Crafty Riches Part 3: enjoying Success as an Artist

In the last course, we went over how to pick your product. By now, you have chosen your product, and have a good idea of what you are going to do, make, supply, etc. Now we need to think about your product itself. I am assuming you will be creating your product, because I am writing more toward someone who is making some kind of crafts to sell.

You may have some skill in creating your particular product. Now you need to learn how to create your product profitably so you will be able to make enough profit on your item, that you can make a living doing it.

Step one is to decide exactly what colors, styles will be for sale. This is especially important if you want to product larger quantities. Even if you are doing a craft like I do, where I have to make each one individually, it is important to choose the designs and colors. Why? Because if I don’t, I have to stop in the middle of the current project, and start to think, and then remember to choose each piece of glass before I get on the torch again, etc. I am wasting a lot of time I could have spend just on making the items!

Even more if your item is made out of wood! You can then decide on your designs, then precut all the parts. Then all you have to do is put the items together, paint, or whatever. You would lose tremendous amount of time if you make each one individually. This becomes important if you have to get enough product for fairs, etc. Time is money, so use it wisely. This in no way impinges on your artistic talent or your item itself. It is just good use of your time!

Find good suppliers! Now you know what your item is, and the exact styles you will be creating. You also know exactly what materials you will be using. Take the time to find the best suppliers for the materials you will be using. Your costs to make your craft will greatly impact your bottom line. Don’t skimp in this area.

So, how do you find good suppliers?

Well, I find online groups that get together to buy supplies help a lot in that area. Go to yahoo groups, and put in some keywords like wholesale buying , or wood products, glass beads. Get into some of the groups. You can ask the people in them questions, and many will tell you where to find the best prices for your items. Another real good resource is an artist group. This is a huge artists group. (www.wetcanvas.com) They have artists in all sorts of disciplines, and because it is so large, you will be able to find many of the suppliers there too. You may also be able to find your customers, depending on what you are making.

Another way is to just get online and put in keywords for your suppliers. I have also found many of my suppliers in this manner. When I go online to check out the suppliers, I always write on a pad the name, and items, and their costs, so I can go back later and find out which one has the best prices overall.

Subscribe to Magazines in your chosen area. In the magazines, and classifieds, there are always many suppliers listed. Many of these are wholesale suppliers. Some of these suppliers will want a tax id# , and some will not. You will have to find out the specifics.

Belong to organizations for your chosen area of expertise. This will do two things. One, it will increase your knowledge of what is happening in your field, and it will help you find suppliers!

You need to find out exactly what your costs will be on making the item. This will affect what price you will need to get when you sell your item. Some of the costs you will need to include are, but not limited to:

1. Your costs in materials
2. Your time
3. Marketing costs( yes websites, domain names are not expensive, but cost!)
4. Shipping ( your wrapping, packaging, and mailing)

These are good ones to consider for startersJ
 
Remember to think about the selling part. If you sell online, you will need a domain name, webhosting, figure out how to ship your product, and mail it. What the costs are in advance to ship your product with its packaging.

If you sell in fairs, you will been to make your booth, and figure out how to show your products attractively, prepare for time when its raining, etc.  Think of these things ahead of time!
 
Good luck!