End of Zippster?

For a while now I've been thinking of getting out of the 'making crafts for profit' business, because quite honestly, it was only ever meant to be a hobby with a very small chance of making a profit. Which I don't. After purchasing supplies, making prototypes, photography and creating listings, paying for the listings, and fees for sales I'm lucky if I break even. And that's not counting my time. I have a pretty busy and fulfilling life, and any sewing I do is to sell and I don't seem to have the time to enjoy sewing for myself, and that's what I'd rather be doing.

So, I'm selling most of my purse making supplies. 

I still have some items for sale at Artisans at Work but won't be restocking. And I'm not quite sure yet to do with my Etsy shop - most of what I sell there is buttons, anything larger and the high cost of shipping is a deterrent.

I have some new fabric and patterns picked out for new projects, which I'm looking forward to working on - it's been a while since I've made something for myself!

New website

Well, I've gone and done it: after looking into dozens of hosting and website design companies, I've created a website which will act as a showcase for my work. My plan was to have a simple but attractive site which will act as an online portfolio and to drive traffic to my Etsy shop. I still need to add a lot of pictures, but so far I'm happy with how it looks. Take a look!

100 Mile Finds

Sometime last spring, I was approached at a craft sale by two women who were in the process of setting up a website which would promote local small businesses. I'm pleased to see that the site has launched, and I now have Zippster listed as a vendor. If you want to find a local business or service within 100 miles of your postal code, try 100 Mile Finds.

Here's to 2010!

Well, the hectic 2009 holiday season is behind us, and I could use a little breather! November and December were busy months: craft shows, wholesale orders and Etsy orders from both of my shops, not to mention moving and trying to get my own Christmas shopping done. Every Christmas, more and more so, I try to make handmade gifts for people; I really dislike shopping, but I like to think that the recipients appreciate a handmade gift more than one found in a mall.

My plan for the next couple of months is to focus on finding more wholesale partners, and to weed through my supplies stash - I'm still setting up my new workspace, and I feel the need to evaluate what I have, and to pass on what I don't need to a community service of some sort, such as a seniors centre.

Second Etsy store

For a while now I've been considering opening a second Etsy store to separate my Blythe and non-Blythe items. This second store, Zippster, will contain sewn goods such as zippered pouches and snap-frame coin purses, pinback buttons and magnets, and greeting cards. Karen's Creations will now focus exclusively on clothes and accessories for Blythe. Over the next several weeks I'll be adding lots of new stock to the new store. I'm really happy with my banner, which has made me realize that I need to improve the banner for Karen's Creations. Another online store (I'm now at three - ack!) means I now really need to stay organized!

The art of self-promotion

Admittedly, I'm a rather private person and do not enjoy talking about myself, nor do I feel the need to share the minutia of my life with others, whether in person or virtually. (Who are these people who have such interesting lives? Not I!) I would rather express myself through creative means, which, when lacking confidence (not to mention time, self-esteem, momentum, support, the skills or tools to do so), can be challenging.

My little sewing hobby is starting to become more than just a hobby, and I take great pleasure in knowing that people actually like what I make. My daydreams consist of being able to sustain myself financially with a part-time librarian job, and dedicating the remaining hours of the day to creating wonderful things in my (currently non-existing) little studio. In my fantasy world, what I sell in my online shops or at craft sales would supplement my part-time income. But to get to that point would take a lot of work. To achieve such a dream, one must be prepared and able to take care of the business aspects, which can be daunting and overwhelming. There are so many tools available, many of them free, but how do you know which ones are worthwhile?

As a way to promote my two online shops, I currently have this blog, a Flickr account to showcase my creations (one must be careful with Flickr though, in not linking to commercial sites), and Facebook fan page. I have a print business card to hand out in person and at craft shows. I also participate in online forums and groups, and am a member of several guilds or teams. All of this takes time and effort, but is necessary. Google Analytics helps in deciding where I should be investing my time and effort, but I know I need to do more. (Although, one bandwagon I have yet to jump on is Twitter, and I don't plan on using it). I know I need to 'sell' myself to other bloggers and to make better use of my own blog; what I need to do is devise a marketing plan. And time to implement it!