Jobs

[boxofglory]

Just wondering what everyone does other than craft (that is, if you don't do crafting full time!)...

I'm a full time psychology student, and I work part time for an up-market clothing brand.

[annalaura]

I was working as a high school art/multimedia teacher until December last year. I started Anna Laura in July 2006 and worked on it while teaching full time for a year and a half. I decided to give Anna Laura a go full time, so I've been doing that for the past few months.

[boxofglory]

wow, that's exciting that you've decided to do it full time... I was wondering recently what would happen if I decided to do crafting full time, I'd imagine I'd take it more seriously if it was my main income. Now that I'm back at uni I have hardly any time for my craft hobby... it's a bit sad actually...

[Imaginart]

That is exciting Anna! It can be so hard to find sometimes I know. I'm a stay at home mum so most of my painting is done at night into the wee hours. Not ideal but at least I get to do it!!

[Emmarose]

I'm like you imaginart, I am a stayathome Mama of three. I do all my creative time at night... unless beloved is being kind and I sneak in a hour or so on weekends. I have only just got back into my craft after about 10 - 15 years which was a real shame. I am only just rediscovering my art - drawing and painting. Wish I had never stopped though, as it makes me so happy. My girls are all artistic, so I encourage them to be creative all the time:) They are 7, 5 and 1 yrs. Before I was a Mama I worked in a music shop, and at one point ran a computer business with my beloved.

[annalaura]

I wish I found Etsy and the whole online thing when I was at art school. Not that is was really around, but I think I would have loved it. I was really bad for a few years after art school. At one point I was working in a call centre and I was too scared to go anywhere arty like galleries because I knew it was what I should be doing, but I wasn't. I used to go past Little Salon, a shop in Melbourne each day on the tram. I was too scared to go in, but knew I should be making stuff and selling it in there. 5 years later I am, so I'm proud, but I wish I got onto it earlier!

[Imaginart]

It has taken me years to focus on what I REALLY want to be doing as well! I always told myself not many people make money from art so I should go get myself a more secure job! At least I have the opportunity now. If only I had done it earlier.

It's so great to hear both your stories:)

[boxofglory]

I used to go past Little Salon, a shop in Melbourne each day on the tram. I was too scared to go in, but knew I should be making stuff and selling it in there.

That's me now! I mean I go into shops like little salon and meet me at mikes, but i never have the courage to ask them about consignment... I just don't feel like anyone would WANT to sell my stuff in their shops!

[Emmarose]

I know that feelng Boxofglory. I think the main thing to remember with handmade stuff is it really is UNIQUE. Noone in the world creates pieces like you do, has the same inspiration or view of things..... You'll never know, if you never try. (grinning now as I know I should take my own advice!!!) Markets has been my first step, is that an option for you?

[Imaginart]

Dive in guys! Seriously what have you got to loose? Have some confidence in your product too:)

If they do say no, politely ask why? It may be that they just have way to much stock. If it is to do with your product then you have just gained an experts advice which you can use to better your product! Either way YOU WIN! (ok so if they say no it does make you feel a bit :o) But hey if you don't take the plunge you will always be wondering...

I agree with Emma too - markets can be great.

[annalaura]

If they say no, it isn't a big deal. I've been knocked back by a few shops, usually they are polite and just say they have overspent the budget or they are only looking for people from the state they are in. I'm not sure if this is the kind way of saying no. I usually email, but I was talking to one shop that said they get a few emails, and sometimes don't get a chance to reply so it can help to call as well, after the email is sent.

[boxofglory]

That's a good point. E-mail is usually the best way I suppose, it's less intimidating too! Thanks for the tip. And you guys are right about "having confidence in your product"... I guess I'm still a bit insecure about my "creative" side! I suppose once I get things going I will gain more confidence!

Do you guys normally provide a catalog of some sort for people to look through? Like a photo album of some examples of your products? Or do you send samples?

I've been thinking of making up a few printed catalogs...

But again, with all the time constraints, I don't think I'll get around to doing that for some time. In fact, my madeit and etsy shops are looking so incredibly empty at the moment due to my lack of time to make stuff, it's making me depressed!

[Imaginart]

I took some paintings into the shop that now stocks mine. A baby boutique mind you not an art/handmade shop. I'm not sure how my stuff would go somewhere like that:confused:

In my case meeting the shop owners in person, seeing if they were interested and then coming back to show them an example of my artwork worked really well. If the store isn't local though it really doesn't help!

The shop that stocks my paintings has now found a catalogue very helpful to show other customers my work. People can order something like what I have done in the past if nothing similar is up on the wall at the time.

HTH

Yes finding time can be soooo hard!:(

[annalaura]

Don't beat yourself up about not finding time to do stuff Kerry. When I was working full time and first started making stuff, I thought I could do it all, and my friends and family kept telling me to give myself a break. I soon figured this out, and realised it wasn't doing me any good to get upset when I wasn't making stuff and listing things. You can always get back into it, but finding time on top of uni or full time work, or families is hard, so you should be congratulating yourself on doing both.


I'm in the process of creating an online ordering system for stockists, as my work is quite varied, it is hard to keep track of everything. This will allow me to stay focused. It also helps that my partner has an honors degree in computer science so can do all the tricky stuff for me. Hopefully it will make my life much easier!

[Imaginart]

Very true Anna!

[thelittleorchard]

Kerry, I know how it can feel, but when I am having to do extra work at my job I look at it as earning extra money so I can buy more supplies etc. And uni is expanding you mind/horizons etc so it is all good!

And to original topic. I work in retail in a little gift/ christmas shop.

[ZippyZippy]

Hi Everyone
I'm new here. I'm a stay at home mum to 3 boys 5,3,1. I have just set up my "made it shop" over easter and had my first sale today! I have always felt that i was meant to make stuff and sell it - sounds strange, but but it is a strong feeling. Have always worked in retail, I have sold handmade cards at markets now making stuff for the boys and love it
Jacqueline

[Emmarose]

Hey Jacqueline! I am a stay at home mum of 3 girls 7,5 & 1, strangely enough most of the stuff I make for kids is for girls!!!! haha pleased to meet you:)

[rousabout]

Hi everyone,
This thread is a good read. I am a stay at home mother of 3. 6,4and 2.
Two girls and one very busy little boy. We run an earthmoving business and I do all the bookwork for that. We have just finished building a new house, a project which took 2 years from designing the floorplan to moving in. I was the registered owner/builder so I organised all tradespeople, quotes and suppliers... busy busy busy.. THe upside is I now have a large sewing room. Yah!!!
I have sewn for years and the girls can only wear so many dresses, nighties and hats.
How are the markets going for you EmmaRose.
Hi Jacqui... Congrats on the bunting sale....I better get my butt into gear and actually put some things in my shop...

[Emmarose]

Hi Rousabout! Nice to talk to you again! My next market is 5 April (Gracemere, Qld), and I am busy making more nappycakes and cupcakes - I think it will look awesome to have a whole table dedicated to babycakes! All the old folks will think they can stop and have a cup of tea ha! I have also started making a cushion that looks like a cubbyhouse, and I am taking my cupcake theme a little further.... thanks to Boxofglory's suggestion earlier. It seems that all the 'little stuff' sells for me at the markets. I have also found a shop in Rockhampton that might be interested in taking some of my stuff on commission!!!! Will keep you posted on that one......

[boxofglory]

Well, I've just quit my job as of ten minutes ago... so I'm officially job searching. Anyone got any ideas for what kind of job I should apply for?

I've considered making more of an attempt to make crafting my job instead. For those of you who make a serious income out of your craft, have you got any tips for a casual crafter/hobbyist wanting to go "part-time"?

[Kylie Robertson]

Box of Glory.. why not do what I have just done and rent a space/box area from the shope "Incube8r Gallery".. it is located on Smith St Fitzroy .. check out there website.. they advertise on the main webpage here.

It saves you going to the markets each week and you get all the money from items sold as you only pay rent!

I have so far made a couple of sales so along with made.it.com.au my hobby is turning into more of a business.

[boxofglory]

Hi Kylie, I already AM in in.cub8r! But I won't be after this month... I haven't done very well in there because I haven't had enough time to maintain it. Now that I will have time, I won't have money to be able to pay the rent! Haha...

But yeah, Isy is great in there... and some people do really well... so for any other crafters in Melbourne, you should definitely consider it!

[heidiandseek]

Well, I've just quit my job as of ten minutes ago... so I'm officially job searching. Anyone got any ideas for what kind of job I should apply for?

I've considered making more of an attempt to make crafting my job instead. For those of you who make a serious income out of your craft, have you got any tips for a casual crafter/hobbyist wanting to go "part-time"?
I don't make a serious income out of crafting but I have done a bunch of research about doing it. I'm currently trying to make it a part-time deal.

There's a book called Craft Inc (http://www.amazon.com/Craft-Inc-Creative-Hobby-Business/dp/0811858367/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1209520476&sr=8-1) that I've just gotten, which seems really great. There's also a blog on marketing a craft business called Craftboom.

Otherwise just think about your craft in a business sense. Work out exactly how much something costs to make, including the materials and your time. Work out which items you can profit from the most. And of course, which will sell. For example, something I'm thinking about at the moment is whether making garments from scratch is more efficient than altering existing garments. From scratch means more actual working time, but altering requires me to work out a design first for each piece, which can take a while. And is it reasonable to reflect this in the price, or would that drive the price up too high?

Remember that time is money. Don't spend a lot of time on something unless you can reasonably expect someone to pay for the time in the price of the item.

I hope that's useful. I'd love to hear tips from anyone who is successful in making it a job, too.

[Emmarose]

Advertise yourselves by wearing your prouducts, and if people ask you about what a great piece it is, make sure you have a business card handy stashed away in your purse.... Try and advertise through as much media as possible, online and in the real world. It seems to me that all the girls who do it fulltime, spend just as many, if not more hours marketing themselves than they do actually creating. It is a big commitment! I am on this rollercoaster myself, but I am in it part-time as there is so much else, I am dedicated too. BUT, everyone starts somewhere.

[thelittleorchard]

A seller on etsy said something that is really good advice. Think about how much you want to make a week, and how many items that would be that you have to sell, and hence make. And you have to factor in what their cost is etc.

I would love to be doing craft part time and working for partner part time (hopefully his new electronics will lift off). But right now craft isnt making me too much at all...and I am working in retail...and then its just whatever I have to do, whether that is pick up another part time job, or something else...

[identitaet]

I used to work full time as a Visual Merchandiser till Dec. last year. I have cut my hours down to 2 days per week now. that gives me so much more time to work on my 2 labels...and I just love doing it! it is scary to stop working full time and not to know if money comes in, but as Anna Laura said, I guess you have to give it a go, otherwise you will never now........

[karasmith]

Hey there

Just saw the info about incub8r... why didn't you do well there? What sort of 'maintaining' do you have to do?

I don't know what to recommend about making your craft part-time. Mine is full-time and its hard but very rewarding. I do 12 hour days for 6.5 days a week, but its still early days and have to do it all yourself!

K

[boxofglory]

In terms of maintaining your cube, I meant going in there on a weekly or fortnightly basis to change over stock, dust, etc...

[karasmith]

Oh great! I just posted somewhere else here. Its an extra $10 per month for the guys to maintain your space there. Perfect for us not in Melbourne.

K