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If you love creating things and are looking for a new project to get underway, then why not consider setting up your own artisan craft business? It’s never been easier to get items that you make at home – and even in your spare time – into the public sphere for purchase. Whether it’s homemade jams, items of jewelry, clothing, or art, you’ll find plenty of people willing to buy your high-quality, artisan goods; indeed, this is one of the rising consumer trends, and its popularity shows no signs of diminishing! Below, we take a look at a few golden rules that’ll make your journey a successful one.
Start Small
It’s one thing making goods for your own personal enjoyment. It’s another thing entirely when you’re making them for business purposes, and when you have customers that expect a certain level of professionalism, among other things. As such, it’s imperative that you start small. For starters, if you grow too big too quickly, you may not even be able to make all the goods that people are buying! Hone your skills and manufacturing process, and then begin by selling just through word of mouth, and only grow when you’re sure you can turn it into a business.
Focus on Branding
Your products may be delicious, or high-quality, or creative, or anything else; but then again, so are everybody else’s. To get customers beyond your friends and family, you need to focus on making your goods standout – and you can do that by working on your branding. You should have a logo, color scheme, a voice, and values. A jar of jam is nothing special; a jar of jam that has a branded logo made with a color label printer on the front will grab people’s attention. You’re not just in the creating business; you also need to sell those goods!
Finding Where to Sell
In the not so distant past, artisans had to hope that their local community was interested in the things they were creating. If they weren’t, then they were going to have a hard time finding any customers! Today, everything has changed. The internet is a mine of seller resources, and there are plenty of websites where people can sell their goods. The big one is Etsy, but there are plenty of others too. Take a look at what’s available, and find one that’s appropriate for your type of goods.
Get On the Road
With that being said, you shouldn’t just rely on the internet to do all the work for you. There’s a real world out there, too, with real people! As such, take a look t getting on the road and attending craft fairs and the like; it’s a great way to reach more customers and build a buzz around your brand.
Be Committed
Finally, remember that true success will rest on your commitment! Success may come slowly, but it will come surely if you’re willing to put in the long hours, pursue new opportunities, and be ever focused on improving.
