If you love working with your hands and creating some very special things than maybe woodworking is just what you will want to check out. There are many different hobbies that let you use your hands, but nothing seems to give you a greater feeling than working with wood. Many people who love this hobby has also found out that you can turn this hobby into a profitable home based business. There are many different ways that you can do this and let's go over some of the more popular ones.
Woodworking of course is working with wood but you still will need some tools to start with. Many basic hand working tools and electric tools can be bought at your local hardware or department store at a fair price. Once we have our tools than getting our hobby into the business form will take shape pretty quickly. Everywhere in the world people have birthdays, anniversaries, births, and many other events. Woodworking will let you create yard signs that will announce these events. These can come in various shapes and designs and colors. These are usually cut out with a saw and painted and set out in people's yard announcing the event. Over the years people have taken this hobby and turned it into a very profitable business. It's basically a recession free business so you should have no worries about any slow times.
Most hobbies that started out of woodworking eventually branch into a business and one that has is well-crafted signs for your home. These small wooden plaques that can be design with basic hand tools can include the owners name and address. The main reason these have become popular is you can customize these for the homeowner. Add in some color and designs and you will have an endless supply of customers. The other main reason that people need names and numbers on their homes is for emergency purposes. Using woodworking is probably the quickest and the best way to personalize it.
The Internet has really changed the way woodworking is done for many different reasons. Their use to be a time where you had to come up with your own idea's as there really wasn't any sources for wood workers besides small little craft fairs. With the Internet you can now visit forums, download patterns and talk to fellow woodworking professionals and bounce ideas off them. This makes starting a woodworking business so much easier. Crafting new products is the key to growing any business and sustaining it. Many crafters' have taken their hobby online and have seen some great successes. This will probably continue as more wood workers decide to plunge into the Internet even more.
Woodworking can encompass many things and taking your hobby to a full-blown business is just one option that it can give you. Many people don't take that route and that is okay to. If your choice is just to use woodworking as a hobby you will also find a lot of company in that sector too. It's all up to you.
Jeffrey Meier of Jam727 Enterprises at http://www.Jam727.com offers information articles on a wide variety of subjects including Woodworking at http://www.jam727.com/woodworkingbook/woodworking_essentials.htm
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jeffrey_Meier
Friday, 14 December 2007
8 Craft Show Hints and Tips for Everyone's Success
1. Good Communication between people sharing a booth is key. Know who is signing up (double check that they actually did), who is paying, and what times people are working. If you are sharing a booth call them before the show to be certain they have registered and paid for the booth. Inform show promoters of the names of the people you are sharing a booth with.
2. Get registered early and pay early so your name can be included in all advertising. Budgets for advertising may depend on how many vendors are registered. Tell anyone you know who crafts how to contact show promoters. The more vendors shows have, the more public interest the show will have, the more word of mouth advertising the show will have and the budget for advertising will usually be bigger!
3. Tell everyone family, friends, at school, church, work, play groups, and at the park to bring a friend and come see you at the show. Your word of mouth advertising benefits everyone, as theirs benefits you. Send out postcards or newsletters with your regular advertising mention the show, place, date, time and your booth location (if known). Tell promoters if your workplace has a public bulletin board, offer to hang an ad there.
4. Bring your own table and chair unless you have specifically asked to rent one. You also need your own table cloth.
5. Make plans to use the space above and below a table to show/hide merchandise. Put a small bookcase or shelves on the table to put more merchandise on the table. Put a long table cloth on the table to hide extra merchandise that can be taken out as needed. Display merchandise at different heights, don't lay it flat on the table. Spread up to eye level instead of out.
6. Offer a door prize or drawing. This way you collect a name and phone number to call potential customers back. The easiest customer to sell to is one you've already sold to. Offer a special such as a percent off or two for one deal, everyone loves a deal. Inform promoters of any drawings or sales in advance.
7. Talk to people about your merchandise, or about the show. Be friendly & outgoing, they are here to see your merchandise so encourage them to stop and look. Don't try for the hard sell approach.
8. If you have problems with the show or with another vendor, please don't hesitate to tell promoters in private.
Copyright The Extravaganza Craft Productions 2007
Shasta has always been an artist and crafter. She was always drawing on the walls, making crafts with her mom, and selling them at craft shows. She attended Denver Institute of Technology (now Westwood College) for Graphic Design. She has both attended craft shows as a vendor and promoted them. Now she publishes a newsletter for artists, crafters, antique dealers, trade show vendors, and farmers market vendors. She finds show listings for 9 states of the Northwest so that you don't have to.
Visit her site at http://www.extravaganzacrafts.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Shasta_Mclaughlin
2. Get registered early and pay early so your name can be included in all advertising. Budgets for advertising may depend on how many vendors are registered. Tell anyone you know who crafts how to contact show promoters. The more vendors shows have, the more public interest the show will have, the more word of mouth advertising the show will have and the budget for advertising will usually be bigger!
3. Tell everyone family, friends, at school, church, work, play groups, and at the park to bring a friend and come see you at the show. Your word of mouth advertising benefits everyone, as theirs benefits you. Send out postcards or newsletters with your regular advertising mention the show, place, date, time and your booth location (if known). Tell promoters if your workplace has a public bulletin board, offer to hang an ad there.
4. Bring your own table and chair unless you have specifically asked to rent one. You also need your own table cloth.
5. Make plans to use the space above and below a table to show/hide merchandise. Put a small bookcase or shelves on the table to put more merchandise on the table. Put a long table cloth on the table to hide extra merchandise that can be taken out as needed. Display merchandise at different heights, don't lay it flat on the table. Spread up to eye level instead of out.
6. Offer a door prize or drawing. This way you collect a name and phone number to call potential customers back. The easiest customer to sell to is one you've already sold to. Offer a special such as a percent off or two for one deal, everyone loves a deal. Inform promoters of any drawings or sales in advance.
7. Talk to people about your merchandise, or about the show. Be friendly & outgoing, they are here to see your merchandise so encourage them to stop and look. Don't try for the hard sell approach.
8. If you have problems with the show or with another vendor, please don't hesitate to tell promoters in private.
Copyright The Extravaganza Craft Productions 2007
Shasta has always been an artist and crafter. She was always drawing on the walls, making crafts with her mom, and selling them at craft shows. She attended Denver Institute of Technology (now Westwood College) for Graphic Design. She has both attended craft shows as a vendor and promoted them. Now she publishes a newsletter for artists, crafters, antique dealers, trade show vendors, and farmers market vendors. She finds show listings for 9 states of the Northwest so that you don't have to.
Visit her site at http://www.extravaganzacrafts.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Shasta_Mclaughlin
How to Price Crafts for Your Home-based Business
One of the most difficult aspects in a home-based business that sells crafts is setting the price. Many crafters sell themselves short and do not make the profit that they could make because they are afraid of how much they should be charging people. In this article we give you some practical advice on how you can price your crafts to maximize the profits for your home-based business.
Work Out the Cost of Your Craft Materials Required for your Home-Based Business
Think about what you are selling and what materials are required to make it. Write down each item and how much it costs and how many items it will make. You do not need to add materials that make hundreds of products, but if something will only make a few products then add this to the materials cost. Once you have worked this out you will be able to calculate the cost of materials for one finished product.
How Much Are You Worth per Hour?
Another factor to take into consideration is how much you are worth per hour. Your home-based business is a business and this means that you deserve your pay, don't cut yourself short and charge less than you are really worth.
Stick to your Prices
Once you have calculated a price based on the cost of materials and the hours it took you to make it stick to this price. You may decide that you are willing to offer discounts at certain times or barter these items but then have a set idea of how much you are willing to offer as a discount, under what circumstances and what the value of the item is when bartering. Don't lower your prices just because someone didn't buy it, if they didn't then someone else will. Keep the standard of your home-based business high.
Setting prices on crafts is often considered a difficult aspect of having a home-based business that sells crafts. In order to set your price however you should look at the cost of the materials and your hourly rate and stick to this. If you are going to offer discounts or bartering then decide on your terms beforehand and do not just back down because someone will not buy it at the price you are requesting.
This article was written by Mandy Buchanan. Mandy is the owner of Moms Working at Home, a website provide information on how to be successful personally and at your home-based business, and reviews of different home-based business opportunities. To learn more visit Moms Working at Home.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mandy_Buchanan
Work Out the Cost of Your Craft Materials Required for your Home-Based Business
Think about what you are selling and what materials are required to make it. Write down each item and how much it costs and how many items it will make. You do not need to add materials that make hundreds of products, but if something will only make a few products then add this to the materials cost. Once you have worked this out you will be able to calculate the cost of materials for one finished product.
How Much Are You Worth per Hour?
Another factor to take into consideration is how much you are worth per hour. Your home-based business is a business and this means that you deserve your pay, don't cut yourself short and charge less than you are really worth.
Stick to your Prices
Once you have calculated a price based on the cost of materials and the hours it took you to make it stick to this price. You may decide that you are willing to offer discounts at certain times or barter these items but then have a set idea of how much you are willing to offer as a discount, under what circumstances and what the value of the item is when bartering. Don't lower your prices just because someone didn't buy it, if they didn't then someone else will. Keep the standard of your home-based business high.
Setting prices on crafts is often considered a difficult aspect of having a home-based business that sells crafts. In order to set your price however you should look at the cost of the materials and your hourly rate and stick to this. If you are going to offer discounts or bartering then decide on your terms beforehand and do not just back down because someone will not buy it at the price you are requesting.
This article was written by Mandy Buchanan. Mandy is the owner of Moms Working at Home, a website provide information on how to be successful personally and at your home-based business, and reviews of different home-based business opportunities. To learn more visit Moms Working at Home.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mandy_Buchanan
Successfully Sell Homemade Products at a Craft Show
Anyone who builds their own little crafts can tell you that doing a craft show can not only be fun but also profitable. You get your own and run scaled-down model of a retail store to sell your product for about two or three days. You also get the ability to use a show as a window for new products, designs, price changes and booth displays. If your works are not selling fast enough for you or worse yet not at all, you can directly find out why immediately from your customers since you are personally on-hand selling.
Most crafters think about selling their candles, soaps, and baskets at some time or other. Many of them make that jump by selling products at local Craft Fairs and Shows. There are a few things you can do to make your craft show experience enjoyable and more importantly profitable. The key is to knowing your show, and the best way to do that is start out small. Here is a guide to help you get started:
The first thing you want to do is to make sure there are plenty of craft fairs in your area. To find this out, you can either go online, visit some craft stores and ask them or even call your chamber of commerce to see if they have any information for you. Knowing which craft fairs are available in your immediate area can help you find one best suited for your wares.
Put together a small list of the the different craft shows you think you'd like to attend. Try to narrow down the list by finding out information about each show. You should think about how many people normally attend, the mix between crafters and vendors and the different types of crafters which attend.
Buy some equipment to display your crafts. You can use new or used. It doesn't matter. You'll need a pop up tent if you will be selling at an outside venue. There are some fairs which require all vendors to use backdrops and sidewalls. You're going to need somewhere to put all your crafts and fruitbaskets so pick up a nice sized table or shelving unit to display product. Most craft fairs give you a 10 x 10 space so keep that in mind when buying all your equipment. You don't want to spend money on something you can't use.
Now that you have all equipment set up in your designated booth, decorate it nicely. You want it to be fun but as professional as possible, too. Do a test run at home so that you are sure everything will look the way you want once you are at the fair. If your practice booth meets your expectations, take a picture of it so you can reference it later on.
Decorate and set up your booth so that it is inviting. The idea is to get people coming in and looking around. Some crafters like to add extra lighting to indoor shows so it draws extra attention towards your booth. Setup enough space for customers to checkout and new ones to come in at the same time.
Now here is where your people and sales skills come into play. Talk to everyone who stops in your booth and if you can, walks by your booth. You want to be friendly and the appearance of extremely outgoing without being obnoxious. Try to mention your product in a friendly way or even show it off if you can.
Speak with other crafters. You may get some valuable advice such as finding out the types of things which sell the best at what fairs or which days are slower or faster than others. They can give you a good idea what to expect. Another bonus is establishing contacts within the crafting crowd.
The Fruit Company offers fruit harvested right from the orchards, reserving only the freshest fruit for your gifts. The Fruit Company offers a selection of fruit baskets, gift towers, gourmet gift baskets, premium fruit gifts, and our monthly fruit clubs. Visit them at www.fuitcompany.com.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tl_Kleban
Most crafters think about selling their candles, soaps, and baskets at some time or other. Many of them make that jump by selling products at local Craft Fairs and Shows. There are a few things you can do to make your craft show experience enjoyable and more importantly profitable. The key is to knowing your show, and the best way to do that is start out small. Here is a guide to help you get started:
The first thing you want to do is to make sure there are plenty of craft fairs in your area. To find this out, you can either go online, visit some craft stores and ask them or even call your chamber of commerce to see if they have any information for you. Knowing which craft fairs are available in your immediate area can help you find one best suited for your wares.
Put together a small list of the the different craft shows you think you'd like to attend. Try to narrow down the list by finding out information about each show. You should think about how many people normally attend, the mix between crafters and vendors and the different types of crafters which attend.
Buy some equipment to display your crafts. You can use new or used. It doesn't matter. You'll need a pop up tent if you will be selling at an outside venue. There are some fairs which require all vendors to use backdrops and sidewalls. You're going to need somewhere to put all your crafts and fruitbaskets so pick up a nice sized table or shelving unit to display product. Most craft fairs give you a 10 x 10 space so keep that in mind when buying all your equipment. You don't want to spend money on something you can't use.
Now that you have all equipment set up in your designated booth, decorate it nicely. You want it to be fun but as professional as possible, too. Do a test run at home so that you are sure everything will look the way you want once you are at the fair. If your practice booth meets your expectations, take a picture of it so you can reference it later on.
Decorate and set up your booth so that it is inviting. The idea is to get people coming in and looking around. Some crafters like to add extra lighting to indoor shows so it draws extra attention towards your booth. Setup enough space for customers to checkout and new ones to come in at the same time.
Now here is where your people and sales skills come into play. Talk to everyone who stops in your booth and if you can, walks by your booth. You want to be friendly and the appearance of extremely outgoing without being obnoxious. Try to mention your product in a friendly way or even show it off if you can.
Speak with other crafters. You may get some valuable advice such as finding out the types of things which sell the best at what fairs or which days are slower or faster than others. They can give you a good idea what to expect. Another bonus is establishing contacts within the crafting crowd.
The Fruit Company offers fruit harvested right from the orchards, reserving only the freshest fruit for your gifts. The Fruit Company offers a selection of fruit baskets, gift towers, gourmet gift baskets, premium fruit gifts, and our monthly fruit clubs. Visit them at www.fuitcompany.com.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tl_Kleban
Which Craft is Right for Me?
Diana discovered the joy of pottery after suffering a terrible divorce. Taking a seat at the wheel with a lump of clay, she felt an immediate release. Her mind cleared and her heart rate slowed down. She was able to relax in a way she hadn't for weeks. "Better than therapy-and medication!" she happily reported to her doctor after her first day at a community education class, where she went on to make friends with fellow potters, further enriching her life.
For Kris it was counted cross-stitch. The repetitive motion of the needle passing up and down through crisp cloth put her in a near-meditative state, the way yoga does for some. In this state Kris was able to work out solutions to her daily challenges. "It was like the ideas dropped into my mind out of the sky," she told a close friend.
Shawn found furniture restoration to be wonderfully soothing after a stressful day at the office. The raw scent of wood loosened him up, and he was surprised how satisfying it was to sit down at a table he had restored himself.
Such is the world of DIY. Discovering the right craft for your personality and temperament can be a reward that transforms your life.
The crafting world is as wide and diverse as a tropical rainforest. Each crafting activity has unique benefits and challenges. You could spend your entire life just trying out different crafts. While this may be fun, it can be expensive and frustrating. Should you desire to narrow your search down, this article will act as your guide by investigating the world of crafts as they fit into five spectrums. If one activity doesn't suit you, take heart. Crafting is for everyone-you are bound to find that perfect match.
1. Short-term projects vs. long-term projects.
Do you have a need for immediate gratification? If you do, you might prefer cake decorating, ceramics, candle-making, lotions-n-potions, or cut-n-paste projects (scrapbooking, collage, and decoupage), which deliver results relatively quickly. Conversely, if you are known to possess the patience of Job, needlecrafts and quilting may be your thing. (Although quilting by machine cuts down the time dramatically). If you like long-term projects, pottery and gardening are also excellent choices, since they involve several steps.
2. Fastidiousness vs. playfulness/ looseness
Needlecrafts, baking, and jewelry-making require a meticulous and careful eye, whereas cooking, gardening and cut-n-paste projects are more appropriate for the playful type. Keep in mind that many activities can go either way or are best for those who can balance a bit of each quality.
3. Planner by nature vs. spontaneous to the core
If you don't mind doing a little math, counted cross-stitch, knitting, and crochet are great activities. Needlecrafts, quilting and sewing also require planning and pattern-reading. If all this sounds too boring or frustrating and you prefer to jump headlong into projects as soon as you feel an urge, cut-n-paste, candle-making, ceramics, or pottery may be a better fit.
4. Space available
Do you affectionately call your apartment a cupboard? If you need an activity that takes up little space or can be cleaned up in a jiffy, yarn and needlecrafts can be tucked away in a basket or a drawer. Baking and cake decorating use what you probably already have in your kitchen, and jewelry only needs a modest tackle-box with little compartments for beads and tools. But perhaps you have a room or a whole basement where a hobby could take up a permanent residence? Pottery is such a hobby. If you quilt by hand you will need a room where a fairly large frame can be set up (unless you only want to do baby quilts). A table for laying out and cutting patterns is required for sewing, and most people don't appreciate having to lug out the machine every time you want to work on a project. (However, it can be done.) Lotions-n-potions, and candle and soap making can be done in the kitchen as long as precautions are taken, but ideally they need a separate space, since you are using dangerous chemicals that you don't want to accidentally mix with food. Gardening is ideal if you have a nice-sized yard, but many green-thumbed apartment dwellers find cultivating the space around their windows, on their patio, or even potted indoor plants a satisfying diversion. Don't lose heart if you don't have space for an activity that interests you-just sign up for a community class!
5. Available funds for expenses
Each craft has a range of what you could pay for the activity, depending on your taste and willingness. If you are picky about using only hand-dyed, organically grown 100% wool yarn, you are going to pay a lot more than someone who works with an acrylic yarn available at the closest Woolworth's. It is a good idea when just starting out to borrow someone else's equipment, or use inexpensive supplies until you know it is an activity you are going to stick with. Then you can slowly replace your supplies with quality items that you appreciate. On average, pottery and sewing require more expensive equipment to begin, while you can garden, cross-stitch, or cut-n-paste on a shoestring budget. Yarn crafts are the cheapest activities to try, since they don't require a lot of expensive equipment to start. Again, a class might be the best investment for the more expensive hobbies.
If you still aren't sure which craft is right for you, talk to other crafters about why they enjoy their craft. Ask if you can join them one day to see if it is something that appeals to you. Be patient with yourself as you begin each new activity--nothing kills the excitement of trying something new more than impossibly high expectations. Don't worry--as you continue, your skills will improve. You will also know better which activities suit you best.
Emma Snow is a creator at Craft Kits http://www.craft-kits.net leading portals for crafts and creative individuals.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Emma_Snow
For Kris it was counted cross-stitch. The repetitive motion of the needle passing up and down through crisp cloth put her in a near-meditative state, the way yoga does for some. In this state Kris was able to work out solutions to her daily challenges. "It was like the ideas dropped into my mind out of the sky," she told a close friend.
Shawn found furniture restoration to be wonderfully soothing after a stressful day at the office. The raw scent of wood loosened him up, and he was surprised how satisfying it was to sit down at a table he had restored himself.
Such is the world of DIY. Discovering the right craft for your personality and temperament can be a reward that transforms your life.
The crafting world is as wide and diverse as a tropical rainforest. Each crafting activity has unique benefits and challenges. You could spend your entire life just trying out different crafts. While this may be fun, it can be expensive and frustrating. Should you desire to narrow your search down, this article will act as your guide by investigating the world of crafts as they fit into five spectrums. If one activity doesn't suit you, take heart. Crafting is for everyone-you are bound to find that perfect match.
1. Short-term projects vs. long-term projects.
Do you have a need for immediate gratification? If you do, you might prefer cake decorating, ceramics, candle-making, lotions-n-potions, or cut-n-paste projects (scrapbooking, collage, and decoupage), which deliver results relatively quickly. Conversely, if you are known to possess the patience of Job, needlecrafts and quilting may be your thing. (Although quilting by machine cuts down the time dramatically). If you like long-term projects, pottery and gardening are also excellent choices, since they involve several steps.
2. Fastidiousness vs. playfulness/ looseness
Needlecrafts, baking, and jewelry-making require a meticulous and careful eye, whereas cooking, gardening and cut-n-paste projects are more appropriate for the playful type. Keep in mind that many activities can go either way or are best for those who can balance a bit of each quality.
3. Planner by nature vs. spontaneous to the core
If you don't mind doing a little math, counted cross-stitch, knitting, and crochet are great activities. Needlecrafts, quilting and sewing also require planning and pattern-reading. If all this sounds too boring or frustrating and you prefer to jump headlong into projects as soon as you feel an urge, cut-n-paste, candle-making, ceramics, or pottery may be a better fit.
4. Space available
Do you affectionately call your apartment a cupboard? If you need an activity that takes up little space or can be cleaned up in a jiffy, yarn and needlecrafts can be tucked away in a basket or a drawer. Baking and cake decorating use what you probably already have in your kitchen, and jewelry only needs a modest tackle-box with little compartments for beads and tools. But perhaps you have a room or a whole basement where a hobby could take up a permanent residence? Pottery is such a hobby. If you quilt by hand you will need a room where a fairly large frame can be set up (unless you only want to do baby quilts). A table for laying out and cutting patterns is required for sewing, and most people don't appreciate having to lug out the machine every time you want to work on a project. (However, it can be done.) Lotions-n-potions, and candle and soap making can be done in the kitchen as long as precautions are taken, but ideally they need a separate space, since you are using dangerous chemicals that you don't want to accidentally mix with food. Gardening is ideal if you have a nice-sized yard, but many green-thumbed apartment dwellers find cultivating the space around their windows, on their patio, or even potted indoor plants a satisfying diversion. Don't lose heart if you don't have space for an activity that interests you-just sign up for a community class!
5. Available funds for expenses
Each craft has a range of what you could pay for the activity, depending on your taste and willingness. If you are picky about using only hand-dyed, organically grown 100% wool yarn, you are going to pay a lot more than someone who works with an acrylic yarn available at the closest Woolworth's. It is a good idea when just starting out to borrow someone else's equipment, or use inexpensive supplies until you know it is an activity you are going to stick with. Then you can slowly replace your supplies with quality items that you appreciate. On average, pottery and sewing require more expensive equipment to begin, while you can garden, cross-stitch, or cut-n-paste on a shoestring budget. Yarn crafts are the cheapest activities to try, since they don't require a lot of expensive equipment to start. Again, a class might be the best investment for the more expensive hobbies.
If you still aren't sure which craft is right for you, talk to other crafters about why they enjoy their craft. Ask if you can join them one day to see if it is something that appeals to you. Be patient with yourself as you begin each new activity--nothing kills the excitement of trying something new more than impossibly high expectations. Don't worry--as you continue, your skills will improve. You will also know better which activities suit you best.
Emma Snow is a creator at Craft Kits http://www.craft-kits.net leading portals for crafts and creative individuals.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Emma_Snow
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