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

River Woman riverwoman at zoominternet.net
Sun Oct 3 17:23:12 UTC 2010 

I would say to give it a try and see what happens. You never know what you 
can do unless you give it a go. I have never done anything like that, so I 
do no t know but maybe someone else here could give some advice.
If you enjoy doing it, then give it awhile and do it a few times to see how 
it works for you. You want to do things you enjoy, even if they are a lot of 
work. An outdoor festival is a hugh amount of work and takes a team of 
people to really pull it off well - at least two, but I did do festivals by 
myself for about 6 years and traveled to a number of states doing them 
alone. But, it is far easier to do it fyou have helpers. Now, of course, I 
would never be able to do them alone since I can no longer drive and there 
are lots of things that happen throughout the show that you need a sighted 
person's help with, honestly. Customers do NOT understand that you cannot 
see them or what you are selling...even after you tell them you cannot see, 
somehow they just don't get it and continue to try asking you about 
something you have no idea of what they have in their hands. I always reach 
out and put my hands on it to see it, and I tell them I cannot see it, but 
for sure they just do not really understand that truly I cannot see it. My 
husband or daughters help me at all shows, and there are many times I would 
not have a sale without their help. Be sure to have good help, cuz you need 
strong people for putting up tents and carrying stuff....my pottery is very 
heavy and I cannot even pick up the crate by myaelf.
Lynda
Lynda Lambert
River Road Studio, Since 1976
www.lyndalambert.com
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Eleni Vamvakari" <magkisa83 at gmail.com>
To: "List for blind crafters and artists" <nfb-krafters-korner at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Sunday, October 03, 2010 11:41 AM
Subject: Re: [Nfb-krafters-korner] Starting a Business in Crafts


> 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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>>>>>>
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>>>>>
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>>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
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