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Friday, April 30, 2010
HELP: BUSINESS RESOURCES & LISTINGS



















I am constantly on the quest to find things that make not only my business better but also more efficient. Some info out there is useful, others....not so much, so the following two are resources that I have found to be useful for business. Some you may have heard of others you might not of, but they are both worth taking a gander at
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{The Crafts Report}
This monthly magazine delivers tips and tricks on everything from creating great photographs of artist's work to setting up a show booth and handling legal issues that surround running a small business.
Each issue contains features of crafters who have turned their hobby into a profession. There are monthly columns on business basics, crafts law, advanced business concepts, crafts technology, retailing and more. They have listings of supplies, craft shows, and equipment which is especially good for that #1 question I always see..."WHAT IS THE BEST TENT TO BUY?"
To receive the report you can subscribe online at The Crafts Report Subscription for $40/yr for either print or digital, but if you can't wait and secretly you want to "thumb " thru it before you purchase, the do sell the "hard copies" at Barnes and Noble, Borders, Books-A-Million, Hastings and Jo-Ann Fabrics. The downside to that is there is no "set" location to which stores carry them, it is not based on size of area or size of store, but landscape. This means that areas where there are traditionally more "Crafters" located is where they sell it :( ........this is one of the times where living in a smaller town may be an advantage.
Good News though, after speaking to a lovely rep from the publishing company, it was suggested to purchase the digital version( same price as the magazine). No only does the digital version arrive quicker ( usually withing about 2 business day from puchase) it has more content. They also only have the Craft Show Listings in the digital version, they are no longer in the magazine. Not to mention that since it is digital they can add more articles and resources that they might have to cut to fit in a 40 page magazine.

PRO: With monthly subscription there is constantly new ideas and info for your business.
Suggest getting the digital version for more content and access to archives
CON: May be a bit overwhelming to the "newbie" crafter, may need to wait until you
have a few shows or experience under your belt, but still a good resource.
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{American Style Magazine}
This monthly magazine arts lifestyle magazine for art lovers, collectors and travelers. Each issue features contemporary art and artists, art galleries, art collectors, and arts travel and tourism. American Style offers readers exclusive visits to American artists' studios and art collectors' homes, as well as articles about art glass, ceramics and pottery, art jewelry, handmade crafts, furniture and more.

ARTICLE OF INTEREST: WEB ONLY EXCLUSIVE
2010 ESSENTIAL GUIDE TO FAIRS AND FESTIVALS

DOWNLOAD LISTINGS: 2010 GUIDE TO FAIRS AND FESTIVALS LISTING
This guide has current listings for 2010 and up to early 2011 for fairs as well .
GET IT NOW BEFORE IT EXPIRES!

PRO: Great place to get inspiration and major fairs/festivals you may not have heard of
CON: Seemed to be geared toward finer arts and crafts, so this is good for the jewelry, sculpture and other such crafters. More about established artist and inspiration than business resources
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Friday, April 16, 2010
HOW TO HANDLE TO CRAFT SHOW TALKER :D

Anyone who has done craft shows knows about "The Talker" ...you know that chit chatty person that comes by ask you a ton of questions and your products and life in general , but never buys. The one that won't take a hint when you are trying to sell your products or who doesn't understand that you this is not a social event but an actual money making event!
So I was sent an email with the Q & A about "The Talker" and I thought it was interesting advice that was given on how to handle them without being to much of an a-hole, lol

Q: I attend a lot of shows each year, and it never fails—I always have at least one person visit my booth who is there to simply visit. Meanwhile, I have many buyers coming in and out that I’m unable to talk to effectively, because the “talker” continues on...and on...and on! What are polite ways of breaking the conversation and concentrating on people who are there to do business?
A:There are always chatty people who seem to enjoy being with artists. Often they have no sense of the inappropriateness of engaging you in long conversations.
I believe they haven’t made the connection that although you are in a public place in a social situation, you are indeed working. I think the “talker” is hard to offend and urge you to excuse yourself to talk to other customers.
Alternately you could pick up your duster and excuse yourself saying, “I can’t believe how dusty it gets in here” and go to work. Or get the glass cleaner or reorganize your merchandise...you get the picture.
Soon the “talker” will be off to another booth, pleased with themselves for having talked to an artist.-Donald Clark
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Now, that is usually what I do, if they have been there for 30 minutes and are talking to me about the new episode of "Jersey Shore" (which I will only give 10 minutes of my time to Snooki & The Situation) I will start "Rearranging" and "Stocking". I have actually seen other vendors blatantly tell "The Talker" to exit the tent, but I am not a big fan of that, lol.
This is really because you never know who "The Talker" is or knows. There are instances where "The Talker" is actually beneficial, such as in this instant from Bob the Woodcarver.
I was doing a show in Memphis. I had a gal that looked like she had lived under a bridge someplace; dirty torn cloths and all. She hung around my booth all day. She would leave for an hour then be back to talk. She asked about a zillion questions about six foot tall cigar store female Indians and could I do one. Yes I could do one! This ran on all afternoon. Finally she asked how much and how long it would take. By now all I wanted to do is get rid of her. I said the price was $1000, 50% down and 50% on delivery. I thought this would shut her up. She thought for a moment, got her wallet out and laid five $100 bills on the table. She gave me a post office box number where to send the photos as I progressed. I finished it in a couple weeks and requested a land address where to deliver the piece. Using the directions I drove out this winding road and found the address except there was a large iron fence and a locked gate. In the wall of the gate post was a phone. I explained who I was and the gates opened silently. The driveway had to be a half mile long. I rounded the last turn and an old antibellum mansion stood there. I thought maybe she was a worker there. I rang the door bell and a gal in a maids uniform met me at the door. "Oh I'll get her for you." The same gal came down the stairs in almost the same outfit she wore when I talked to her originally. Turns out she was some country singer. She turned to the maid and told her to give me the final $500 an extra $200 for delivering it. Somewhere in Memphis is a six foot tall female cigar store Indian. Sometimes it pays to talk to these "talkers." -Bob the Woodcarver
So in essence, treat every "Talker" differently, because you really never know who you are "Talking " to.........
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Monday, April 12, 2010
MAKE A SCRATCH OFF LOTTERY TICKET: A TUTORIAL























Now anyone who has ever played the lottery knows how fun they are . There is nothing more satisfying than the instant gratification or sadness a scratch off ticket can bring, lol....so when I came across this little Scratch Off Lottery Ticket Tutorial from Art Mind, I thought it was a great little project to do.
These would be prefect for party favors or party game.......with the winner getting some sort of prize. And with the "Do It Yourself" element of this, you can easily personalize this to whichever occasion needed.


picture courtesy of Art Mind

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Sunday, April 11, 2010
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I love owls, I think they are stunning animals so naturally I love this photo....but when you think of it, it is rather odd for someone to be holding alot of owls, lol. I am just wondering what they are doing with them, lol.
On a side note, did you know that a group of owls is called a "Parliament" and a group of the young is called a "Clutch"?
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Thursday, April 8, 2010
Monday, April 5, 2010
CAN YOUR CRAFT BUSINESS SUPPORT A FAMILY?

I can across this article and thought that is was a realistic approach to that popular "Quit your Day Job" from Etsy.

Can Your Craft Business Support a Family- PART 1

Can Your Craft Business Support a Family- PART 2

I thought that is offered some "realistic" advise for crafters who dream about "Quitting Your Day Job" and surviving on your art. One of the biggest gripes that I and many others have with Etsy's ongoing "Quit Your Day Job" series is lack of real information.
Alot of times, the same questions are asked and there is little to no in depth content. Most of the time they don't tell you that the person comes from a two income household or how long it took to become self supporting. Or more importantly the struggle and "realistic" goals and expectations one has to have in order to be successful. Instead, many times the article is a "glossed" over representation of what is needed to actually quit your day job.
Now with that being said, let me just say that the articles are still good to read as you find others who have started out just like you and are making it now. So from an inspiration standpoint, its good reading, it just needs to be supplemented with articles such as the one above.
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Friday, April 2, 2010
HAPPY EASTER TO ALL MY PEEPS!



















WISHING EVERYONE A HAPPY EASTER!
We are taking a break to gorge ourselves on chocolate bunnies and Cadbury Creme Eggs that we have stolen out of the kids Easter Baskets..........don't judge ;)

We will be back after the holiday with new downloads and other goodies!
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