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

[NCBootman]

    Contact your local Small Business Administration. You really do need a 
strong business plan and they have sighted folks who can help you define 
market, and some of this other stuff.

Greg

--------------------------------------------------
From: "Eleni Vamvakari" <magkisa83 at gmail.com>
Sent: Saturday, October 02, 2010 2:57 PM
To: <nfb-krafters-korner at nfbnet.org>
Subject: [Nfb-krafters-korner] Starting a Business in Crafts

> 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
>
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