09/01/2021

From Handmade Hobby to Business

From Handmade Hobby To Business

We have seen many new businesses start up during last year, especially online.

Some out of boredom and some from a need to earn money as jobs were lost and workplaces closed during the restriction tiers and lockdowns. 

Many people who were already selling odd items they made, more as a hobby, really stepped up their game and turned that hobby into a business.

Some began to discover crafts as something to do, some realising there was time now to have a go at that craft they always wanted to do. Still others were trying different things until they found one they really enjoyed. More rediscovered a love of creating because suddenly there was time in abundance. 

Popular Crafts

There are many old favourites that people have gone back to, such as knitting and crochet. Also many newer crafts and craft mediums that have appeared over the last few years.

Art & Crafts

I intend to do a series of blogs about the different crafts and where you can get kits to try and plans to make things etc. After all you don't want to buy everything in bulk and then realise you don't like it.

Some crafts use basic tools that many already have, like power tools for woodwork.

Many learnt basic woodworking form school and others learnt from parents/grandparents etc. Grandparents were often a good source of knowledge about many crafts and passed this on to the young ones if they were interested. 

Now though new crafts with different materials available spring up and really capture the imagination.

I am loving the resin creations that have popped up. So many innovative ideas and created with such gorgeous colours.

Learning Crafts

Crafts are not everyone's cup of tea of course but creating things by hand has had a major revival in recent years as it can be a big help with mental health.

My daughters learnt various skills from us. One was more interested in woodworking and other practical skills than the other. They both learnt knitting/crochet/baking and sewing which for a time when they were young seemed to be skills that were dying out.

I learnt knitting and crochet mainly from my grandmother, baking from my mother and school. Sewing was not something I enjoyed but the basics and more were instilled at school.

Nowadays, of course, you can learn just about anything from YouTube from basic skills to more advanced as well as from various blogs.

Getting the Basics!


Ask around to find out if anyone you know has a few basics you can try with. If you have shops open (Not shut due to Covid-19) its worth checking out charity shops. They occasionally get a variety of unused craft kits that were unwanted gifts. They often sell balls of wool too, if you are using yarn.

This time of year they get lots of unwanted items or even items passed on as people clear cupboards to find space for the new gifts.
A lot of people are decluttering now because they have time on their hands. 

Craft kits are a less expensive way of getting started too. See Candle making and Embroidery

Getting started


Many start selling from a Facebook business page. These are easy to set up and you can ask people you know to come and like your page to get you started.
Costs are minimal online. Opening free business pages etc. 

Open a shop on a selling platform such as Etsy. 


You have to list your items by writing descriptions of each one and adding photographs from every angle. 
There are tuition videos to help you and YouTube has videos by successful sellers to help also.
The first few listings will take the most time as you get used to what is required it will get easier.
My Etsy shop is Uniquely Your Word Art if you want to take a look.
My Etsy Shop


There are other selling platforms too.  I started out selling on Folksy, a UK based platform and I also have a shop on Not On The Highstreet.

Do some research and find the best one for you. I have been on new platforms, only 2-3 years old but selling is harder as they aren't as established as the older ones. 
I have been on newer ones and despite working hard to market my shop, rarely sold anything. 
Try a more established one to start with.

Website:

You can build yourself a website, quite easy on most platforms, with the drag and drop set up most have. There are many platforms where you can start off on the free version to see how you get on.
WordPress takes more time to learn and build but it's another option.

Take the step!

Now it's the time for you to keep
learning alot as you take the leap.
Just follow your dreams
its not as hard as it seems
its never really all done
but it makes life more fun.
The step that you take first
feels scary and is the worst.
So jump in, don't look back
else you might give yourself the sack.
If you don't try you'll never know
if that business would start to grow.
You're not too old or too young
just don't leave your song unsung!!


What do you think?


Many start their business alongside their job. In these trying times, many of you have lost your job and are looking for alternative ways to earn a living.
Nobody is happy about the Pandemic, lives have been lost and jobs have vanished. 
But many have reconnected with family and got to know their local community because they aren't on the treadmill of work long hours, eat, sleep and repeat. 
Others have found a new direction in life online, Facebook pages sprung up to help local areas to help each other by exchanging goods and belongings. 
Still more took up hobbies at the beginning, or expanded the hobbies they had. Then as the restrictions continued turned them into businesses. Often, as much for something to do, as to earn money.

If you always fancied an online business, there has never been a better time!

A few links with more information:
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07/01/2021

The Benefits of Hobbies

The Benefits of Hobbies


What are the Benefits of Hobbies?


With so much going on in the outside world with the Covid-19 virus continuing its spread across the world we all need distractions. If you are furloughed from your job, isolating, lost your job or at home for a myriad of reasons, it is natural for thoughts to turn to hobbies. 
Maybe until now you haven't had time for a hobby, stuck in the routine of work, sleep, eat, repeat.
The thing is hobbies can be so much more that just an interest to while away a bit of time.

Hobbies have proven to be very beneficial to people in general. They give you time to relax and to do things that you enjoy doing. Having a specific hobby has also helped many people to make new friends, keep the brain sharp, and even make money in some cases.
They are also excellent for mental health, keeping the focus on something outside yourself. They can be very absorbing once you find the right one.

Hobbies That Sharpen the Mind


Some hobbies are better than others to make you problem solve and to think. These are especially important as you age. Some hobbies that are best for keeping your brain sharp include:
  •  Puzzles, crossword puzzles and brain teasers
  • Reading
  •  Learning how to draw and paint
  •  Learning how to play a musical instrument
  •  Playing chess
  •  Learning a new language
  •  Participating in trivia games
  • Online brain training games
  • Card games like bridge and solitaire
  • Jigsaw Puzzles
  • Games that make you work things out
  • Designng
  • Graphic Designing




Hobbies for Kids and Families


Certain hobbies are perfect for you to do with your family. Making models together can be fun as well as frustrating. 
Hobbies that are best in ensuring you have a strong relationship with your loved ones include:
  •  Making model planes and trains
  •  Building with Lego
  • Jigsaw puzzles
  •  Magic tricks
  •  Kite flying
  •  Going to zoos
  •  Playing with remote control cars
  •  Swimming and playing in pools

Hobbies for Outdoor People

It’s important to get out and get some exercise. 
Outdoor hobbies

Certain hobbies can help you to do that. Getting yourself outdoors can be very relaxing as you will see the beautiful scenery that surrounds you every day that you just don’t seem to have time to notice. For the adventurous, some of the key hobbies to help you get the needed exercise and relaxation include:
  • Fishing
  • Running, biking, or walking through parks, neighborhoods, or mountains
  • Playing baseball, softball, or volleyball
  • Swimming
  • Traveling around the world
  • Bird watching
  • Climbing
  • Jet Skiing
  • Surfing
  • Kite Surfing
  • Hot air ballooning



Hobbies That Help You to Earn Money

Hobbies don’t just have to be something you do for enjoyment. 
Earn money crafting

Besides providing you with needed relaxation, there are a large variety of hobbies that provide you with money if you know how to advertise it right. Some of the most popular hobbies that provide people with the opportunity to earn money include:
  • Knitting
  • Crochet
  • Felting
  • Painting
  • Jewellery making
  •  Photography
  •  Blogging and writing
  •  Craft making like cards, candles, and soaps
  •  Baking
  •  Graphic design
  •  Carpentry/woodworking

Hobbies for Collectors

Collecting objects that you find fascinating or that mean a lot to you brings you a sense of peace and relaxation. Having a set of something that is solely your own and something you worked hard to get brings a sense of joy to a person. Some hobbies that give that to you include, but are not limited to, collecting:
  • Books
  • Spoons
  • Coins
  • Vintage or unique toys
  • Sports memorabilia

Hobbies for the Crafter

Craft hobbies are very popular and provide a variety of benefits. 
Arts & Crafts

Crafts bring a sense of relaxation and calmness to a person. With some crafts, it has been shown to increase their confidence. Some crafts that help people to do that include:
  •  Baking
  •  Painting
  •  Sewing
  •  Crocheting
  •  Knitting
  •  Scrapbooking
  •  Needle point
  •  Quilting

Hobbies for Stress Relief

Everyday life can be very stressful. Having a hobby to fall back on when things get hard and stressful is key to enjoying life. Some hobbies that provide stress relief include most of the above as well as:
  •  Yoga
  •  Meditation

So many Benefits

Hobbies provide people with so many benefits, and change us for the better. It’s important for humans to have something special we can do separately from our everyday, busy lives. It's also good to have something absorbing and enjoyable to do in these trying times.
So what’s your favorite hobby?

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06/01/2021

5 Must Do's when business is slow


Pandemic makes it different!


This year, of course, is likely to be different, with so many lockdowns and restrictions in many places around the world. The Covid-19 virus keeps mutating and new versions springing up that are more infectious causing more problems around the world.
Many new businesses have sprung up, necessity being the mother of invention, there are some fabulous new ideas out there now.

My local Post Office is always busy in the run up to Christmas but this year it was even more so. They usually have January to recover, but not this time. Yesterday they reported that there hadn't been any slow down, they are still very busy. 
That is good for me and other locals especially as it means our Post Office won't get shut down like so many in recent years.
It is good for all the online sellers as it keeps them busy.








In normal times!

Traditionally January and February are slow for crafters.
Why?
Christmas has gone, winter drags on, many people are spent out. 
Those are some of the reasons. It's the way I always thought when I designed and crocheted accessories. It was the general consensus, everyone agreed and had sales to get stuff moving.
There often seemed to be a lull in the summer too once the children finished school. Though I think this has changed more now with most people using their phones for so much online activity. 

Sales are good right?

Not really. They are great to move the last few items of a line you no longer intend to make for one reason or another. Or to get rid of surplus supplies.
Early on in my crafting business, I would have a sale every time business went slow. It did produce sales but I wasn't making very much at all, covering costs and a tiny amount for my time.
If you only want a hobby, that is fine. If you want a long term business, it just doesn't work.

The answer!

The answer was surprisingly simple.
I was saying on a forum that I only seemed to sell when I had a sale. 
A long term, well established seller just responded with: Don't have sales. She pointed out that if you have them regularly, people will just wait for the next one rather than pay full price.

It was a light bulb moment, such an obvious truth.
I needed to sit out slow times and find other things to do, that would help my business.

What you can do!

1). Get your accounts up to date.

 It's very easy to let them slide, especially when you are busy. It becomes a habit to continually think, 'I will do that tomorrow or next week'. The result is usually a massive job as you panic at the last minute.
How do I know? I still do it every year. Maybe this year ...........

2). Clear out your workspace. 

Whether it's a craft room, the spare room, half of another room, it needs sorting out and tidying up. It's also a good thing to do when inspiration does a runner.
Why?
If it's because it's quiet, it will make life easier when you get busy again. If it's departed inspiration it will help revitalise it. 
I rarely finished tidying my space because I would come across half finished things abandoned for something more exciting. Or scraps with drawings of ideas I had had. Sometimes it would be some yarn or a particular colour that would set me off and just like that the inspiration was back full force.

3). Grow your social media accounts! 

When you are busy, this is something that doesn't get as much attention. I found I would do the basics necessary and when extra busy, social media was dropped in favour of getting the orders out. 

It is important to prioritise.
With time on your hands though, rather than bewailing the lack of orders on social media, decide to grow it.

How?

Interact with people, comment on and share their posts/tweets. If they follow you, then follow them back, as long as their timeline/newsfeed doesn't have anything you don't like in it. Spend half an hour or so twice a day doing this and you will increase your followers. 
I found Twitter was my best social media platform for generating orders so I spent more time growing that one and it paid off in spades. I now have 29.3k followers and that makes a big difference in encouraging sales.

4). Try different crafts. 

It's not only fun but you could end up with new products to sell. At the very least you could end up with a new hobby you find enjoyable and relaxing. If you are a crafter, there are invariably other crafts you have looked at and thought you would like to have a go at 'when you have time'.


5). New Ideas

If not trying new crafts then play around with ideas for new products or designs. Just having the time to play with it can have amazing results and its fun too. 
If you are anything like me, I would often jot things down, odd words, drawings etc in a notebook or on various scraps of paper to hand at the time, you will have some notes on ideas to try. 
Get them all out, decipher them and play around, have fun and come up with new ideas. 
Nothing like new products in an online shop to bring people back.

A bit of rhyme for you!

The pandemic had me rhyming again
I think it helped to keep me sane.
Once I start I go into rhyming mode
I seem to hit the mother lode.
My brain just rhymes whatever I see
once more the verses are part of me.

This one is to tell you to get to work
this is definitely not the time to shirk.
Millions and billions are looking to buy
Get yourself out there, don't be shy.
Get out the trumpet, blow your horn
don't hide away, looking forlorn.
This is great time to sell online
arrange your goods, so they look fine.
Help people find what they need
and know you're doing a good deed!


Another day I will add several of the new ditties/verses I have done over the last few months.

I know many of you seemed to like the rhymes.

It became something I did.It feels good to get back into blogging again.

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