Hobby to business...the big step!

Like most work at home mums, I started making and selling my wares as a hobby. It bought in a little extra cash but nothing to get too excited about but at that point it wasn't really about the money. It was about filling a gap in my personal market...making something I couldn't afford or couldn't find and also taking a little bit of time for me.

I'm not going to wax lyrical for two paragraphs about how wonderful my children are and how they have changed my life. They are and they have but they can also be demanding and tiring and sometimes a little bit difficult! Crafting for me was a way of getting a little bit of me time and relaxing while also being productive. A way of doing something I enjoyed and hopefully making some money along the way.  Surely thats the dream!

So what happens next, when you make the decision to take your at home crafting for friends and family to the next level?

Well obviously changes had to be made. Some of these were done very formally at the start such as opening a business account, registering as self employed and getting a logo designed while others have happened more organically. I try not to work on Friday nights or Sundays giving myself some time with my other half and all of us as a family. I have also had to clue up on social media, PR, advertising, photography, networking and of course all the legal stuff that goes with distance selling.  Most of this has been learnt along the way.

a fair a few months ago

Now some of this is still a work in progress. While I now understand how Twitter works (@carriescrafts in case you want to tweet!) I don't use it as often as I should for it to really be useful. I also have a very long list of contacts in the media and potential stockists that I have yet to contact as well as a ton of new ideas that I want to make. My craft fair display is still being improved as I learn new ways to better showcase my items.

All of these things will happen in time and I find that I have to keep reminding myself of that daily while I see others flourish and their business grow larger, faster than mine. My children are still young and I am managing to grow the business (slowly) without the need for childcare. I get to enjoy them everyday and still work to retain a piece of myself.

In an ideal world there would be an extra 10 hours in the day (at least 5 of which my youngest would sleep!) but, as it is I will to coin a recently reused phrase and I will  'keep calm and carry on'...keep on working to turn my hobby into a viable business that helps to support my family and my sanity!

I am not a big advice giver but I suppose if I were to offer any it would to be grateful for the success you have, and always think relatively. In the end you don't know how well that other woman at the craft fair did compared to you or how many sales that new flash website so and so has got gets each day.

Be proud of yourself and keep on sewing! (or sticking/painting/carving/moulding/cutting/knitting etc). You are doing brilliantly.