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I operated a dressmaking and alterations business for a number of years that evolved into a quiltmaking business.  These enabled me to be at home when our daughter was small. 

At Home Biz Notes, I’m writing a series, with tips on operating these businesses, that you might like to follow.  The tips also will apply to many arts and crafts businesses as well.

Let me know what tips you have to add.

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Series on Sewing Businesses at Home Biz Not

In Marketing Tips for Your Quilting Business by Nikki Sabato, we learn about printed materials one can utilize:

• Flyers
• Hang Tags
• Posters

For the details, check out Nikki’s article.  Then let us know how you’ve utilized these types of promotion.  Do you have any unique ideas?

These days, with so many computer photo and printing programs out there, it’s easy to produce the items for your promotions.

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Marketing Tips for Your Craft Business

Here I check out the book, Time Management in an Instant, 60 Ways to Make the Most of Your Day, by Karen Leland and Keith Bailey.  They have explored 60 common sense tips for managing your time, organizing your business, office and life, and hopefully becoming more productive…and profitable if you have a business.

So often disruptions in our life, lack of focus, lack of knowing just how to plan and be better organized causes us to be less productive than we could be whether we have a craft business or hobby.   Discovering some tips on time management planning could be very useful.

Do you have time management tips that you’ve found helpful in your home business?

(Sterling Consulting Group Image)

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Managing Your Time Gets More Crafting Done

To learn more about Keara’s business and Etsy.com, read Shawn Cyr’s article, Those arts and crafts projects could add up to dollars online.  This might spark your creativity and give you ideas for expanding your crafting interests and even make some money with them.

There also are workshops and tutorials at Etsy.com.

What have been your experiences with Etsy.com?  I’d enjoy hearing about your craft business utilizing Etsy.

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Do You Utilize Etsy.com for your Crafts?

I’ve used postcards to publicize my books and take orders.  I recently read about an author who has expanded the use of her postcards.  It got me thinking about ways to utilize this form of PR for other art and craft work.

Print a picture of your craft, book, painting or other art on the card.  Then develop the back for:

• Grand openings
• Sales announcements
• Order blank for taking orders 
• Information about you
• Classes/workshops
• Event announcements
• General news

Carry the cards with you.  Mail them out.  Have them on a display table at an event.

How do you creatively use postcards in your crafting business?

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Using Postcards for Craft PR

Kara Mastin photo

If you’re operating a crafting business, you may be wondering if or how President Obama’s “changes” will affect yours.  Will some of the policies he’s introducing and, in some instances, already passed have a positive or negative effect?

I have a “change” poll at Home Biz Notes, where you can express your opinion.  You also can write your view in the comments section of this post or the one at Home Biz Notes.  It would be interesting to see whether you expect, or already see, a change of some magnitude.

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Does Obama’s “Change” Affect Crafting Biz?

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With all the “changes” occurring since President Obama has taken office, whether you agree or disagree, you’re likely to feel some effects in your life and craft business. 

Over at my Home Biz Notes blog, I’ve set up a poll, where you can express your thoughts about the changes this is bringing about or will cause in your craft business.  Since many crafters have developed an income source with their talents, they may be looking into the changes that could occur to this method of making a living.

Even if you live in another country, you may be wondering how changes in the United States could affect you.

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Will Obama’s “Change” Affect Your Craft Biz

School soon will be out and that might change the nature of your crafting whether you’re doing it solely as a hobby or have ventured into a business.

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• If you’re a mom,you’ll have youngsters at home.  You’ll have to arrange your time differently for getting your craft done, entering shows, or making items for customers.
• If you have a business, your clients may be traveling and on vacation.  So their need for your services and products may be spasmatic.
• If you’re busiest in summer,  this could be the time you really have to organize your schedule and your craft production.

Take a look at the nature of your craft and/or business.  Also, summer will affect different sections of the country and the world differently.  There’s not one formula for everyone everywhere.

If you’ve been plying your craft for awhile, you’ll be aware of the trends of summer.  So start planning accordingly.

If you’re just starting out, and this is your first summer, you’ll need to research immediately how this season will affect you, especially if you have a home business and depend on your income from it.

How does summer affect you and your crafting?  What solutions have worked for you?

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Planning for Summer Craft Time

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This is hiring outside professionals, services, and workers to do some of your production and take the workload from you. They don’t work at your place of business, but generally from their homes.

Also, you may decide to outsource your bookkeeping, tax work, and other organizational tasks.  This has become popular with many doing it via the Internet.

 Outsourcing doesn’t mean you must send your work overseas.  Frequently you use someone locally. However, when online type services are involved, you can utilize businesses and individuals literally from around the world.

 If you’ve outsourced, I’d enjoy having you write me and let me know if you found it helpful or whether you discovered disadvantages.

Also, check out my post at Home Biz Notes, Outsourcing – An Option for Your Home Business?

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Have You Considered Outsourcing?

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Here are 5 reasons they can be important:

1.  Helps you gain name recognition
2.  Lets the public know when you’re exhibiting at a show.
3.  Announces an award or type of recognition you’ve received.
4.  Informs the public about new classes/workshops you teach.
5.  Provides information about a unique trip you took related to your craft work.

 How have you used media releases to inform the general public about your arts and crafts involvement?

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5 Reasons for Crafters’ Media Releases