Читать книгу Crafting a Successful Small Business - Joanne Dewberry - Страница 7

Many people I spoke to had been taught crafting skills by family members such as mothers and grandmothers. I do think you need to have a degree of creative flair, passion and interest – as well as patience! – to turn a hobby or new skill into a successful business. Skill-wise, there are so many ‘How To ...’ books out there that you can pretty much learn to do anything. Save your start-up capital by borrowing books from the library, buying second-hand books, reading blogs about crafting or watching ‘How To...’ videos on YouTube. And remember: practice will make you better. My first few party bags were awful but I soon learnt what worked and, just as importantly, what didn’t. I used old clothing and pillowcases to develop my technique rather than spending money on new fabrics. Keep in mind ways you can cut back on spending money in the beginning.

If you want to do more formal training there are plenty of courses available. Try your local adult learning centre, where you will find a variety of craft courses, such as sewing (how to use your machine and how to make specific items), painting and drawing, jewellery-making and upholstering furniture. They are normally day courses, over a weekend, or short courses of a few hours a week for six weeks or so. They are generally between £50 and £100 (however if you receive various benefits you can get the courses at a reduced rate and sometimes even free but you will need to check at your local adult learning centre). For sewing courses, check out your local haberdashery shop if you’re looking to develop skills or learn how to use your machine correctly. These can cost around £25 to £40, excluding materials.

Andrea Palluch (www.skinbistro.co.uk) used Google and word of mouth to secure the training she required:

“I found all my skincare courses online after years of searching. They were around £150 per day. I gained my Diploma in Aromatherapy from a course recommended to me by an aromatherapist I met on one of the skincare courses. In total, including anatomy and physiology and five days in the South of France, the cost was around £3500.”

Course prices vary depending on who is running them, where they are located and whether there is a qualification or a new skill to gain. Do your research and ask other local crafters whether they did any training, and if so where. If your start-up capital is very small you could always arrange sessions at your home. Invite other crafters along, share skills and techniques and try new things.

I believe that when starting a small crafting business, the pros outweight the cons. It can entail a lot of hard work to promote but that’s really no different to any other business. However, if you are also making products then your day-to-day running time is much more limited. If you are serious about moving from hobby to profitable business there is a lot to consider. Let’s get started.