Start Your Own Arts and Crafts Business
If
you have an art or a craft and you dream about starting your own home-based or
small business, this is the course for you! You'll learn how to start your own
arts and crafts business from a professional artist. You'll discover how to find
your niche within your chosen craft and how to create your own unique business
identity. You'll also see what makes marketing in the arts and crafts business
different from marketing in most other enterprises, and you'll find a sales
approach that meshes with your personality and preserves your creative
integrity.
You'll get insider secrets too, learning how to find and get into the best craft
shows, as well as design booths that really draw customers in. You'll also
discover how to price your work effectively so you can set yourself up for
success whether you're selling through craft shows, in galleries, online, or
even in your own retail store.
To enroll in this course, click the Enroll Now button below:
Requirements:
Internet access; e-mail; and the Microsoft Internet Explorer or Mozilla Firefox Web browser.
Syllabus:
All courses run for six weeks, with a two-week grace period at the end. Two
lessons are released each week for the six-week duration of the course. You do
not have to be present when the lesson is released, but you must complete each
lesson within two weeks of its release.
A new section of each course starts on the second or third Wednesday of each
month. If enrolling in a series of two or more courses, please be sure to space
the start date for each course at least two months apart.
| Week One |
| Wednesday - Lesson 01 |
| We can't look into the future. Or can we? In this
first lesson, you'll explore how to find your own niche within your
chosen craft. Then you'll learn about resources for spotting future
trends and making your business a success! |
| Friday - Lesson 02 |
| You've heard the expression "It's all in a name." But
how do you determine which business name tells the public what you're
all about? In this lesson, you'll get some foolproof guidelines for
choosing the name that's right for your business. You'll also learn how
to secure your name and design a logo your customers will remember you
by. |
| Week Two |
| Wednesday - Lesson 03 |
| Claiming your own work space is thrilling and scary
at the same time. Today you'll explore your options, from the home
studio to the retail space. Most important of all, you'll learn the
secret to choosing the right one for you. |
| Friday - Lesson 04 |
| In this lesson, you'll learn how to design your new
work space for increased productivity and safety. We'll talk about
setting up workstations, choosing work surfaces, lighting, organizing
and storing craft supplies, and going green. Then you'll learn how to
buy your supplies in bulk to maximize your profit. |
| Week Three |
| Wednesday - Lesson 05 |
| What makes marketing in the arts and crafts business
different from marketing in most other enterprises? You'll know the
secret when you finish this lesson. You'll also know how to create a
marketing strategy to get the word out about your new business. How will
you put this plan into action? With tried-and-true marketing tools
you'll learn here too! |
| Friday - Lesson 06 |
| Figuring out how to price your work can feel like a
mystery that might even stump Sherlock Holmes! If you aim too high, your
products won't sell, and if you aim too low, you'll be out of business
before you know it. Today you'll discover a formula for arriving at the
best price while leaving yourself enough wiggle room to be flexible.
You'll also learn how to protect your work through copyrights and
through insuring your business against loss or damage. |
| Week Four |
| Wednesday - Lesson 07 |
| Thinking of you-the-salesperson can sometimes make
you-the-artist feel like you've been dropped into the Twilight Zone! But
everyone has an inner salesperson. In this lesson, you'll find out how
to see sales in a new light—one that meshes with your personality and
creative integrity. |
| Friday - Lesson 08 |
| How do you get your craft products into the
marketplace? Today you'll explore how to get your crafts into retail
stores at wholesale prices, place your products on consignment, and
approach galleries and develop long-term relationships with them. |
| Week Five |
| Wednesday - Lesson 09 |
| Retail is competitive, and you have to know your
stuff to succeed. Whether it's the ins-and-outs of how to sell retail
through craft parties, or some of the principles of setting up your own
retail store, it's in this lesson! You'll also learn how and where to
sell retail to a worldwide market on the Internet. |
| Friday - Lesson 10 |
| There are thousands of craft shows every year, so how
can you find the best (most lucrative) craft shows to be in? In this
lesson, you'll learn what the insiders know: how to find the best shows
and what you'll need to get into them. You'll also see how to plan the
details of travel and lodging and get an idea of what to bring along to
ensure a smooth craft show experience. |
| Week Six |
| Wednesday - Lesson 11 |
| Once you're in a craft show, you'll need to pull
those craft lovers out of the aisles and into your booth! Today you'll
discover how to design booths and displays that draw people in, and
you'll learn how to keep them there with compelling demonstrations,
solid craft fair sales, and smart marketing techniques. |
| Friday - Lesson 12 |
| Teaching can be fulfilling both financially and
emotionally, and it can also be a great marketing tool for the rest of
your business! Today you'll learn how to find teaching opportunities,
design your curriculum, and price and promote your class. By the end of
this lesson, our final one, you'll have everything you need to approach
your local craft supply store, art school, or continuing education
department with a professional proposal for your class. |
To enroll in this course, click the Enroll Now button below:
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