Arts and Crafts Business, Start Your Own

A new section of each course starts monthly. 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.

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 lessons are released. You will have access to all lessons until the course ends. However, the interactive discussion area that accompanies each lesson will automatically close two weeks after the lesson is released. As such, we strongly recommend that you complete each lesson within two weeks of its release.

The final exam will be released on the same day as the last lesson. Once the final exam has been released, you will have two weeks to complete all of your course work, including the final exam.

Lesson 1
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!

Lesson 2
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.

Lesson 3
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.

Lesson 4
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.

Lesson 5
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!

Lesson 6
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.

Lesson 7
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.

Lesson 8
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.

Lesson 9
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.

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.

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.

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.