Disclosure: some of the links below are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.

Throughout the last couple of years I have seen many handmade businesses thrive. Business owners pivoted and grew their online presence, and were not only able to survive during the pandemic, but increased their sales and found hundreds of new customers! So even as we go into another year full of uncertainty, we can still plan on making it our best year yet when it comes to our handmade businesses.

Change Your Mindset, Change Your Life

I’m a firm believer that your mindset dictates the trajectory of your life, both personally and professionally.

Go into the new year with a mindset of doom and gloom, and you’re likely to see just that! 

But if you can see the new year as endless possibilities, and a chance for you to take action on your dreams, then...

Disclosure: some of the links below are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.

Oh how I wish I could just make things, post them on Instagram, and get a bunch of sales! Life would certainly be easier, wouldn’t it?

As creatives, the “business” side of a handmade business can make us want to run and hide. But planning for your handmade business is a must if you want to make more money in 2022. 

We love what we do, but we also need to make a living, right?

Your business plan will be specific to your business and where you are in the process. A brand new business will likely have different plans than one that’s established.

But within those specific details there are general “buckets” of processes and organizing that will be the same, no matter what kind of business you run, or how old your business is. It's the...

Disclosure: some of the links below are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.

I don’t know about you, but this season was a blur for me! I have been so, so busy. I know that’s a good thing, I think (busier because of more sales), but it’s also overwhelming. This is why I like to focus on self care for handmade sellers at this time of year. We are all in need of some TLC! 

I was so, so happy to have in-person markets to go to this year! But if you’ve done a market or craft show, you know how much work goes into preparing for it, working at the show, and then recouping after it's over.

Add online sales on top of that (and for me, helping all of you beautiful crafters with your businesses), and whew! I definitely need a self-care refresher. Yes, self-care isn't just a "nice to have", it's important to your overall well-being and success!

...

Disclosure: some of the links below are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.

As 2021 comes to a close, we business people tend to start thinking ahead to the coming new year, and all the hurdles we see coming up on the proverbial horizon. Is social media for your craft business one of those challenges?

If it is, then I have the perfect challenge for you! 

But first, let's chat about social media for your craft business and why I'm doing this challenge in the first place.

Why is Social Media for Your Craft Business Important?

As a small business, you probably don't have a huge marketing budget for advertising your creations. And with the amount of businesses that are in the world, just opening a website and waiting for people to find you is a recipe for zero sales and lots of sad days.

Luckily, we have a free resource for getting the word...

I hope your holiday selling season is off and running smoothly! I know you’re in the trenches right now, so this week’s blog is short and sweet.

The “shop small” movement is alive and well, and many shoppers are actively looking for small businesses to support during the holidays. This means your social media strategy should include consistent posting to ensure these shoppers can find you!

Take a moment to go over your strategy for the holiday season. (And if you didn’t get a chance to create one, then maybe take a little time to implement some of these tips now!)

• Have you scheduled posts throughout the month of December? These posts should highlight your products as gift giving possibilities. Make sure you try to show details of your items, and who would love to receive them as a gift! 

• Have you taken holiday-themed photos to use? If not, maybe take a little time and snap some pics with your holiday decorations in...

Disclosure: some of the links below are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.

Hey friend! How are you? You made it through Thanksgiving, yay! Happy Hanukkah if you’re celebrating this week, and happy Cyber Monday! 

Bring those Cyber Monday sales!

Don’t forget to take a moment and acknowledge your accomplishments! You rock, crafty friend! 

As we settle in to the holiday season, it’s important to maintain your website while you continue to take orders and work with customers.

Your website is your storefront - it is usually the first introduction of your brand, and you know what they say: you never get a second chance to make a first impression.

Here’s a quick checklist of things to look for as we continue through the season (and beyond). Add this to your weekly schedule so your website continues to improve and gives...

" ‘Twas the week of Thanksgiving

And all through your craft space

Not a supply was missing

Not a thing out of place

 

Your website is stocked

With your handmade delights

And visions of sales

Keep you up through the nights..."

I could go on, but you get the idea! 

Has the holiday panic set in? 

I know you are busy with holiday preparations, so this week’s blog post is just a quick, last-minute checklist to make sure you are ready to have your best handmade holiday selling season ever!

Supplies - have you ordered what you needed, and has it arrived yet? Remember shipping is going to take time, make sure you keep track of outstanding items that have yet to arrive.

Inventory - make sure you have a plan on how to track your inventory. It can be tricky when you’re selling in multiple places! Keep track of sales and make sure your numbers are updated on your websites.

Photos - are all your holiday photos done and...

The pumpkins are still on our front steps, but your customers are already thinking about Christmas and holiday shopping. 

Especially with the news of shipping delays, holiday shoppers are not wasting any time. And neither should you!

NOW is the time to reach out to your email list and start getting them excited about your holiday offerings.

Here are some last minute steps you can take to get your email marketing strategy set for the holiday season.

Disclosure: some of the links below are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.

Create a Gift Guide

Put together a small gift guide featuring your products and send it out to your email list. Help them see how they can gift your items to their friends and family.

Put them in categories such as “gift for him”, “gifts for _____ lovers”, “gifts for co-workers” -...

Whether you’re one of those people who put up their Christmas tree on Halloween night, or you wait until December, as a Handmade Business owner there’s no denying that the holidays are here.

You may be in the midst of making inventory, but don’t forget your marketing strategies! 

We’ve been talking about marketing for the holidays for a while now, but this week is the time to put the finishing touches on your plans, especially your social media holiday marketing.

Time to put “the star on the tree”, as they say. (Do they say that? If not, they should!)

Disclosure: some of the links below are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.

Remember the Purpose of Social Media Marketing

Your marketing plans most likely have several “branches”. You may have email marketing, social media, and maybe an...

Disclosure: some of the links below are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.

Are you feeling the rush (and the crunch) of the holiday season that’s quickly approaching? 

Hopefully by now, you’ve:

 Organized your workspace

 Planned out your marketing strategy

 Have new photos of your products, some with a holiday theme

 Set your production schedule

 And created your shipping deadlines and ordered your supplies

If you haven’t checked these boxes off yet, don’t panic! Each blog post link gives you tips to get them done. Do what you can!

Now it’s time to put it all together, get your marketing going, and start filling those orders!

The Black Friday through Cyber Monday weekend is THE busiest shopping weekend of the year, both on and off-line.

While online shopping...