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

slery slerythema at insightbb.com
Sun Oct 3 19:04:10 UTC 2010 

This is good to hear. I just wanted to make sure that you were not trying to
jump into the business end before trying the product end.

This is a great thread and I hope you keep us posted as your journey
continues.

Cindy S.

> -----Original Message-----
> From: nfb-krafters-korner-bounces at nfbnet.org 
> [mailto:nfb-krafters-korner-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of 
> Eleni Vamvakari
> Sent: Sunday, October 03, 2010 3:12 AM
> To: List for blind crafters and artists
> Subject: Re: [Nfb-krafters-korner] Starting a Business in Crafts
> 
> 
> I have made soap a number of times at the Diamond Spring 
> Lodge, which is associated with the AFB and now once with my 
> friend.  I was actually the one explaining to her how it 
> works while she read the instructions.  Granted, we used a 
> kit but the basics of it are not that difficult and both of 
> us truly loved what we did and even got creative in the 
> second batch.  We have not made candles yet but are intending 
> on doing so as soon as possible.  Of course, there is alot 
> more to all of this than simply trying it once and doing the 
> basics, but at least, it will help us get started.  The 
> process of contacting my counselor, getting everything 
> straightened out to see which channels I need to go through 
> (whether them or PASS), creating a formal plan, learning 
> about business requirements and taking the online marketing 
> course from BOS, if we/I choose to do that, will give us 
> plenty of time to learn and to try our products on friends 
> and family.  We've worked with basketry but I don't think 
> we're ready to do that professionally, as we only made one 
> basket and that was from a kit.  She did most of the work 
> there, since she had to learn in order to explain it to me.  
> Next time, I'll be doing alot more under her guidence.  But 
> also remember that they provide training.  So they may give 
> me that before the money for the actual business, which is 
> fine. I just didn't want us to be completely ready to go and 
> then to get overwhelmed with proceedures and not know where 
> to go or what to do.
> 
> Thanks,
> Eleni
> 
> On 10/3/10, slery <slerythema at insightbb.com> wrote:
> > Eleni,
> >
> > There is one thing I have noticed in your round of 
> questions, you do 
> > not seem to have any experience making the items you want 
> to sell. You 
> > must be prepared to try making some of these things first to see if 
> > you will be able to make any of a quality to sell. Please 
> do not take 
> > this as a criticism. If they give you the money to buy supplies to 
> > make 32 items, then they expect you to sell 32 items. And 
> if it takes 
> > you 31 completed items to learn how to produce a sellable item you 
> > will not be able to earn enough to buy supplies for the next batch. 
> > Most people will not be able to make something perfect/sellable the 
> > very first time they try something; it takes practice. 
> Also, once you 
> > try making the item, you may discover that you absolutely 
> hate working 
> > with that material and can't see yourself making the amount of 
> > quantities needed to maintain a business.
> >
> > This is just something you should probably consider before 
> talking to 
> > your VR representative.
> >
> > Cindy S.
> >
> >> -----Original Message-----
> >> From: nfb-krafters-korner-bounces at nfbnet.org
> >> [mailto:nfb-krafters-korner-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Eleni 
> >> Vamvakari
> >> Sent: Saturday, October 02, 2010 8:59 PM
> >> To: List for blind crafters and artists
> >> 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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