Tip-toeing Back into Business

As I mentioned before, I overdid it on the business books in 2007. I read and read and read. I was determined to make it as an entrepreneur. But I couldn’t take it anymore and gave up on business altogether.

I believe that enough time has passed to tip-toe back into this arena without freaking the artist within me out!

The key to anyone going into business is to really focus on what you WANT to do, not what you CAN do. We can all do a lot. But it’s no fun to work in a room by yourself if you don’t LOVE LOVE LOVE what you are doing. With friends branching out on their own, I suggest a little day dreaming of what would make your heart flutter before hanging your shingle, um rather, printing your business cards.

I like to make things. Not lots of little things, but things. And let’s get even more specific. I love to make book arts that convey a biographical story – mine and others. So now that I know that from the last year of playing and creating, I am a little better prepared to pick up my new business resources, which I vow to keep to a tidy little pile. There is a lot of advice out there in the world and trying to consume it all will only drive you nuts. Trust me! (See above.)

Taking the Leap: Building a Career as a Visual Artist by Cay Lang

Craft, Inc.: Turn Your Creative Hobby into a Business by Meg Mateo Ilasco

These are a couple of books that I have on my bed side table – one from the prospective on an artist, and the other from the perspective of selling your craft. I am taking a two-pronged approach – larger fine arts type projects and smaller craft projects, which I hope will provide a broad span of available price ranges.

Plus, I found these great tips online from Design*Source Biz Ladies. Topics include:
+ Public Relations and the Independent Designer
+ Retail tips from Double Dutch Boutique
+ Legal Tips/Reminders for Independent Designers
+ Pricing, Marketing and Wholesale Tips
+ 10 Tips for Wholesaling your Product
+ Production, Manufacturing and Packaging
+ 5 Super Simple Steps for Selling Online

And that’s it! Finito. As Henry says, stop reading and starting doing.