#12 Your Craft Business Journey - The Possibilities & Opportunities Ahead
Ever wondered where you stand on your craft business journey and how to take it to the next level? This episode of the Thriving Maker podcast is a little more interactive as we explore the exciting transition from having a craft hobby to becoming full-time maker. Through a fun and insightful quiz, I'll help you pinpoint your current stage, whether you're enjoying crafting as a pastime, testing the waters with a side hustle, or running a full-time business. Get ready to discover actionable next steps tailored to your unique path, helping you align your craft business with the lifestyle you desire.
In this episode, we look at three distinct paths for crafters at different stages: hobbyists dreaming of a business, side hustlers aiming for full-time, and full-time makers looking to scale. Each stage of your craft business journey comes with practical, hands-on steps, from experimenting with online sales and craft fairs to developing marketing strategies, honing financial skills, and optimising operations. My goal is to support and inspire you to reach your own craft business goals and turn your passion into a sustainable livelihood. So, grab your favourite pen and notebook, and let's head along this journey together!
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Transcript:
Sarah: 1:53
Hello, welcome to this episode of the Thriving Maker podcast. In today's episode, we're going to be looking at your craft business journey all the way from when it was first a hobby all the way through to it being a full-time business and you as a full-time maker. And so it's going to be a little bit different today. It's going to be a bit more interactive. I'm going to talk through a craft business journey quiz and it's an opportunity for you to consider and think about where you are on your craft journey and where you might want to take your craft and your business going forward. So, however you're listening and wherever you're listening, I hope you enjoy. Welcome to the Thriving Maker podcast. My name's Sarah Kavanagh. Your host and I started the Thriving Maker to support makers, crafters and artists just like you to grow your creative passions into flourishing businesses on your terms and give you the life that you want. I'm a jewellery designer, maker and started my own handmade, fine jewellery business over 15 years ago. I now also help other artisans and makers build their own craft and handmade businesses through marketing and branding and techniques and strategies I've studied, learned and put into practice along my journey. Right now, I want to help you to establish and grow your own designer business so it can help support the lifestyle that you want. Think of this as your go-to resource and check in for all things strategy and marketing for your business, along with stories and anecdotes from my life as a handmade entrepreneur. Thank you for tuning in and welcome to the Thriving Maker podcast. Hello and welcome to this episode of the Thriving Maker podcast. Today I wanted to do something a little bit different and make this episode a little more interactive as much as a podcast can be interactive. But here we go.
Sarah: 3:56
This episode is all about looking at your own journey as a crafter, from being a hobbyist to becoming a full-time maker. So, whether you're just starting to think about selling your work or you're already running a thriving craft business, this episode is for you. I'll be walking through a fun quiz that will help you to see where you are on your craft business journey and what steps you can take to move forward on your journey. So grab your favourite pen and a notebook, settle in and we'll get started. So knowing where you are on your craft business journey can help you think about what goals and where you want to. Your your craft business journey can help you think about what goals and where you want to take your craft and your craft business. So, before we dive into the quids, let's have a look at the three main stages we'll be looking at in this episode. So the first stage is that you're a hobbyist. Your craft is something that you love doing, but on the sidelines it's not. It's just a hobby of yours, but you have big dreams for the future. The second stage of the journey is that you're selling, starting to sell some of your work, and you're a side hustler. You're making a bit of money on the side. And then the third stage of the journey is that you're a full-time maker. So each of these stages represent a different part of your craft business journey and there's no right or wrong place to be. Everyone's journey and everyone's goals are unique. The important thing is to recognise where you are now and what you can do as you move forward along your craft business journey and how you want it to fit into your life.
Sarah: 5:35
So let's get stuck into some of the quiz questions and, as I read through each of the questions and the possible answers, think about which one best describes your current situation. So here we go. Question one what best describes your current involvement in your crafting. Is it a fun hobby that you enjoy in your free time? Option B is that you sell a few items here and there, mostly on the side. You maybe sell to friends and families or at the odd weekend show. Or option C is that crafting and your making is your full-time job and you want to grow your business. So with this question, it may be obvious where you are in this journey from this question, but it sets the foundation for understanding where you sit in your business journey. If you chose A, it's likely that you're a hobbyist who's passionate about your craft but hasn't yet taken the leap into selling. If you chose B, it shows that you've dipped't yet taken the leap into selling. If you chose B, it shows that you've dipped your toes into the world of selling and you've thought about growth, you've considered the possibility of growing a business out of your craft. And if you chose option C, then you're already a full-time maker and you're looking to grow your business further.
Sarah: 6:57
So question two how do you feel about the idea of turning your craft into a business? Option A it's a dream of yours, but you haven't yet started. Option B is you've already started and you would like to take it further. You're considering taking that next step further. Option C is you're already running your craft business full-time and this question helps to gauge your mindset and your readiness for building your craft business and taking those steps into becoming a craft entrepreneur. I talk a lot about mindset because it's so important to feel comfortable and believe in where you want to go in your journey and where you want to take your craft business. If you chose option A, you're in the dreaming and planning stage. Anything is possible, but you haven't yet taken that leap and you haven't. You've got to make that decision to go further. Option B shows that you've taken, you're ready to move. You've taken that first step. You're ready to take your business to the next stage of your craft business journey. And if you chose option C, well, you're already in the thick of it. You're already taking that plunge into building and growing your craft business and you may be looking at growing it even further.
Sarah: 8:16
Question three how often do you work on your craft? Option A is only when you have some spare time, you get your kit out, work on your craft and put it away again. Option B is you spend several hours a week outside of your regular job or option C. You work on it every day. It's your main source of income, so this is what you dedicate your time to. And it may be that when I say I work on it every day, it's your main source of income, so this is what you dedicate your time to. And it may be that when I say work on it every day, it may be that it's your full time income, but you only want to dedicate three or four days a week to it. The time you dedicate to your craft is an indicator of where you are in your journey and whether you're still treating it as a hobby or you're committed to growing your business.
Sarah: 9:01
So let's take a moment just to reflect on those first three questions. If you found yourself choosing mostly A's, then you're obviously still at that hobby stage, maybe thinking about moving along your craft journey. If you've chosen mostly Bs, then you're starting to sell your work and you have this side hustle that is starting to bubble away. And if C resonated with you the most, then you're already a full-time maker. However much time you're spending on your craft, it is your full-time income and remember, these are not set in stone. Your craft business journey is entirely unique to you, so you may find yourself relating to different stages at different, in different aspects of your business, and the main thing is to use this information to help grow and evolve. So let's continue with the next few questions and dive a little bit deeper into the specifics of running a craft business.
Sarah: 10:03
So question four what are your current goals for your craft? Option A is to improve your craft skills but to continue to enjoy your hobby. So you're looking at improving your skills. Option B is to build a steady side income and to maybe one day either quit your day job or not have to return to it if you've taken time out, either for family or for health reasons. So you may be wanting to build on the income that you get from your craft so that you don't have to go back to where you were before. Option C is to expand your business and to achieve those consistent sales that mean you can grow your business further and further. So when you're looking at your goals, these really determine your path going forward.
Sarah: 10:55
If you're in the early stages and you're a hobbyist, your focus is mainly on improving your skills. If you're starting to sell your work and you're in the early stages and you're a hobbyist, your focus is mainly on improving your skills. If you're starting to sell your work and you're that side hustler, your aim will be for to bring in a steady income and potentially to change your day-to-day life, to leave that job or to not return to it. So this is a big moment, if you're a side hustler, to know where you want to go, and if you're a full-time maker, you're all about growth and consistency. You need consistency in your business.
Sarah: 11:28
So question five how do you currently sell your craft? Option A is you haven't started selling it. You're maybe giving it away as gifts for friends and family, but you haven't actually sold anything yet. So option B is you're starting to sell your work. You've maybe sold to friends and family. You possibly sell on Etsy or you sell at the occasional weekend market. And option C is you're selling your work through multiple channels, so this could include your own website. You're maybe selling at regular shows and markets. You'll possibly have your work in galleries or stores and again, your sales channels are an indicator of your business stage. So we're halfway through the quiz and I do want you to take a moment to have a think about how you're feeling about where you stand in your craft business journey. There's no right or wrong answer. It's just about an understanding of where you are so you can plan your next step and plan where you want to go moving forward. So let's continue with the next few questions.
Sarah: 12:36
So question six is what's your approach to marketing your craft? So option A is you haven't really thought about it yet. Option B is that you promote your work on social media wherever you can, so you may have your Instagram account and you're spending a lot of time just putting your work out on there. Option C is you have a structured marketing plan and you're regularly engaging with your audience, nurturing them and building those customer relationships. So marketing is often the key factor into your craft business. If you're not doing any marketing yet, your business is never going to grow. Most people on the fringes of selling their work are just using social media and, as far as this is a good source of marketing, is also incredibly time consuming and can be demoralizing as well if you're just putting out lots of posts but you're not seeing anything coming back, whereas if you're a full time maker, you will have a much more structured approach. You'll be using different sources of marketing. You may be running advertising, you may be doing email marketing, you'll still be doing social media marketing, but you'll have these other avenues to nurture and engage with your customers.
Sarah: 14:02
So question seven how do you manage the financial aspects of your craft? A it's not something you've ever considered. You're just buying supplies and enjoying being able to make things. Option B is you track your sales and expenses on a casual basis. So maybe a few, not every month, not every week, but a few times throughout the year. Option C is you're regularly reviewing your finances. You're using an accounting software or you have an accountant and you have in place systems that enable you to ensure that you have money in your account to for profit, to pay yourself, to pay any suppliers to invest, reinvest back into your business, to pay your end of year taxes. So you are fully engaged in the financial aspects of your business.
Sarah: 15:00
So we're nearing the end of the quiz and I just want to take a moment for you to reflect on how your answers have been trending. What are you mainly coming up with, or are you consistently choosing just one letter, or are you kind of spread across different stages? Quite often we're as crafters. You may be transitioning between stages and you may be as you go on your journey. You're kind of in two places at the same time and being a and, as you grow your business, making those decisions to take the next step and to be curious about what the future could be and courageous enough to make the decision to go into the next step. This is all part of your business journey. So let's finish up with the last two questions.
Sarah: 15:49
Question eight is how do you handle orders and customer inquiries? Option A you don't have any orders to handle. You're gifting your work to people or it's for your own interest benefit. Option B is you manage them in your spare time around your job. Or option C is you have systems in place to handle orders and customer service replies efficiently. So your order management and customer service becomes increasingly more complex as your business grows. When you're not selling your work, you don't really have work you don't really have, you don't have orders. You're making pieces as and when you want to. When you have a business on the growing, your business on the sidelines of another job, another source of income, you'll be juggling those orders in between your day job. But when you're a full-time maker, you will have established systems in place, systems to take in the orders, to fulfil your orders, to deliver your orders and to deal with customer enquiries and meetings bespoke meetings that you may have as well.
Sarah: 16:57
And so, finally, question nine is how do you see your future in crafting? Option A is you one day hope to turn your passion into a business. Option B is that you want to grow your side hustle, grow the income that you're making on the side and eventually leave your nine to five or not have to go back to it if you've taken time out. Option C is your focus on scaling your business to grow it to new heights. Your vision of the future for your business is a strong indicator of where you are and where you're heading.
Sarah: 17:32
If you're dreaming of turning your passion into a business, you're at the early stages. If you're looking to change the way your life is, change the way you've set up, not having to go back to full-time employment or to leave full-time employment, then you're in that transition stage between having a side hustle and a full-time job. And if you're a full-time maker, your focus is much more on scaling and the growth of your business and for it to provide you with the lifestyle that you want. So that's it. That's the end of the craft business journey quiz.
Sarah: 18:13
So let's break down what all the answers that you gave would have meant and what the next steps you can take are. So if you answered mostly A's, you're likely a hobbyist. Your craft is your hobby, you love it, and but you have big dreams for it to go forward. You're passionate about your creations and right now it's fun and rewarding hobby and you can. You'd love to share your work with other people, but you're not making money from it. So your next steps could be to experiment with selling a few items online or at local craft fairs. It's very easy to sell a few items online through etsy or folksy. When you're just starting out, it's a good place to test the water. And also start at local craft fairs at the weekends, where you can start selling, testing the water as to whether there is a market for what you're making.
Sarah: 19:08
Start learning about the basics of running a craft business so that when you decide that you're going to go down this route, you are starting from the right place. You know about pricing your work. You know about building a style for your for your work as well and, again, you, your focus will also be on building those craft skills and refining your unique style. What is it of yourself that you're putting into your work? What makes it uniquely yours? And you may also be starting to engage with other crafters and potential customers. So, surrounding yourself with a community of like-minded people, put yourself out there on social media, show some of your work and remember every successful craft business out there has started as a hobby.
Sarah: 19:53
For somebody, it's that they've started doing something they love. So embrace your passion. Your passion is what's going to carry your business forward, the story of why you've started. What's going to carry your business forward, the story of why you've started, why you want to make. That is what's going to feed your business as it grows and you can turn the dream that you have into a reality. But it will take time. All of the whatever stage in your business journey. There is no quick win. It does. It's a journey and it takes time. But if you don't start now, in two or three years time you'll still be here and you'll still be wishing that you were able to make some money from your craft. So take that first step. Experiment with selling a few of your pieces and getting your work seen by other people.
Sarah: 20:43
If you answered mostly B's, then congratulations. You've taken that first step. You have this side hustle. You're starting to make money from your craft. It's an exciting stage to be in as you start building your business and you may be wanting to consider turning into a full-time venture.
Sarah: 21:01
Maybe your side hustle has started because you've found yourself out of full-time employment. It may be that you're raising your family and you don't want to be working nine to five. It may be that, for health reasons, you don't want to be working a nine to five. So there may be many reasons why you want your business to grow and you want it to provide you with the income that you have. You may have retired and it may be something that you're so passionate about, but you would love. You still want to make some income so that you can afford the lifestyle that you want to continue having.
Sarah: 21:37
So your next focus should be on building those business skills starting to learn more about the business of having a craft business. Develop and refine your marketing and sales strategies to reach more potential customers and to nurture them. You want to be learning about time management and being able to balance your day job or your day-to-day commitments with growing your business. So having plans in place and strategies will be key to your business growing. And educate yourself and learn more about the financial aspects of running a business. So pricing your work, budgeting, tax implications all of these skills are skills that you will need to learn as you're growing your business. But with a solid plan and strategies in place, you'll be well on your way to making your crafting your main source of income. If you answered mostly C's, that's fantastic. You're already a full-time maker.
Sarah: 22:31
Crafting isn't just a hobby for you, it's your business and your livelihood and the way you want your life to flow. Going forward, you've put in the hard work to turn your passion into your career, and now your goal is to scale and achieve those consistent sales that are going to bring you the growth in your career. And now your goal is to scale and achieve those consistent sales that are going to bring you the growth in your business and to give you the lifestyle that you want. So your focus is going to be on optimising your operations and putting in place strategies and systems to increase efficiency and profitability in your business. You'll be looking at expanding your marketing and sales efforts so that you can nurture and reach new customers and new markets. You'll be focusing on building your product collections and being able to develop your collections so that you can get repeat customers, so there's always something for people who love your work to buy. You may also be looking at outsourcing some of the tasks or building a team around you to support the growth of your business. You'll also be looking at developing long-term business strategies and those three-year goals, those five-year goals and putting in place the actions and the steps that you need to ensure sustainability of your business. And your dedication and focus will bring you the long-term success that you want for your craft business.
Sarah: 23:50
So, no matter where you are on your craft journey whether you're at the very early stages or you have an established craft business each stage has its own challenges and its own rewards. The key is to embrace where you are now and to look ahead of where you want to be. What is it that you want from your craft business? What is it what that you want from your life going forward, and to combine those together and create the lifestyle that you want. We are only here for a short amount of time and what we do with our time is very precious, and whether that's so that you can spend time with your family or bring you the satisfaction that you want to, to be able to share your passion, to bring happiness to other people, to share your knowledge, whatever it might be, it's important to seize the moment, to seize the time that you have now, because in 10 years time, you may look back and regret not even starting. So I really want you, wherever you are in your business, to really think about where you want to be five or ten years from now and maybe look at what you're doing now and what steps you might want to take to move forward, to see the possibilities, believe in the possibility of what could happen, going forward, embrace it.
Sarah: 25:20
Life is about living and challenging ourselves and sharing our passion, sharing our love and knowledge with people around us, because it brings joy. So, before we finish, I just want to remind you that this journey is not a race. It takes time. So go at your own pace, celebrate your progress. Don't lose sight of why you started your crafting in the first place, and if you have forgotten and you haven't mentioned the passion and the love you have for your craft, think about it now. Think about what it brings to you and what it brings to the people around you, and share that and take your craft on the journey as you move forward. So thank you for joining me in this episode. I hope the quiz has been a bit fun and maybe given you a bit of clarity on where you stand and the inspiration for your next steps. So until next time, keep crafting, keep dreaming and keep growing your business. I'll speak to you soon.