Why goal-setting doesn’t work for makers (and what to do instead)
If you've ever sat down in January, written out a big list of everything you want to achieve, felt really motivated for about two weeks, and then watched the whole thing collapse ... you'd be forgiven for thinking that maybe goal-setting just isn't for you.
But I don't think that's quite right.
I think goal-setting can work really well for makers. The problem is that we're usually trying to do it against a massive headwind, and that headwind makes everything harder than it needs to be.
How to save hours of work every week: the top business tools I couldn’t live without
Feeling completely overwhelmed and as if you can’t get anything done in your business? Spending so little time making that you actually forget you’re a maker, rather than a professional email answerer? As a solo business owner you can’t do it all. I usually say...
Does Packaging Really Matter?
As a tiny business you have a lot of things to focus on every day. Packaging is a great way to personalise and brand your work and give your customers a really great experience when they order from you online. Gift wrapping, enclosing some sweets, coloured...
Are you worrying too much about what other artists think of you?
We artists and crafters are a funny bunch. We’re not like other businesses because our products are so personal. They are our hopes and dreams. They are our heart and soul. Sometimes they are like our children. As one lovely ceramicist I know said to me “selling...
Four Elements of a Successful Brand (and a logo isn’t one of them)
The term “brand” often brings up a lot of emotion for makers but whatever you might feel about the term, it’s important to think about the perceptions that people have about your products because your little creative business lives and dies by how well it can...
The Stop Doing List
Trust me when I say that your small artist or craft business needs a stop doing list. It’s as important as your business plan or your bookkeeping. Keeping your energy and enthusiasm levels high is really crucial for the success of your business when your business...
IT’S NOT YOUR DAMN PRICES: Five Reasons Your Products Aren’t Selling
Do you ever feel like you’re working your butt off and just not getting anything to show for it? When your products aren’t selling and the things you’re trying just don’t seem to be working, it can be easy to blame your pricing. Your relationship with your pricing...
Why you must have a credit card reader for craft fairs and which one to choose
Many artists and makers begin their businesses at in person events, like art shows, markets and craft fairs. They’re a really effective, low cost way to test out your products with real customers and get very fast feedback that you can then use to build a customer...
Why your prices need to be consistent across the board
Pricing is a tricky and emotive topic that even experienced makers struggle with. When you are first setting out, there are lots of things you might have not considered that can affect your pricing. Perhaps you didn’t account for the 40-50% commission that...
How to spend less time on Admin: Top tips to get you off the computer and back into the studio
Marketing is absolutely crucial for your business’s success. If no one knows about your lovely thing, no one is going to buy it. But I know that you didn’t become an artist or craftsperson to spend hours every week staring at a freshly created blog post draft, or...
Ten Things You Must Do to Succeed in Selling Your Handmade Products Online
“There has never been a better time to set up your own online store, so that you can sell to your customers online. Why? Because the technology is getting easier and more accessible all the time. Because craft fairs have become tougher and tougher over the past few...