When A Hobby Becomes A Business
By: Ellen LaFleche-Christian
Moonlight Creations Jewelry
Moonlight Creations Mailing List

                 As an introduction, I'd like to give you a bit of history.  I have enjoyed making beaded jewelry for years for myself and friends and family.  People would compliment me on a piece I created and I'd offer to make one for them.  I never charged for them, I simply enjoyed this wonderful hobby.  Eventually I found the "on line" world and began trading my creations with several other handcrafters.  As more people praised my jewelry, I began to wonder if I could sell the jewelry at craft fairs and on line and my new business was born.

                So you have the skill and the desire now let's turn this into a real business.  The first thing you need is a name.  The name needs to be descriptive enough to tell people what you're offering.  Susie's Crafts is cute but doesn't tell anyone what types of crafts your offering.  Cathy's Country Crochet is better because it gives people an idea of what you're offering. Now that you have a name, you need to have some standard business supplies.  I'd suggest at a minimum you have business cards and address labels.  If you have the resources you may also want to print up some invoices, price lists and notecards.  A nice extra touch is to add make business card magnets for a few of your repeat customers.  Make sure your business name, logo (if you have one) and web address are on all your printed matter.

                There are a lot of people in the world who make beautiful handcrafts and we are all vying for many of the same customers.  If you want to get and keep those customers, it's important to put your all into your business and to stand behind your product.  A happy customer is a repeat customer and word of mouth is the best type of advertising there is.

                Speaking of advertising, it's hard to justifying paying for advertising when your business is just starting out but there are many ways to get free advertising that you should explore. Mom pack is a wonderful group where you exchange fillers (business cards, flyers, etc) with other moms.  They enclose your information in their orders & you enclose theirs in your orders. Click here for more information: http://www.mompack.com/.  Many WAHMs are willing to exchange links with you.  You put a link to their business on your site & they do the same for you.  Try sponsoring contests as well.  If you offer a prize or gift certificate for their contest, many sites are willing to post your link information  on their web page. Make sure you put your link in your signature line of all outgoing emails. Drop off flyers or business cards in local businesses as well.  Add your business name to your answering machine and if allowed in your area, put a sign in your front yard.  You never know where a new customer will come from.

                Remember this is a "Real Business" and as such you have not only income but expenses.  Make sure you keep track of your expenses for end of the year tax reporting.  Your tax preparer can offer the best information but at a minimum, keep track of expenses for supplies, packaging materials, postage, advertising,  printing, gas, etc.  Remember that in some cases you may need to declare your profits from any trading or bartering that you do.

                Make sure you have a schedule & know your limitations.  Don't over extend yourself and commit more of your time than you feel comfortable with.  Treat this as any other job and make sure you maintain a balance between work and family.  Have set hours that you work each day or each week.  Get dressed for work and have a set place that you conduct business. It's easier to treat this as a job if you are completely dressed and in your "office" rather than in your pajamas at 2:00 and are sprawled across the couch.   Most importantly, don't let this become just another job, make it your dream job.