Craft MBA
I love the art of making jewelry, especially with Nina Designs jewelry components. For years I have been thinking about taking the leap and selling my jewelry online. Over the years I have sold to friends, family and the occasional stranger at a restaurant. Last year I participated in two holiday sales – one of which was a complete disaster, and another that was a success, but both great learning experiences. With the holiday season approaching again (I can’t believe it either!) I have started thinking about my plan and I have realized that I need to take the leap and dive into the world of online selling (ok, maybe not diving, but at least dipping my toe in the water.)
I am a researcher, so naturally, I decided to get started by reading some of the articles in our own Nina Designs Library: Starting a Jewelry Business and Is It Time To Quit Your Day Job?
I also branched out and started looking on the internet for more information. As it turns out there are tons of great resources out there, but my current favorite is Crafting an MBA. Megan Auman’s thoughtful and insightful blog is packed with tips about running a small business, and specifically a small business that sells handcrafted goods, and I have been reading it every day since I found it. Her advice comes from experience and reading the articles she writes and the comments of her readers has really helped me understand more about the ins and outs of starting and running a small business.
In Why you shouldn’t pay yourself (and other myths about profit), Megan examines some common myths about running a small business and makes some compelling arguments to refute old ideas (you mean I can pay myself and my business just might be profitable in the first year?!)?
Megan truly believes that small businesses selling handmade goods can compete and flourish in the current economic market and I really recommend you spend some time at her blog as soon as you can. I think you will learn a lot.
What small-business blogs do you read? What tips would you give to someone starting their jewelry business?
Clara,
I love Meg’s site and think that it is a great place for small biz people to check out. Despite my mixed feelings about Etsy, Etsy also has great resources in their Storque blog, along with tons of inspirational stories of people “quitting their day job”.
I also would recommend Smaller Box: http://smallerbox.net/blog/ (small biz tools and advice)
The Switchboards Forum: http://www.theswitchboards/forum (not that active, but tons of info in the archive)
I have yet to quite my day job completely — I think it’s important to define your goals and then set out the steps to reach it. And it can be different for everyone. I don’t think I aspire to be the next David Yurman, but I do wish to continue learning and growing and my business allows me to do that!
best,
peggy
Comment by Handmade Jewelry by Peggy Li — July 30, 2010 @ 5:05 pm
Craft Inc. by Meg Mateo Ilasco inspired me to get my business license and get my act together! I am now selling every Saturday at Pioneer Square Market in Seattle, WA and bringing in some extra cash.
Thanks for the links, I will refer to them immediately…
Comment by yolanda deleon — July 30, 2010 @ 11:52 pm