[Nfb-krafters-korner] Want To Know Wednesday

Sun May 21 22:57:28 UTC 2017

Ramona I like the idea of finding someone to speak about marketing.  What a
good idea.

Nella

-----Original Message-----
From: Nfb-krafters-korner [mailto:nfb-krafters-korner-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of Ramona Walhof via Nfb-krafters-korner
Sent: Wednesday, May 17, 2017 4:37 PM
To: 'List for blind crafters and artists'
Cc: Ramona Walhof
Subject: Re: [Nfb-krafters-korner] Want To Know Wednesday

I owned and ran my own business for more than twenty years.  It was not a
crafting business, but a business.  In order to do this, you have to be
gutsy and willing to work a lot of hours.  You have to hire or do everything
that gets done.  Some people are cut out to do it, but many are not.  Often
you make little or no money for the first year or two, depending on the
business and the economic climate.  You need to do a lot of research and
planning if you want the business to prosper quickly.  Many people start a
part time business and continue to work a full time job while they learn the
ropes.  If you are working, it makes a lot of sense.  

I was fortunate to be sponsored by somebody.  He had me do some things that
did not work, but I figured out what changes needed to occur.  By the time
he figured out that it wasn't working (he took longer to do this than he
should have) I thought I knew what to do, and it worked. So he got out, and
I continued.   

For a crafter business, marketing is probably the biggest challenge.  You
will never make much money if you are making things by hand because you
cannot cover your labor costs.  If you have another source of income, then a
crafting business might be a good suppllimentary income. There are a lot
more stores selling materials for making crafts than selling the crafts
already made which tells you quite a bit.  Still, there are people making
money at selling hand-crafted items.  Often these are combined with
commercially-made items.  I have been fortunate to travel quite a bit, so I
have visited many of these in many different places.  On Kuai I found a
fabric shop that sold all kinds of hand-made and machine sewed items from
pot holders to bags to flower pots.  It was a wonderful place.  I look for
hand-made jewelry when I am outside the country.  

Perhaps we could have some Monday night chats on marketing crafts. I have a
cousin who owns and manages a quilting store.  Joyce ran a yarn store. I
believe becky has a crafting business in her home.   And I'll bet many of
you have contacts such as these.  
Ramona 

Ramona 

-----Original Message-----
From: Nfb-krafters-korner [mailto:nfb-krafters-korner-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of Nella Foster via Nfb-krafters-korner
Sent: Wednesday, May 17, 2017 2:11 PM
To: nfb-krafters-korner at nfbnet.org
Cc: Nella Foster <jellybeanfarm at gmail.com>
Subject: [Nfb-krafters-korner] Want To Know Wednesday

Happy Wednesday to everyone.  It is very warm and windy in my part of the
world.  I hope the rest of you are experiencing nice weather.

Some of you were at the chat on Monday and heard Julie Johnson's
presentation about starting her own business.  Often I think being
self-employed could be a good option for those of us who are blind and
visually impaired.  Barriers such as transportation and hiring
discrimination would probably be less of an issue.  There are the
disadvantages of managing all of one's own taxes and the like.  

Do any of you have your own business now or have you in the past?

If so what are some of the advantages and disadvantages?

Have you ever thought of starting your own business and if so what kind?

Anny and all discussion on this topic is welcome.

Nella

_______________________________________________
Nfb-krafters-korner mailing list
Nfb-krafters-korner at nfbnet.org
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfb-krafters-korner_nfbnet.org
Division Website:  http://www.krafterskorner.org Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/NFB-Krafters-Division/269246643109571
Krafters-Korner Blog https://craftingblind.wordpress.com/
"Follow NFB Krafters Korner on Twitter: Our Handle is @craftingblind Don't
have a Twitter account? You can still follow Krafters Korner on Twitter. Go
to: Twitter.com/craftingblind To unsubscribe, change your list options or
get your account info for Nfb-krafters-korner:
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfb-krafters-korner_nfbnet.org/walhoframon
a%40gmail.com

_______________________________________________
Nfb-krafters-korner mailing list
Nfb-krafters-korner at nfbnet.org
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfb-krafters-korner_nfbnet.org
Division Website:  http://www.krafterskorner.org Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/NFB-Krafters-Division/269246643109571
Krafters-Korner Blog https://craftingblind.wordpress.com/
"Follow NFB Krafters Korner on Twitter: Our Handle is @craftingblind Don't
have a Twitter account? You can still follow Krafters Korner on Twitter. Go
to: Twitter.com/craftingblind To unsubscribe, change your list options or
get your account info for Nfb-krafters-korner:
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfb-krafters-korner_nfbnet.org/jellybeanfa
rm%40gmail.com