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

Sun Oct 3 15:41:30 UTC 2010

Thanks for the advice and perspective.  I was actually warned against
craft shows and the like due to their extreme costs.  It would be far
easier to simply sell things online.  But what about large flee
markets?  I know there's a very big one here in NJ in English Town.  I
don't think that it costs that much to rent a table/space.  Would
something like that work or is it still not worth the hassle?

Thanks,
Eleni

On 10/3/10, Eileen Scrivani <etscrivani at verizon.net> wrote:
> I agree  with the quality issue.  I like good stuff, not cheaply made with
> infirior materials or poor workmanship.  However, from my experience people
> that go to a lot of these craft type shows look at it more as a day's outing
> for them & the family.  A lot of people will look and say how pretty I
> really like it, but when they hear or see the price will walk away.  At a
> lot of the craft shows, people will do a lot of window shopping, then go to
> the food tent and spend money eating but not buying the hand made goods.  I
> think the basic way of viewing hand made crafts is strictly by price.  They
> thing they can go to the local Fileen's Basement, Marshal's or T.J. Max
> stores and get similarly made things at half the price.  While half the
> price is correct, they won't find the same quality workmans ship & materials
> is put into the mass-produced items.
>
> Just entering a crafts show is expensive now a days and when you figure in
> all the stuff you then need for displaying your goods, the costs of your
> materials & time when you don't sell the stuff its a huge financial loss
> when your not selling cheap junk.
>
> Eileen
>
> --------------------------------------------------
> From: "Eleni Vamvakari" <magkisa83 at gmail.com>
> Sent: Sunday, October 03, 2010 11:11 AM
> To: "List for blind crafters and artists" <nfb-krafters-korner at nfbnet.org>
> Subject: Re: [Nfb-krafters-korner] Starting a Business in Crafts
>
>> I wouldn't expect to sell anything but the best. *smile*  I too am a
>> perfectionist when it comes to things like this, so I know that
>> something of inferior quality simply won't make it.
>>
>> On 10/3/10, River Woman <riverwoman at zoominternet.net> wrote:
>>> The items we make to sell have to be exquisite and perfect. It has to
>>> look
>>> wonderful and be made of the best materials possible. Shabby does not get
>>> it, nor does mistakes and sloppy work. The crafsmanship has to be spot on
>>>
>>> if
>>> you want to see it to customers who are discerning.
>>> Lynda Lambert
>>> River Road Studio, Since 1976
>>> www.lyndalambert.com
>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>> From: "NCBootman" <ncbootman at gmail.com>
>>> To: "List for blind crafters and artists"
>>> <nfb-krafters-korner at nfbnet.org>
>>> Sent: Saturday, October 02, 2010 9:51 PM
>>> Subject: Re: [Nfb-krafters-korner] Starting a Business in Crafts
>>>
>>>
>>>> Eleni,
>>>>
>>>> Thank you for understanding my intention to get you thinking.
>>>>
>>>> The reason I was willing to post to the list is that a question for any
>>>> crafter is what are we going to do with our treasures! Otherwise, we
>>>> soon
>>>> live in a warehouse that just gets more crowded. But, we have to think
>>>> about selling and business and all of that. There's just so much to
>>>> think
>>>> about.
>>>>
>>>> Greg
>>>>
>>>> --------------------------------------------------
>>>> From: "Eleni Vamvakari" <magkisa83 at gmail.com>
>>>> Sent: Saturday, October 02, 2010 7:59 PM
>>>> To: "List for blind crafters and artists"
>>>> <nfb-krafters-korner at nfbnet.org>
>>>> Subject: Re: [Nfb-krafters-korner] Starting a Business in Crafts
>>>>
>>>>> Hi Greg,
>>>>>
>>>>> I know that my family is willing to help me as far as sending things
>>>>> to the post office so that won't be a problem.  On the off chance that
>>>>> they're unavailable, I could ask a trusted friend.  As far as craft
>>>>> shows, I would need to work on that in advance.  I might have my
>>>>> boyfriend, a family member or a friend take me.  I'm actually planning
>>>>> on starting this business with a friend.  The reason why I didn't
>>>>> mention this is because I'm sure it will create even more of a
>>>>> headache come tax time and I wanted the basics answered first.  She's
>>>>> visually-impaired, not totally blind like me, so could help with some
>>>>> of the more challenging aspects of creating these things until I feel
>>>>> more comfortable.  She's on SSD, so I'm not sure if she qualifies for
>>>>> the PASS or if it's only for those on SSI, if we could make a plan
>>>>> together or if I would be better off applying as an individual and
>>>>> listing her as an employee.  I don't want to do anything that might
>>>>> cause trouble in the longrun.  At any rate, I'm sure that we could put
>>>>> our heads together when it comes to some of the calculations.  There
>>>>> is also software that can help us keep track of purchases, costs of
>>>>> shipping and materials, income earned etc.  But I think that when it
>>>>> really comes time to crunch the numbers, we'll go to an accountant.
>>>>> You're absolutely right about yard sales and the like, which is why I
>>>>> would always attend one with someone sighted who has a good eye for
>>>>> catching these crooks.  I don't consider this discouragement at all.
>>>>> In fact, I'm very greatful that you're taking the time to explain all
>>>>> of this to me.  The more I learn the better.  I sincerely hope that
>>>>> this isn't going too offtopic, but perhaps the advice that I get and
>>>>> the questions that I ask could help someone else who's interested in
>>>>> starting a business in crafts.
>>>>>
>>>>> Thanks,
>>>>> Eleni
>>>>>
>>>>> On 10/2/10, NCBootman <ncbootman at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>>> I never discourage anybody who wants to work. But, the fact is that
>>>>>> one
>>>>>> of
>>>>>> the biggest factors in failure of a blind person's work experience is
>>>>>> due to
>>>>>> transportation. This is an area that you will need to have a rock
>>>>>> solid
>>>>>> plan
>>>>>> of how you will deal with the issue of transportation. Employers Will
>>>>>> ask
>>>>>> and if you seek funding for a business, they will ask. So, spend a lot
>>>>>> of
>>>>>> time with this and have alternatives. Alternatives are necessary
>>>>>> because
>>>>>> what happens when you have a deadline for delivery or a show or just a
>>>>>> scheduled day and the main transportation fails. Drivers have surgery,
>>>>>> get
>>>>>> mad, aren't in the mood, ...
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Another important area is if you are in a selling business, you'd
>>>>>> better
>>>>>> love math or hire somebody to do it. There's the actual adding up of a
>>>>>> sale,
>>>>>> calculating sales tax, figuring item cost, paying bills, reporting
>>>>>> income
>>>>>> taxes, reporting to Social Security, and just doing the day to day
>>>>>> accounting. If you have a yard sale or go to the flea market and have
>>>>>> no
>>>>>> backers of any kind, you've still got to deal with that crook who
>>>>>> wants
>>>>>> ten
>>>>>> $5 items for $25. They'll work so fast you won't even know what
>>>>>> happened
>>>>>>
>>>>>> if
>>>>>> you aren't on your toes.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Again, this is not discouragement. This is work related facts and must
>>>>>> be
>>>>>> considered as a part of beginning work or any business. I'm happy to
>>>>>> answer
>>>>>> any questions and do anything I can to help.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Greg
>>>>>> Greg
>>>>>>
>>>>>> --------------------------------------------------
>>>>>> From: "Eleni Vamvakari" <magkisa83 at gmail.com>
>>>>>> Sent: Saturday, October 02, 2010 5:14 PM
>>>>>> To: "List for blind crafters and artists"
>>>>>> <nfb-krafters-korner at nfbnet.org>
>>>>>> Subject: Re: [Nfb-krafters-korner] Starting a Business in Crafts
>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Thanks Annette and Joyce.  I haven't gone to any crafts shows, since
>>>>>>> I
>>>>>>> don't know where any are located in my area and have no one to take
>>>>>>> me.  That said, my boyfriend might be able to if it's during the
>>>>>>> weekend.  I'm terrible with mathematics so all of this would just
>>>>>>> give
>>>>>>> me a headache if I tried it on my own.  That said, I've saved your
>>>>>>> questions and will attempt to work on them, if only for myself.  Your
>>>>>>> strategy for estimating is very logical.  But I will still seek help
>>>>>>> in actually writing these things out.  I didn't know that you needed
>>>>>>> permits or a business license just to sell on Ebay and/or Craigslist
>>>>>>> or on your own site.  I doubt that I could use my income in the
>>>>>>> beginning to cover my monthly living expenses but they'll probably
>>>>>>> lower my SSI payments etc. if I go this route anyway.  I'll check
>>>>>>> into
>>>>>>> these resources if I don't hear back from my counselor etc.  I'm not
>>>>>>> really sure how much The Comission would be willing to help me, since
>>>>>>> they already paid for a part of my college education and for an
>>>>>>> independence centre experience.  Still, it's worth trying.  But I'm
>>>>>>> really interested in this online course.  It sounds doable and I
>>>>>>> don't
>>>>>>> need to worry about transportation at all.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Thanks,
>>>>>>> Eleni
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> On 10/2/10, Blindhands at aol.com <Blindhands at aol.com> wrote:
>>>>>>>> Greg is right.  My state agency for the blind actually  drove me  to
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> a
>>>>>>>> couple of classes that the small business  was giving.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Joyce  Kane
>>>>>>>> www.KraftersKorner.org  (http://www.krafterskorner.org/)
>>>>>>>> Blindhands at AOL.com
>>>>>>>> _______________________________________________
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>>>>>>>
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>>>>>>
>>>>>>
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