Ok, so there are a lot of us out there who are creative and could use a couple of extra bucks in our pockets, am I right? It struck me as time for a brief how-to to help bridge that gap between the makers and the market. Here are some outlets to investigate, and some support from our collection on making the most of your new business.
First off, how do you start a small business? It’s not as hard as you may think. SPL has a place where you can find answers, and so does KCLS. I particularly suggest spending some time on the Washington Business Licensing website, because it does a great job of walking people through the questions they need to answer. Try this book, too: The Small Business Start-Up Kit by Peri Pakoo.
Indie C
rafts and Vintage Re-Selling
Is craft your thing? Check out The Crafty Superstar Ultimate Craft Business Guide by Grace Dobush, Craft, Inc. by Meg Ilasco, or The Handmade Marketplace by Kari Chapin. If you just need to get some online publicity, here’s a good book on how to set up and fine-tune a digital store: How to Sell Your Crafts Online by Derek Sutton.
Fabric Design
For a little background reading, take a look at: A Field Guide to Fabric Design: Design, Print & Sell your Own Fabric by Kimberly Kight and Mastering the Art of Fabric Printing and Design: Techniques, Tutorials, and Inspiration by Laurie Wisbrun.
Desktop Manufacturing
Find some inspiration in Makers: The New Industrial Revolution by Chris Anderson and Printing in Plastic: Build your Own 3D Printer by Patrick Hood-Daniel.
Self-Publishing
Where do you start when self-publishing? Well, try this book: Indie Publishing: How to Design and Produce your Own Book, or this one: The Insider’s Guide to Book Publishing Success by Eric Kampmann.
Where are people doing this online?
The following websites are not free, and there are many other options out there, so think of these as places to begin exploring.
Etsy: One feature I love about Etsy is the free forum section of the site, where sellers talk about how they make decisions about setting up their stores, or offer advice on practically every aspect of indie craft under the sun.
Spoonflower: This site takes specialty printing to a whole new level – it allows you to design and print your own fabric. This used to be the sort of thing it was incredibly difficult to have produced in small quantities, so viva technology!
Shapeways: What can you do with 3D printing technology? Take a look at Shapeways if you want to find out. Much like Spoonflower, Shapeways is a way to get access to the advanced technology you may not be able to invest in when you’re just starting out. They also have a straightforward step-by-step guide to designing a 3D object.
Lulu: An all-encompassing resource for self-publishing. Even if you’re just trying to figure out what questions to ask, this is a great place to start.
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