fun journey for all. The DIY Bride is an essential purchase for any woman who dreams of an unforgettable wedding--from the inside out.

Blogging for Bliss: Crafting Your Own Online Journal: A Guide for Crafters, Artists Creatives of all Kinds


Tara Frey - 2009
    Blogging is hot in this highly creative world—and here is the only how-to book aimed directly at them. Everyone from knitters and beaders to scrapbookers and altered artists will find the practical information and visual inspiration they need to create an artful online journal.Thanks to hundreds of gorgeous screen grabs from the very best blogs, a thorough introduction to the tools of the trade, and instructions that virtually take you by the hand, even beginners will swiftly go from blank screen to colorful, enticing pages. Those who already have a blog, but want to enhance their presence on the Web, will learn how to add banners and graphics, take the perfect shots, crop and size photos, establish links, and attract an audience of eager readers.Best of all, readers will meet some of the Web’s most popular creative bloggers, including Alicia Paulson (Posie Gets Cozy), Gabreial Wyatt (Vintage Indie), Emily Martin (Inside A Black Apple), Lidy Baars (Little French Garden House), Heather Bullard (Vintage Inspired Living), and Serena Thompson and Teri Edwards (The Farm Chicks).

Dot Journaling: A Practical Guide: How to Start and Keep the Planner, To-Do List, and Diary That’ll Actually Help You Get Your Life Together


Rachel Wilkerson Miller - 2017
    You decide how simple or elaborate your journal will be, and what goes in there:- Lists of your to-dos, to-don’ts, and more- Symbols that will make those lists efficient and effective- Spreads to plan your day, week, month, or year- Trackers for your habits and goals (think health, money, travel)- Accoutrements such as washi tape, book darts, and more!

Knitting Without Tears: Basic Techniques and Easy-to-Follow Directions for Garments to Fit All Sizes


Elizabeth Zimmermann - 1970
     In Knitting Without Tears, you'll find elegant designs for: Color-pattern Norwegian ski sweaters Seamless patterned-yoke sweaters Hooded garter-stitch jackets for babies Watch caps, socks, slippers, mittens, and more! This classic and influential book is poised to inspire a whole new generation of knitters who have yet to discover the joys and comforts of knitting. As the lady herself once put it, "properly practiced, knitting soothes the troubled spirit, and it doesn't hurt the untroubled spirit either."

Super Crafty: Over 75 Amazing How-To Projects


Susan Beal - 2005
    With its sleek design and edgy tone, Super Crafty is the ultimate hipster’s craft guide, with a wide array of accessible projects suitable for all skill levels. The book offers dozens of projects for the home (Easy Etched Glass), wardrobe (One-Afternoon Skirt), body (Flirty Floral Pasties), family pet (Greta’s Tail Warmer), and more. Organized by genre, each chapter uses a rating system to indicate difficulty, cost of materials, and age-appropriateness. "101" sections offer basic instruction in sewing, working with vinyl, jewelry making, and other crafts. A resource guide helps locate supplies, tools, and further inspiration. The authors also contribute thoughtful pieces on the underlying aspects of craft, from activism to therapy, as well as lighthearted vignettes on crafting disasters and favorite art supplies.

200 Crochet Flowers, Embellishments & Trims: Fresh Looks for Roses, Daisies, Sunflowers and More


Claire Crompton - 2011
    Every stitch is shown as a clear swatch to show the effect and texture, and the pattern is given both written and as an easy-to-follow diagram. Conveniently grouped crochet motifs, stitches and edgings allow for easy browsing and location of favorites. Teaches crafters how to make the best of the textural, 3D nature of crochet—perfect when fabrics and knitting just don't cut it! About The Author: About The Author: Claire Crompton is one of the world's bestselling knitting authors and has worked as a pattern designer for major yarn manufacturers including Sirdar and DMC. Claire has also crocheted for many years and is an expert at teaching and conveying information in an accessible, easy-to-understand format.

The Big-Ass Book of Crafts 2


Mark Montano - 2011
    Turn colorful ribbons into a show-stopping scarf . . . transform old cargo pants into a kick-ass carryall . . . a high-drama neckpiece made out of zippers? Absolutely. Along with a host of other wearable wonders, this exciting all-new volume includes sections such as Pillow Talk (fun, comfy, and made from the most surprising materials), Letter Perfect (cool designs to pop into the mailbox nearest you), Hey, I Could Use That (make a big statement with little things from magnets to nail polish), Just Kid-ding (cheery dÉcor made from kid-centric stuff, guaranteed to make you smile!), That’s Shoe Biz (fun fixes that give sidelined footwear and handbags a whole new life), and dozens of other ideas that are inventive, imaginative, and just plain fun.   With his trademark humor and no-holds-barred approach to crafting, Mark will have you tapping into your creative soul and taking simple techniques to a whole new level in no time. We’re not talking plant-hangers and potholders here—the more than 150 handmade projects in this truly unique compendium are artistic, eye-catching, and cutting-edge, from cool brooches and earrings to ingenious belts and bags, from Bauhaus-style furniture to fishbowl lanterns, and so much more!