Running Your Handmade Business
I've
decided to write up this blog after alot of thought, in the hope it
will help others starting out, as well as those of you that are like me
and still working very hard to get seen
When
I started my business in April 2012 I must admit I had no idea how to
run a business or what to expect. I opened my business totally blind
and I accept I was pretty nervous, BUT at the same time I was inspired
in my business plan and determined, so decided to give it a go
Well,
lets just say when I first started my business I put each and every
hour through to the early hours of the morning into my business as well
as looking after my toddler and teenage son
In hindsight this was so wrong, I finally reached burnout and exhaustion and really........ looking back it didn't get me anywhere fast.
So....... very slowly I have come to realise I can work hard at my business without burning out by ensuring I get time out with my family and Friends too.
This is so important, I have realised that doing this has given me even more inspiration and strength to create beautiful hand sculpted Flower Creations
REGISTER WITH HMRC
The first thing I would suggest is to get yourself registered with HMRC (if in England and follow registration protocol over seas) Please don't worry if you think that anything you earn will be taken from the Taxman, this is not the case at all. Its also really not worth taking a gamble and not registering with them as they will find you in the end anyway
When doing your self assessment you need to give not only details of any sales you have had but also expenses for your business, IE materials used for your business etc etc. You only pay the taxman if your profit outweighs your expenses if that makes sense.
In my 1st year I did not have to pay tax because the expenses to run my business outweighed any sales I made.
You MUST ensure you keep a record of your receipts, I have found that some suppliers don't send receipts so I make sure I make all of my payments through Pay pal so that there is an electronic payment trail too.
Take a look at this link which will help you register http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/selfemployed/register-selfemp.htm
In hindsight this was so wrong, I finally reached burnout and exhaustion and really........ looking back it didn't get me anywhere fast.
So....... very slowly I have come to realise I can work hard at my business without burning out by ensuring I get time out with my family and Friends too.
This is so important, I have realised that doing this has given me even more inspiration and strength to create beautiful hand sculpted Flower Creations
REGISTER WITH HMRC
The first thing I would suggest is to get yourself registered with HMRC (if in England and follow registration protocol over seas) Please don't worry if you think that anything you earn will be taken from the Taxman, this is not the case at all. Its also really not worth taking a gamble and not registering with them as they will find you in the end anyway
When doing your self assessment you need to give not only details of any sales you have had but also expenses for your business, IE materials used for your business etc etc. You only pay the taxman if your profit outweighs your expenses if that makes sense.
In my 1st year I did not have to pay tax because the expenses to run my business outweighed any sales I made.
You MUST ensure you keep a record of your receipts, I have found that some suppliers don't send receipts so I make sure I make all of my payments through Pay pal so that there is an electronic payment trail too.
Take a look at this link which will help you register http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/selfemployed/register-selfemp.htm
GET NETWORKING ON LINE
FACEBOOK
I found that setting myself up with a Facebook fan page was a very good thing to do to get myself out ther in the networking world, its a lovely way to meet new people and potential customers. Its FREE to join facebook so why not? www.facebook.com this is my fan page so far, I would love for you to pop by and say hi :-) pop over if you like at https://www.facebook.com/fabtasticflowers
HIKE THOSE LIKES ON FACEBOOK
This fan page on Facebook is where thousands of like minded crafters and buyers get together to have a chat and share their wares, its a lovely little community that you will enjoy being a part of at https://www.facebook.com/HikesTL
THE SUPERMUMS CRAFT FAIR ON FACEBOOK
Another fantastic fan page on Facebook where like minded Crafty Mums can get together and share their creations and get sales as well as making friends at https://www.facebook.com/TheSupermumsCraftFair
UK HANDMADE
Another amazing website which is free to join, you can set up your own page describing what you do with Photo's and links and meet like minded designers in the forums and teams, why not take a look at http://ukhandmade.co.uk/
CREATIVE CONNECTIONS
Ohhh yes this is another fantastic website to join free of charge where you can yet again set up your own page and meet like minded crafters and have a good chat at http://creative-connections.ning.com/
TWITTER - www.twitter.com
Yes, Twitter is another very good platform to join, I must admit at first I didn't know how to use it but believe me after a bit of time it starts to make sense, you can get to meet so many people on this site and have a chat as well as share your wares - Please come say hi if you in the area to me at https://twitter.com/FabtasticFlower
FACEBOOK & TWITTER I WOULD ADVISE FROM MY OWN EXPERIENCE TO SHARE OTHER INTERESTS AS WELL AS YOUR OWN WORK - your fans like to get to know you as a person as well as seeing your work.
This is a lesson I have learnt, when I started I was just all my many creations (sometimes around 5 items each day) this I soon learnt was clogging my fans news feeds and sadly some decided to go elsewhere, lesson learnt (like I said, I was a complete novice and had no idea.
So I have learnt from these mistakes and hope to help you too. I don't mean don't post your work, just spread it about a bit and get to know your fan base
ETSY MARKETPLACE
I have been with Etsy right from the start, its a worldwide website where you can set up your shop and sell all over the world if you wish at www.etsy.com (I've recently opened my own website too at www.fabtastic-flowers.myshopify.com
Etsy is an American based site with joiners from everywhere all over the world which is FREE to join, its a site that is for Handmade & Vintage sellers, you can not only set up your shop to sell, but also talk to others by clicking on Community at top left of your page and clicking on Forums and join in with the conversations, you can even join teams
It costs 20 cents to list each item you wish to sell. For each item you can show 5 photos so you can show every angle of your work
SEO (SEARCH ENGINE OPTIMIZATION)
You need to ensure you give a very good description of your work with details of materials used, measurements (I have found in both Inches & Cm's best) etc, as well as having a good SEO (Search Engine Optimisation) What I mean by this is....... if you were looking for the item you were selling from someone else, what would you type to find that item??
Example: Your selling a Silver Chained Red Flower Pendant Necklace - you might search for the following as a customer:
Flower Necklace, Pendant Necklace, Chain Necklace, Chain Jewellery, Red Jewellery, Red Flower, Flower JewelleryThese are just some examples of your SEO (tags) that you can use in your title as well as your description and tags
Feel free to visit me at my Etsy Shop at https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/fabtasticflowers
Another thing I have learnt slowing but surely is to have good photo's, you don't need a high end camera, you just need to ensure you have good lighting and not busy backgrounds (I have personally found a plain White Background works well to bring my work out)
I found that setting myself up with a Facebook fan page was a very good thing to do to get myself out ther in the networking world, its a lovely way to meet new people and potential customers. Its FREE to join facebook so why not? www.facebook.com this is my fan page so far, I would love for you to pop by and say hi :-) pop over if you like at https://www.facebook.com/fabtasticflowers
HIKE THOSE LIKES ON FACEBOOK
This fan page on Facebook is where thousands of like minded crafters and buyers get together to have a chat and share their wares, its a lovely little community that you will enjoy being a part of at https://www.facebook.com/HikesTL
THE SUPERMUMS CRAFT FAIR ON FACEBOOK
Another fantastic fan page on Facebook where like minded Crafty Mums can get together and share their creations and get sales as well as making friends at https://www.facebook.com/TheSupermumsCraftFair
UK HANDMADE
Another amazing website which is free to join, you can set up your own page describing what you do with Photo's and links and meet like minded designers in the forums and teams, why not take a look at http://ukhandmade.co.uk/
CREATIVE CONNECTIONS
Ohhh yes this is another fantastic website to join free of charge where you can yet again set up your own page and meet like minded crafters and have a good chat at http://creative-connections.ning.com/
TWITTER - www.twitter.com
Yes, Twitter is another very good platform to join, I must admit at first I didn't know how to use it but believe me after a bit of time it starts to make sense, you can get to meet so many people on this site and have a chat as well as share your wares - Please come say hi if you in the area to me at https://twitter.com/FabtasticFlower
FACEBOOK & TWITTER I WOULD ADVISE FROM MY OWN EXPERIENCE TO SHARE OTHER INTERESTS AS WELL AS YOUR OWN WORK - your fans like to get to know you as a person as well as seeing your work.
This is a lesson I have learnt, when I started I was just all my many creations (sometimes around 5 items each day) this I soon learnt was clogging my fans news feeds and sadly some decided to go elsewhere, lesson learnt (like I said, I was a complete novice and had no idea.
So I have learnt from these mistakes and hope to help you too. I don't mean don't post your work, just spread it about a bit and get to know your fan base
ETSY MARKETPLACE
I have been with Etsy right from the start, its a worldwide website where you can set up your shop and sell all over the world if you wish at www.etsy.com (I've recently opened my own website too at www.fabtastic-flowers.myshopify.com
Etsy is an American based site with joiners from everywhere all over the world which is FREE to join, its a site that is for Handmade & Vintage sellers, you can not only set up your shop to sell, but also talk to others by clicking on Community at top left of your page and clicking on Forums and join in with the conversations, you can even join teams
It costs 20 cents to list each item you wish to sell. For each item you can show 5 photos so you can show every angle of your work
SEO (SEARCH ENGINE OPTIMIZATION)
You need to ensure you give a very good description of your work with details of materials used, measurements (I have found in both Inches & Cm's best) etc, as well as having a good SEO (Search Engine Optimisation) What I mean by this is....... if you were looking for the item you were selling from someone else, what would you type to find that item??
Example: Your selling a Silver Chained Red Flower Pendant Necklace - you might search for the following as a customer:
Flower Necklace, Pendant Necklace, Chain Necklace, Chain Jewellery, Red Jewellery, Red Flower, Flower JewelleryThese are just some examples of your SEO (tags) that you can use in your title as well as your description and tags
Feel free to visit me at my Etsy Shop at https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/fabtasticflowers
Another thing I have learnt slowing but surely is to have good photo's, you don't need a high end camera, you just need to ensure you have good lighting and not busy backgrounds (I have personally found a plain White Background works well to bring my work out)
CONTACT SHOPS & BLOGGERS
This is something I have learnt to do, yes sometimes you will get knocked back or might not get any reply at all, but PLEASE don't be disheartened, if you know in yourself your business and hard work is worth while keep at it.
I have had times especially when I first started out where I thought 'oh I am never going to get anywhere with so much competition, maybe I should just give up??
NNNOOOOOOOOO, at least give it 6 months before you decide its not working, I have learnt it doesn't happen over night at all. It takes a lot of hard graft and determination
Someone said to this to me once 'You know Marks & Spencers?'
'Yes' I said
'Did you know that Marks & Spencers started out with a stall in Kirkgate Market in Leeds??'
'No' I said
'Well look at them now.......'
This gave me the realisation that anything is possible, if you are willing to put the effort into your business and not give up
This is something I have learnt to do, yes sometimes you will get knocked back or might not get any reply at all, but PLEASE don't be disheartened, if you know in yourself your business and hard work is worth while keep at it.
I have had times especially when I first started out where I thought 'oh I am never going to get anywhere with so much competition, maybe I should just give up??
NNNOOOOOOOOO, at least give it 6 months before you decide its not working, I have learnt it doesn't happen over night at all. It takes a lot of hard graft and determination
Someone said to this to me once 'You know Marks & Spencers?'
'Yes' I said
'Did you know that Marks & Spencers started out with a stall in Kirkgate Market in Leeds??'
'No' I said
'Well look at them now.......'
This gave me the realisation that anything is possible, if you are willing to put the effort into your business and not give up
FINAL THOUGHT
I could go on and on about running your Handmade Empire
My work station is currently at the Dining Room table with all my creations and materials surrounding me.
I have the inspiration as well as enjoying creating my artistic works that I am not willing to give up and will keep pushing on in the hope that I will one day succeed.
You will find all types of people on your journey. Those that don't have your best interests at heart but also those that really admire what you do, they are the ones that really matter.......
PRICING YOUR WORK
Price your work so that you are not giving your hard work away, remember you are running a business.
This is something I have found hard right from the start, but slowly realised that I had to make a living or its not worth running my business (at the moment I only make a little bit of profit)
I have learnt that you have to do this, I made a HUGE loss on my books to the taxman last year because even though I had made sales I was charging way to low for my hard work.
They are still affordable and I admit some should be priced higher, but its work in process :-) Your not alone in this Handmade Business world of selling
IF YOU LOVE WHAT YOU DO, DON'T GIVE UP x
You can find me at the following networking sites
Facebook
Twitter
Pinterest
My Website
Instagram
Linkedin
Youtube
My work station is currently at the Dining Room table with all my creations and materials surrounding me.
I have the inspiration as well as enjoying creating my artistic works that I am not willing to give up and will keep pushing on in the hope that I will one day succeed.
You will find all types of people on your journey. Those that don't have your best interests at heart but also those that really admire what you do, they are the ones that really matter.......
PRICING YOUR WORK
Price your work so that you are not giving your hard work away, remember you are running a business.
This is something I have found hard right from the start, but slowly realised that I had to make a living or its not worth running my business (at the moment I only make a little bit of profit)
I have learnt that you have to do this, I made a HUGE loss on my books to the taxman last year because even though I had made sales I was charging way to low for my hard work.
They are still affordable and I admit some should be priced higher, but its work in process :-) Your not alone in this Handmade Business world of selling
IF YOU LOVE WHAT YOU DO, DON'T GIVE UP x
You can find me at the following networking sites
My Website
Youtube
