Creative Business

You already know that there's power in an email list. It's your direct connection to your customers and potential customers. It's your non-intrusive way of marketing your business because the people who signed up asked you to let them know when you have new items in your store or you're running a sale or if you'll be at a show. Yet, most of us don't have a solid mailing list. We might have a few names of loyalty customers and family members but thats not going to keep you in business. And ten names aren't going to help you grow your business.

Summer is almost here, and for many online-based businesses that means it is time for summer shows! Whether you will be doing craft fairs, local gift shows, or large wholesale shows, here are some friendly reminders of things to do to get ready for the big day!

I’m super when I’m not trying to be my own client. And I’m not alone in that. There are dozens of old sayings to back up this point; the best barber has the worst hair; the shoemaker’s children go barefoot. We’re always better at tending to others than we are about tending to ourselves. To solve this problem, you could spend the next ten years meditating quietly in a zen garden or you could join a mastermind group.

Jennifer Rapp Peterson explains why spending time and/or exhibiting with your artist friends is valuable for any creative entrepreneur.

As artists, sometimes it can be easy to get stuck in the rut of offering the same products season after season, when really just making some small changes could mean the difference between sales or no sales. Having revitalized product offerings does not mean you need to completely overhaul your current lineup of goods. Instead, you can make a few changes to what you already have and create a sense of renewal in your shop just in time for summer!

As far as the IRS is concerned, selling handmade items as a hobby and selling them as a business are two very different things. When it’s just a hobby, you’re required to pay tax on the income but there are limits on what you can deduct. Once that activity becomes a business, the IRS allows you to deduct almost all of your expenses including a portion of travel and meals while at a craft fair and the electricity it takes to run your home office.

When it comes to selling anything, one of the biggest mistakes a lot of people make is just throwing a product online without really defining what makes it special and unique. When customers have plenty of options to choose from, it becomes important for them to know why specifically they should choose your product instead of your competition’s product. This definition is know as a unique selling proposition, or USP for short. In marketing, knowing your USP will help you sell your product to potential clients by defining what sets you apart.

Like many online-based business owners, you may be working on your dream business while still working a day job to pay the bills. This can actually be a great way to break into being your own boss, since you don’t have to rely on your business income right off the bat. Of course, finding enough time to work on your business and making sure it gets the attention it deserves can be difficult, so below are three areas where you can help to streamline your business and make sure that it gets the TLC it deserves while you keep your day job.

You have probably heard the saying that it is easier to get more business out of an existing customer than it is to get a new customer, and this is definitely true! But how do you get your customers to fall in love with your brand and become repeat buyers? Well the good news is it doesn’t take Cupid’s arrow to make them swoon over your business and come back for more. Just adding a couple changes to the way you handle client relations should be enough to bring you some repeat business from your existing customer base! Here are a few ideas to get you started!