[Nfb-krafters-korner] Starting a Business in Crafts

[Eleni Vamvakari]

Hello to everyone,

  I'm sorry that this is so long but I really am serious about this.
So hopefully, someone can help me.  As I stated in my introductory
post, I'm very much interested in starting my own business.  For now,
I intend on making soaps and candles but wish to eventually expand
into baskets and other wicker items like mats, toats and more, maybe
even chair caning.  I may even create other cosmetic products like
shampoos and lotions.  I'm also interested in making brooms and/or
brushes but am not really sure what the market is for those right now,
since most people whom I know buy the synthetic versions.  The first
two seem the quickest, the cheapest and the easiest.  So I've been
asking questions of Joyce and she's been giving me excellent advice
about making candles and soaps, from places to get materials to tips
and tricks that I can use as a totally blind crafter.

  At any rate, I recently read that there is something called a plan
for achieving self-support (PASS) offered by Social Security.  The
site explaining all of this is here.

http://www.ssa.gov/pubs/11017.html

I receive SSI so am eligible to apply.  If they accept my plan, I can
get extra money to put towards my business.   I could use it to
advance my knowledge of these trades, particularly wicker working, for
the materials to make the soaps, candles, baskets etc., and maybe even
the brooms, since the supplies for the latter are extremely expensive.
 I could even use some money to go to local stores to buy my supplies
so that I can reduce the need to pay shipping.  if I desire.  But the
process for setting up the plan, filling out the form and especially
for creating a business plan, seems extremely difficult.  I can easily
answer some of the questions but others are confusing.  I need to
know, for example, who my customers will be.  I'm thinking some will
be online consumers and others might be found at craft shows.  If I
get lucky, I might even sell to stores!  But I'm not sure right now.
I also need to know what my items and services will cost.  As I don't
know the amount of customers that I'll have nor the competitive
prices, I can't answer this accurately.  Then, they ask how I'll pay
for it.  Isn't that what this money is for, to get me started?  Of
course, once I start making an income, then I could use that to pay
for supplies etc.  They also ask how much I expect to make within the
next four years.  How can I properly answer this without having had
the experience of selling these items and in an economy that is in
crisis?

  They say on the site to seek professional help.  So I've contacted
my vocational counselor from the New Jersey Comission of the Blind as
well as the woman who runs the local job club.  The latter is on
holiday so hasn't returned my e-mail and the former I will need to
contact again on Monday, since I haven't heard from him either.  But I
was told that some of you have had experience in this regard.  Would
anyone here be able to help me with formulating a plan or at least
with some ideas as to how to get this started?

  How much product should I buy for the first batch so that I can test
the waters but not be overwhelmed or underwhelmed with too much or too
little?  Where are the best places to sell my things?  I've considered
craft shows but heard that these can be quite expensive to attend, and
right now, I don't have much money.  I know there's always EBay but
I'm not sure how popular these types of items are on there.
Craigslist seems like a good option, provided that I can ship the
items to my customers.  Etsy, I think, is overloaded with those kinds
of things so I really don't know how mine would sell when compared to
others.  I'm still seeking a mentor who works in basketry or at least
advice as to which books, tapes or videos are the most accessible to a
totally blind basket weaver.  So any help there would be appreciated.

  Finally, last night, I came across something called the BOS (Blind
Online Success System) which is a free program teaching the basics of
business marketing.  They were mentioned by the ACB and by the APH, so
I'm pretty sure that they're not a scam.  Their site is here.

http://blindonlinesuccesssystem.com/info

Has anyone worked with them, and if so, is it worth it for me to do so
given my plans?

Thanks,
Eleni