PIVOTING

 Time to Pivot

So I am deciding where to host a website, or if I want to stay with Etsy, Ebay, of Bonanza.  While I am deciding, I will be using the blog as my website.  I plan to list items I have for sale with a link to the platform on which they are available.  I will also be doing fewer in person shows this year as opposed to what I was doing in the past.  My goal is to move most of my sales online, do a few in person events just to keep a finger on the pulse of what is selling or not selling, so I can remain relevant with my merchandise.  I promise to do much better with my blogging as opposed to what I was doing in the past.  This is my year to pivot and actually be able to act upon what needs to be done.  Hope you want to come along with  me on this ride.

Faux Fern

So You Want To Have A Craft Business

 I am currently in the middle of my busiest show schedule of the year, but thought I would take a few minutes to address some questions people have been asking me over the past few months.

I am constantly getting asked if I am selling enough to make a living.  The answer is yes, and no.  the reality is if you are just starting out don't quit your day job.  It takes a while to find your niche and to be able to start making a realistic income.  Don't expect to just jump in with both feet and start making huge sums of money.  You may be doing what you love, but if you don't treat it like a true job you will be in big trouble when its time to pay bills.

I have had no less than 10 people ask where I get my patterns because they have a show coming up and that item would sell so well.  Hello, do your own research, not to mention most patterns are my own design, or redesign of a paid pattern I purchased.  I am not going to give you my bread and butter patterns.  You can sit down and do the hours of work and research I did.  No one said this was going to be an easy get rich quick business.

I get asked where I sell often.  That I don't have a problem sharing.  Most shows are booked months in advance.  You may get lucky and get in at the last minute, but chances are, at least for the better shows, you will end up on a wait list.  And be ready to fill out an application.  Don't get discouraged if you are turned down.  The show may already have their limit of people doing your type of craft.  But if  you do get in, you will end up getting first chance at a booth at the next years show. 

How did you decided what to sell?  This is a question I am asked often.  I started with what I liked to create and went from there.  There are a couple of good shows I don't do, because the items that sell well are items I hate to make.  And lets face it, if you hate making it, you are not going to enjoy your crafting, you will get burned out, and you will end up procrastinating.  And of course you can't be afraid to evolve, and change things up.  Also keep in mind that certain things sell better at different shows.  That is why I have a wide variety of merchandise in all price points. 

Other things to keep in mind.  Don't undersell yourself.  Just because you only have $5 worth of materials in that item, doesn't mean you should sell it for $6.  You want to be able to support yourself, and a one dollar profit margin is not going to do it.  You need to take into account the cost of materials, the time it takes you make it, and how much your overhead costs are (rent, utilities, insurance, etc).  And if you decide to sell the hat at $25  and can't keep up with the orders, raise your price.  You are worth it.

So these are just a few questions I get asked,  I may try to go more in depth on some of them at a later date.  Until then, I have a busy show schedule I need to prepare for.

First Fall Craft Show of the Season

So the first craft show of the fall season has come and gone.  Not the best, but not the worst show I have ever done.  I actually did better than expected.  As always my jellyfish, and seahorse plushies were among my best sellers.  The mini pumpkins (these were a first time making them craft for me) flew off the shelf.  Had requests for other veggies and fruits, so those will be on my to do list for the next show coming up in October.  Sold several of the do-rag headbands I make and sell  (the pattern is available here).  I will definitely be making more of those. 

Lots of compliments on the few hats and scarfs I took.  I did not expect to sell any of these and took them only to get the responses as to what people thought of them.  I did get a couple of baby blanket orders so those need to be completed in the next week or so. 

And just for those who say they can't do a craft show because they don't have room in their vehicle for tables, displays, canopies, and finished crafts, I have a small 4-door Hyundai Elantra.  granted my back seats do lay down (either right, or left, or both at the same time as needed),  but the pictures below are of my packed car, and my booth set up on the day of the sale.  So don't say never.  Just practice loading your car,  and if you can get the plastic crates that Walmart and Target sell this time of year for back to school/college,  pack your merchandise in them, and use the empty crates to display merchandise on or in. 

                                            booth after set up

                                          view of back seat of car

                                          view from front of packed car

                                          view from back of packed car.

So even if you have a small vehicle you can still do craft shows.   The things I took were 5 small 20 inch x 40 inch folding tables (they fold in half, and the legs extend), a 10 x 10 canopy, a 6 foot ladder shelf (purchased at Tuesday Mornings and painted with a coral color stain), a folding metal table type shelf (purchased at Tuesday Mornings)  a banner (purchased from vista print, and framed in a cheap plastic poster frame purchased at Jo Ann's, and embellished with patterned duct tape from Dollar Tree), 12 crates of product, 1 crate of bags, tape, tissue paper, price stickers,) A small ice chest with water and snacks, a folding wood laundry rack (purchased at an antique show years ago), 8 mannequin heads (I look for them at yard sales and swap meets because they are cheaper there than buying new),  and some cheap 48 inch curtain rods and large 3 - 4 inch S-hooks (I got the curtain rods at Walmart, but you can probably get them cheaper at thrift shops and the S-hooks I got at Home Depot),  and a folding plant stand the kind that folds out with 2 stands on each end that stand from 8 - 12 inches tall with one in the center that stands about 18 inches to 24 inches tall (for a total of 5)  (I set my mannequin heads on these with one sitting on the table just in front of the plant stand.) And a garment rack that is quick and easy to put together (also purchased at Walmart)

There are some good you tube videos on setting up spaces and thinking outside the box as far as displays go.

I hope to check in later this week or next to give you a preview of some of the items I am making for the next show.

Okay, so I suck at Blogging

And what else is new.  I have great plans, and of course they tend to fall by the wayside.  So right now I am getting ready for the first of my fall craft shows coming up August 31st.  Dreading the heat, but looking forward to getting a idea of what people are looking for this season. 

Trend reports can be helpful, but lets face it, trends vary depending upon where you live, the median income of the people in the area you live in, and even the time of the year.  Right now I expect I will be selling a lot of stuff in school colors, since school has just started and kids will want to show their school spirit.  But there will no doubt be a lot of people asking for things I either don't have, or don't make.   But this is one of my cheaper shows, and always a good indication of what I need to focus on for the rest of the fall season.

I am also trying my hand at loom knitting.  I finally broke out that set of knifty knitter looms that had been languishing in the very back of the closet in my craft room.  I have to admit, it wasn't that hard to do a simple hat on it.  So I may have to play around with some more patterns.  Knitted hats always seem to sell faster than crocheted ones, while crocheted headbands out perform knI itted ones, go figure.  It takes me over a week to knit a hat on regular knitting needles, with the knitting loom I finished my first hat in about 2 hours, while binge watching the Librarians on tv. 

I will try to remember to come back and post pictures of my booth either the Sunday or Monday after the show.  (But please don't hold me to that LOL)

That's it for now.  If anyone is in the Visalia, California area, near Church and Main Street, on August 31, 2019  between 10 and 4 come out and shop the show.  If you find my booth (I have a large framd banner with my name Sharon Griffin,  The Sassy Crafter on it) stop in and say hi.  Mention you saw my blog post, and you'll get a small gift.

Its Been a While

Lots of things going on lately.  I do have some updates which I will list below.  I am getting ready for a busy craft show season.  I have 8 shows between now and mid December.  I am also getting into the design end of things, which if things go the way I hope, means I can ease up on the number of craft/vintage sales I do each year. 

I am working on a hat and scarf set pattern.  I hope to have it finished and beta tested sometime in the next two or three weeks.  With a publication date set sometime before Christmas.  My goal is to get at least 4 new patterns written, tested, and published on either Ravelry, Etsy, or Craftsy before July 2019. 

I have already etched out at least 8 different designs I want to work on.  Just have to figure out the right pattern stitches to use.

My current pattern is a cow I named Sticks and Stones  I have it listed on Ravelry  Etsy and Craftsy

Now on to updates.  So my digital scale battery is dead, and I keep forgetting to buy a new one, so no weight loss updates today.  But I have met and exceeded my miles walked goal by more than 16 miles (I will keep walking each week though, as I find I feel much better when I walk than I do when I don't)  I have only887034 steps left to take.  I am actually trying to increase the number of steps I take each day.  If I can up the amount by a 200 or so I am sure I will meet my goal steps wise by the end of December. 

Thats it for now.  I will do my best to post more frequently in the future.

I'm Back

Had a great time at the CGOA Chainlink Conference in Portland, as well as a nice visit with my friend and her family.  Have already started saving for the conference next year.  Left Portland heading home Wednesday and it was 54 degrees, got home around 7 p.m. and it was 104 degrees at home.

All signed up for a couple of more craft shows this year.  One in October and one in November.  This is in addition to the monthly farmers market and the vintage/craft market I am doing.  May try to get into another show in the spring of the year.  Just not sure if it will be a good fit for me.  Still researching it.

Updates, yes I have them.  I finally busted through my plateau and have lost another 1.2 pounds.  81.6 pounds until I meet my goal there. So hopefully by next spring.  35.15 miles walked, leaving 29.85 miles until I reach my yearly goal.   And 181395 steps walked, leaving 1113454 steps left to take this year to meet my goal.

More updates coming soon.

Sorry I'm Late

Sorry I'm late with my weekly updates.  Its been a busy few weeks.  Between craft shows, antique shows, a touch of the stomach flu, things have been hectic to say the least.  So just a quick update.  I am stalled as far as weight loss.  Inches lost, doing good in that area.  The weight will eventually start going down again, will just have to wait it out.  As far as miles walked, I knocked off another 22.24 miles getting me closer to my goal, only 96.24 miles to go.  As far as steps, I walked off 165420, leaving only 1472174 steps to go.  Hopefully, I can get back on track with weekly updates starting Monday.  Until next time, just keep putting one foot in front of the other.

Redoing my front yard

So I've spent the last week redoing my front yard. I have broken it up into sections. I am almost finished with the 1st section.  It had a lot of crushed red brick and just a little white rock, and river rock.  I prefer the white rock and river rock, so I have been taking up all the red brick, laying down new weed barrier, and now I am ready to start laying the white rock and river rock down.  I am adding several new walk ways first, and using stepping stones to use as planter bases.  I plan on doing a lot of succulents in planters. I am using a lot of different sized and styles of planters, as I don't really want a "cookie cutter" look to the yard. 

When everything is complete I'll take some pictures and show it off.  That may be a couple of months down the road.  As I am also doing a recurring craft show each month, a June craft show, and a recurring vintage/repurposed/craft show each month.  I am also getting ready to take off for the Crochet Guild of America conference at the end of July.  So pretty busy right now.

Good news on the weight loss front, I dropped another 8 tenths of a pound this past week.  I still need to lose 82.8 pounds to reach my goal weight.  I added another 8.01 miles to my annual goal I set for myself this year, I still have 118.98 miles to go.  And I knocked off another 77587 steps off my annual goal I set for myself, leaving 1637594 steps to go.

Will check in again next week.

Updates for the week

So the scale went down another 6 tenths of a pound.  I'll take any weight loss I can get.  I still need to lose 83.6 pounds.  I managed to get another 9.59 miles logged. This brings the total left to walk to meet my goal for this year down to 126.49 miles.   And I logged 67113 steps.  So to meet my goal I need to walk another 1715181 steps.  The only two I'm really worried about not meeting are the miles walked and the steps walked.  I have given myself at a minimum 2 years to meet the weight loss goal. 

On the other front, I had a great sale this weekend at the 2 Sisters Flea Market that is held every 2nd Saturday.  Had some repeat customers from the first time I did this show, and requests for some different items that I can make for the next one. 

I am also looking to selling finished products on Amazon Handmade.  I've read both good and bad things about this one.  Mostly good.  And a few people I have talked to that have been doing it from the start say its getting better.    I am also trying to finish up a couple of more patterns that I want to list on Etsy.  I don't sell a lot of finished products on Etsy, but the one pattern I currently have listed is doing well.  And I need to get some more items listed on Bonanza.  I always seem to sell well on that one.

This week though, I am in the process of redoing the front yard.  I moved into this trailer October 2017, and I am finally getting a chance to do something about the yard.  I am removing all the crushed red brick, and replacing it with succulents and white and river rock.  I really want a fuss free, easy to care for yard.  I hate yard work with a passion.

Well time to get back to work.  More updates coming next week.

Monday Updates

Better late than never right.

Okay its going to be short and sweet today.  I am in the middle of getting ready for my sister in laws yard sale, cleaning out my closet and getting rid of all my now too big clothing, and getting ready for a craft show coming up in late march.

Only lost 2 tenths of a pound this week, but at least its a loss (i blame the superbowl snacks)
so totals are as listed
92.6 pounds left to lose
8.35 miles walked leaving 270.29 miles to go
64,855 steps taken according to my fitbit (best $140 ever spent) leaving 2610462 steps to go.

Thats it for now.