Arts / Crafts Business

Interesting article online at the Crafts Report, "How to Get Customers 4 Times More Likely to Buy". Also, don't forget about the Crafts Report Facebook Contest. Deadline to submit is May 31.

I've received the following image from a reader regarding a Stickley Bros. desk.  Does anyone out there know its value? Or could lead the reader to someonereputable who can?  If so, please post to this blog, adding your email address or email me your contact info so the owner can get in touch with you. 

Simplicity was the key to the American Arts and Crafts Movement. Tailored to middle-class homeowners, the movement provided well-made home furnishings at a reasonable price. Here are a few examples of this clean and unpretentious movement at its best.

I was working on my new arts and crafts line of products a few days ago and after my fiasco a couple of weeks back using the wrong treatment for some fabric, which ended up ruining it, I wanted to be very caution before selecting the right glue.

Luckily, I went to my reader recommended page and found a recommended vendor for non-toxic glue.  I purchased some of the Best Glue Ever and was thrilled with it's performance.  You can purchase all thes products at Amazon (although they are not Prime). For more info visit the ScraPerfect manufacturer's website.

If you work in the fashion arts and crafts, Fashion Star and a few other fashion related shows are now casting for next season. The Fashion Star casting call is open until June 2.

My latest book, Intermediate Accounting for Dummies, Wiley Publishing, Inc.  is now available both on Amazon and at brick and mortar book stores.  My fifth book in as many years, I'm taking a break from this amazing experience and concentrating on getting my new line of arts and crafts products up and running.

If you use any sort of graphics in your arts and crafts designs, you'll be interested in this article by the Atlantic, "100 Ideas That Changed Graphic Design".   Not all 100 ideas have images in the article, but it was a very interesting read with very cool images.

You may be interested in also checking out my review of The Pop-Up Book, which gives instructions on how to make pop-ups. Pop-Ups and graphics go together for a really unique art/craft.

The Detroit Free Press has an online interview with jewelry artist Julianna C. Hudgins. She answers five questions, one which discusses taking her business to a professional level.

Taking that lead, I've written an article about my five basic rules for managing my arts and crafts business. I've found that if you follow these five basic rules, the other aspects of running my business fall inline.

Pretty exciting news for artists and crafters living in Southern California, Crafted at the Port of Los Angeles, which will be set up as a marketplace and incubator for qualifying artist and crafters is still accepting applications.

Right now, 75 artists/crafters have been accepted, with a potential of 500 stalls. To qualify products must be hand-made in Southern California and of high quality.

Very interesting article about the 'new' type of arts and crafts show and competing for the customer bucks with food and other types of vendors.  The article also points out an observation I made in my How to Start a Home-Based Jewelry Making Business book - in uncertain economic times your middle priced items will drop in sales while your high-end and cheap items will go up.

If you are a West Virginia artist or crafter you may want to check out  selling at OUR-WV.com.   The store rental fee is 10 a month and 7.5% commission on sales (which appears high to me).    The FAQ also requests artists and crafters with a physical location pay the 7.5% commission on any sales storefront that flowed from the website.