Oct 7

[alexseanchai]

Lessons from Renae of CupcakeTrainings.com:

1) Choose a single focus. Especially early on. Pick one product line at a time. Pick one business strategy.

2) Focus on quality over quantity. Ten quality products in a single line is better than two dozen subpar products across any number of lines.

3) Most customers don't understand the value of custom products, and they won't pay the price the custom item is worth. And custom products complicate the business plan. Don't offer custom products until you're well established, with a large portfolio—if ever. (Customizing products in a given line is different—especially if restricted to a handful of customization options.)

4) Don't try to make the business sound bigger than it is. Or more corporate—your customers want to see a human, not a corporation.

5) Word-of-mouth and personal contact is not sufficient advertising.

6) Stop competing on price. Start competing on value.

7) Add wholesale accessories & whatnot to the handmade goods packages.

...

I huuuurt rn and I really ought to prioritize some more basement cleaning and organization next? But I plan to do some fiber art and I'll check in again later.

ETA: I set up my (current) biggest loom and wove for about half an hour.

Comments

[lauand]

All those sound like advice I could also use so, again, thanks for sharing.

Yay for your progress! Hope you're well on your way of recovery from your cold, then?

[alexseanchai]

♥

I am mostly over the cold, I think :)

[kendiefox]

That advice is hard, but that probably means it's on the right track.

Huzzah for weaving progress!

[alexseanchai]

yup

:)

[larryhammer]

All that is advice that jives with conversations I've had with artisans making a living at it. (Aside, that is, from paint/drawing artists who accept commissions i.e. custom work -- there's historical precedent for that, though.)

[alexseanchai]

*nod nod*

:)