View Full Version : Crafting as hobby to career?
Chrissi
15-07-2009, 08:44 AM
I don't know if I have put this in the right place, but I am looking for some advice. I am wondering if there's anyone here who has turned their crafting hobby into a career/business/etc. I am mainly meaning cardmaking, but I also do a bit of scrapbooking and a few other bits and bobs.
I am truly miserable in my job, can only see things getting worse as well and am seriously considering way I can turn a hobby I absolutely love into my job.
If I haven't popped this in the right place feel free to move/delete.
Alice3_2009
15-07-2009, 10:55 AM
I've only seen people selling on their own websites.
What about card making classes?
budgie
15-07-2009, 10:56 AM
It must be lovely to have your hobby as your career! Good luck!
Chrissi
15-07-2009, 12:16 PM
I've only seen people selling on their own websites.
What about card making classes?
I was thinking about that, could try as I culd work it around my job to begin with and see how it goes, if it doesn't work out then nothing lost.
Rentochops
15-07-2009, 12:35 PM
I wonder if Winspiration has done that or any of our other outlet peeps? They might be able to give you some good advice.
Woudl be my dream too, but I fear I would not make any money as I would keep too much for myself LOL :blush:
Chrissi, I would stongly urge you to become a 5-to-9'er (that is where you work 9-5 in a "proper" job, and then work the remaining hours on your other business) BEFORE stepping into the unknown and giving up a reliable income. It is very, very difficult to make an income worthy of the hours invested from craft - but it is not impossible. So do follow your dream, but do so in a considered, risk-free way first of all. I think it will also help you feel more positive about your other job, as you will see it as the foundation that is helping you to build your business.
HTH.
kriskros
15-07-2009, 03:39 PM
Nice idea, but think how many cards you would have to make week after week to give you an income, and 'sell' of course although running courses and selling the appropiate items needed to make more would boost your income. People who enjoy crafting are always ready to join a group to share their hobby with. Also doing kiddies parties and such like.
Phree
15-07-2009, 04:06 PM
Chrissi, I would stongly urge you to become a 5-to-9'er (that is where you work 9-5 in a "proper" job, and then work the remaining hours on your other business) BEFORE stepping into the unknown and giving up a reliable income. It is very, very difficult to make an income worthy of the hours invested from craft - but it is not impossible. So do follow your dream, but do so in a considered, risk-free way first of all. I think it will also help you feel more positive about your other job, as you will see it as the foundation that is helping you to build your business.
HTH.
That sounds like really good advice to me dips. Building up your own business of any kind, not just a crafting based one is never easy. I also think that turning a hobby into a job is not for everyone - I know that for me I would loose my enjoyment in crafting if it became a "must do" rather than a "I feel like doing" activitiy - so giving it a try in the way dips suggests is a great way to find out if you really DO want to turn your hobby into a job.
Winspiration
15-07-2009, 04:45 PM
Very good advice indeed, from Dips. That's certainly the approach I took, I ran the business for a year and a half before I actually took the plunge and left my 'day job'.
I did some forward planning too - in the couple of years before I left work, I ploughed as much money as I could into paying off as much of my mortgage as I could to make sure my outgoings would be as affordable as possible when self employed, I researched my pension arrangements and how they would be affected by leaving my job. I also gave some thought to 'worst case scenarios' and how I would manage if it didn't work out.
I think you would need to research the market very carefully. I have considered in the past trying to make money from craft (other crafts, before cardmaking became popular) - but one of the issues with any craft, not just cardmaking, is whether the market is prepared to truly recompense the time and skill that goes into producing hand crafted products. There are many cardmakers around these days, so there is fierce competition - although you could still find a profitable niche.
fabyon
15-07-2009, 04:52 PM
Like the gold rush in the American west, the people who made money were the one supplying tools to the gold diggers. Although you're pretty sure you don't have competition locally I wouldn't count on making money on cards alone. If you're good at making artifacts or altered art on various objects than you could open an ETSY (http://www.etsy.com/) or MISI (http://www.misi.co.uk/) to test the market to see if there's demand for your cards.
Good luck on whatever you decide to do !
Hugz
X
Fab
Little Jan
15-07-2009, 06:41 PM
Good advice from everyone on here . I myself tried to turn my hobby into a small job . I don't work so there was not realy anything to loose but I soon found out that the time and money going into hand made items just did not pay. unless you are in an area where these are not widley available and people are willing to pay a good price. I stated off years ago selling cross stitched samplers was ok for a while till materials went up in price I ended up selling for just over what materials cost. hubbie got fed up with me saying I must finish this he said for the price you sell them and the time it takes you working for a 1p an hour.
If you enjoy crafting and just want to make a bit of pin money then thats ok but to give up work and make a profitable income in this climate is risky .I think the bottom of the craft market will fall at some point,have seen many people looking at hand made cards at the local market saying oh thats nice but I can get 4 for a £1.00 . We have a bits and bobs store (not a pound shop) that has beautifull crafted gift bags from 50p and hand made look cards for the same price there is no way that I could compete with those prices as materials would cost twice that much ok they have probably been made in some sweat shop but do people care if they are getting a bargain.sadly not
I wish you all the best in what ever you decide
Wellington
16-07-2009, 10:42 AM
,have seen many people looking at hand made cards at the local market saying oh thats nice but I can get 4 for a £1.00 .
That's hubby's attitude too - we have most of the main supermarkets within a 5 mile radius & while I'd love to get a stall at the local farmers market (or some such), I'd have some heavy competition. Was thinking about it the other day while watching a C&C '40 die cut cards' kit the other week. It was a Christmas kit & would have been £35 incl p&p - how do you justify 40 cards for £35 when you can get 30 for under fiver from Asda when you get your weekly shop? I just can't see where you could make much money back.
Course, I'm famously useless with money :sad:
One other thing to consider, it is not just about being good at craft - to make a success you need to also be able to effectively market your products, control stock, manage buying (and by that, I mean buying well for a business, not just being a number 1 shopper, lol) and be able to work well enough with figures to work out if your doing it all for love or actually for a living wage!
That said, you'll lose nothing (or at least very little) by dipping your toe in the water.
Chrissi
16-07-2009, 12:22 PM
Chrissi, I would stongly urge you to become a 5-to-9'er (that is where you work 9-5 in a "proper" job, and then work the remaining hours on your other business) BEFORE stepping into the unknown and giving up a reliable income. It is very, very difficult to make an income worthy of the hours invested from craft - but it is not impossible. So do follow your dream, but do so in a considered, risk-free way first of all. I think it will also help you feel more positive about your other job, as you will see it as the foundation that is helping you to build your business.
HTH.
I know, as I was a Manager for Ann Summers for a couple of years and their stupid contract said that you wouldn't let any other job get in the way of being a Unit Organiser, meaning I had to give up my 9 to 5 job, it was HELL, so I am not going to be giving up a 9 to 5 or part time job just to step into the unknown again. Trust me though, I am never going to feel positive about this job ever again. I need out for my own health, sanity and freedom (before I get myself locked up for murder!).
Chrissi
16-07-2009, 12:27 PM
Like the gold rush in the American west, the people who made money were the one supplying tools to the gold diggers. Although you're pretty sure you don't have competition locally I wouldn't count on making money on cards alone. If you're good at making artifacts or altered art on various objects than you could open an ETSY (http://www.etsy.com/) or MISI (http://www.misi.co.uk/) to test the market to see if there's demand for your cards.
Good luck on whatever you decide to do !
Hugz
X
Fab
It's not just cards I do and I am not just hoping to make a success of a business just making cards. I have made a success of customising items for people with crystals, bloody time consuming, but so rewarding in the end, especially when you see the reaction to the finished article.
There are no craft, cardmaking etc classes in my area so I am going to see where I can from that as I can work it round being stuck in the 7th circle of hell meaning I will still have a regular income, if it takes off it takes off, if it doesn't then nothing lost but a couple of hours, which I will probably have thoroughly enjoyed.
scrapper
30-07-2009, 06:36 PM
I have to agree with all the advice, ther are few people making money out of their craft hobby sufficient to replace a wage, many do fine and "fund their habit".
There are plenty of places to get free advice including business link who run free start up courses.
Part of doing your homework should include a list of all your expenses like insurance, increased costs of heating and lighting your home should you change from working 9 to 5 etc.
Making your hobby your job often means you spend 24 hours a day and 7 days a week living this job and can take the fun out of it.
Why not see what you can do whilst in your present job, and look for a new job that is maybe part time and give you a better chance of developng a new business?
Chrissi - there is an article in this month's craft Trade Magazine about running courses, if you would like me to send you my copy (I've finished with it now), just PM your address, I'd be more than happy to do so.
Alice3_2009
14-08-2009, 02:43 PM
Anyone seen this?
http://www.craftpays.co.uk/
Buttercup
27-10-2009, 09:24 AM
I'm rather late in discovering this thread, but in case it's of use to anyone, this website deals with all the issues involved in setting up and running a craft business - http://www.startacraftbusiness.co.uk/
You can also ask questions too -http://www.startacraftbusiness.co.uk/AskOurExpertsCategory.html