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.

Post from: Blisstree

Does Obama’s “Change” Affect Crafting Biz?

Jean Murray, at Home Biz Notes, has some thoughts on this…Working 7 Days a Week from home and finding time for yourself and family, especially if you have to replace your “job” income.

How do you manage the balance between home and a craft business and still have time for your family?  If you have only yourself to consider, how do you relax and not feel your work consumes you?

I have learned to work anywhere and everywhere with the writing portion of my business.  Quiltmaking and crafting aren’t so easy to tote along with me or move from room to room.  However, I do try to have some ongoing projects that are manageable away from my work area.

What works for you?

Image: sxc.hu

Post from: Blisstree

Are You a Workaholic at a Crafting Biz?

•  Currently the state of the economy in general may affect you as people have less money to purchase the items and services you provide.  Try to find something that’s necessary or practical and buyers are more likely to look for you.
•  Your health can enter into the picture and interfere with your ability to produce or direct your business.  During most of 2008, my daughter couldn’t do any quilting and fabric art because she was extremely ill with pancreatitis.  This came upon her unexpectedly and very suddenly.
•  Perhaps you have to move, due to a job change, family crisis, or some other factor.  If your business is predominately online, you usually won’t be very affected.  However, if your work was related to the building or community where you lived, you’ll have to make some changes…or even decide whether you want to start over.
•  A natural disaster can wreck havoc with one’s business plans.  A fire, tornado, hurricane or flood might destroy your place of business or that of your major buyer. 
• Changes in trends causes lack of interest in a product or service.  When I was making children’s appliqued vests, I knew I’d have to find other items to produce if I wanted to keep this business going.  Interest in the vests could wane.

 What can you do?

 You can’t control everything, particularly the unexpected and unplanned.  However, think ahead and consider what you might do if any of these occurred.

 For instance, after a fire destroyed a family business selling farm and garden equipment, we learned that a business, no matter how small should have fireproof file cabinets and safe.  Because my husband had these, his accounts receivable and other important papers were not destroyed.

 What have you done to meet situations that you can’t control or don’t plan on?  This is not to say that you have a disaster mindset and don’t look for success.  Simply give some thoughts to these matters in your business planning.

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When There Are Aspects You Can’t Control in Your Quilting Business…

My guest post at Susan Gunelius’ Women on Business blog gives you 10 Tips On Finding Time for Your Home Business.

Whether you’re balancing a quilting business, writing business, or even a non-quilting business, I hope you find these tips helpful.

(Amazon image)

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Mary Emma Writes Guest Post on Home Business Tips at Women On Business Blog

If you’ve developed a reputation for yourself already, you definitely can get top dollar when you begin a business.  But what if you’re fairly new and don’t have a household familiar name?

Jean Murray discusses this topic at Home Biz Notes, Should New Home Business Owners Charge Less?  Take a look at Jean’s post and see what ideas you come up with about charging in your own business.

Remember – Don’t downplay your talents and abilities.  Keep in mind what the market will bear in your area.  It will differ in various parts of your country and the world.  Also, figure out your costs/expenses so you don’t lose money.

How have you worked out the “charge factor” in your business?

(warehousedirect72 image at Amazon)

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What Should You Charge in Your Quilting Related Business?

Des Walsh, at Thinking Home Business, has a thought provoking post, Just How Valuable is Personal Branding.  Here Des differentiates between business and personal branding.  Is there a need for either?  When is one better than the other?

It got me thinking about the differences.  I recalled hearing that if you’re developing a business you may want to sell, don’t lock it in with your name.  That may be a disadvantage when selling.  Also, the new owners might take it in a direction you’d prefer not associated with your name.

When you’re an author, artist, designer, etc., your business generally would be associated only with your name since you’re the one who does the creating.  So, in that case, branding yourself and your name could be an advantage.

What have you done about branding and name recognition?

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Should We Brand or Not Brand Our Quilting?

Quilters/fabric artists, who develop their hobby into a home business or even a small business in a store front, often think because it’s a “little” business, they don’t have to worry about taxes.  However, they generally still do have to pay taxes and Social Security and develop a system of keeping track of income and expenses.

Jean Murray, at Home Biz Notes, has a great post with some initial tax information.  Check out 5 Myths About Work At Home Business Taxes.

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Tax Tips for Your Quilting Home Business

 QuiltingAndPatchwork.com

Customer service and customer relations are very important for maintaining your business. What are some of the tips to keep in mind when we encounter customers who may not be entirely satisfied with our service or product.

We must realize that satisfied customers often pass along the word about your business.  However, angry ones may be more vocal, especially now that many are into blogging and online communication.

1.  Encourage customer feedback and learn to handle it in a diplomatic way if you don’t totally agree.
2. In today’s “instant results” world, many people aren’t patient and are quick to place blame…but not on themselves. This becomes something we need to keep in mind as business owners.
3. Sometimes we have to “lean over backward” to satisfy our customers.  Then we decide whether we can satisfy them and whether we really want to keep them.
4. Sometimes, no matter what you do, you won’t satisfy a customer and are better off without them.
5. However, try, as much as possible, to have the parting amicable.  Angry customers can influence adversely current and future customers.

Do you have any tips for dealing with difficult customers?

(c)2008 Mary Emma Allen

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5 Customer Service Tips for Your Quilting Customers

Are you beginning to see signs of a slowdown in your quilting business?  Perhaps not yet, and perhaps you won’t.  But it’s good to be on the lookout so that you can make changes if you do see this occurring.

We’ve been discussing, at Home Biz Notes, ”signs of the times” to look for that indicate your business or others you’re dealing with are beginning to feel the stress of the current tighter financial times.

Shannon Cherry, in a current blog post, Tough times for entrepreneurs and startups?, at Startup Spark, discusses this topic, too, and indicates areas where things could be tighter in the future.  She mentions one area…customer service…where businesses (home based and otherwise) will have to be on their toes and strive harder.

Customers are going to expect more… more services, more payment options, more bonuses to keep them happy.

Chime in and let us know what you’re seeing in your business?

Related Posts:

Signs of the Times

Signs of the Times to Watch for in Your Home Business

(Amazon image)

(c)2008 Mary Emma Allen

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Are Quilters’ Businesses Experiencing Signs of “Tough Times?”

Twitter has become a popular means of communication, even for businesses, in recent months.  Now there is a free Twitter ebook produced by Geekpreneur.

For more information, read Yvonne Russell’s post, Twitter Ebook, at Home Biz Notes.  Perhaps you’ll glean some ideas on how to promote yourself as a quilter and your quilting related business on Twitter.

Have you been using Twitter in your business and/or personal life?  How is it working out?  I’m registered, but have yet to find the time to get very involved.

(c)2008 Mary Emma Allen

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Try the Free Twitter Ebook in Your Quilting Business?