Professional Crafter or Hobbyist?

Do you plan on being a professional crafter or a hobbyist who just sells occasionally? This is an important decision you need to make when you start selling your crafts. There is nothing wrong with either choice, but behaving like a hobbyist when you are trying to build a craft business will undermine your professional image.

Deciding to be a professional crafter means seeing yourself as a business person as well as a crafter. Creating a professional image for your craft business is important if you want to be taken seriously.

Recommendation Anyone who is serious about their craft business should take a look at James Dillehay's Craft Business Success Package It's a set of 5 books and a CD which will help you figure out how to sell more of your crafts and there's also fantastic advice on pricing as well as selling online. He shows you how to run your craft business as professionally and profitably as possible, and gives plenty of examples to illustrate his points. You also have the option of downloading individual books, which is great for international customers who don't want to pay shipping (for more about international shipping costs see my Craft Book Reviews).

When you're working from home it's especially difficult to be seen as professional, which means you need to make even more effort. When talking about your work, don't be afraid to refer to your 'business'. Never call it your hobby, unless that's all it is.

Here are some basic guidelines to behaving like a professional crafter should!

• Always do what you say you will

  Never make promises you can't keep. If you've promised to deliver an order within in a week, do so. If you're not absolutely sure whether you can do something, don't give your word that you will.

• Look the part

  If nobody will see you during the day while you're crafting, it doesn't matter if you wear your sloppiest tracksuit. But whenever you do parties or deliveries (or anytime you see any of your customers or hostesses) you need to make sure you're dressed appropriately. I don't mean pin striped suits, but do make an effort to look smart and well groomed.

• Keep good records

  Now that you are a professional crafter, you need to keep good business records. If accounting isn't your thing, either buy a book, take a course, or get someone else to do it for you. See the resources section for more information on organisations to help you run your business professionally.

• Invest in some business stationery

  Apart from being a great way to promote your business, using quality business stationery will help others to see you as a professional crafter with a serious business.

• Choose your business name carefully

  Your business name is very often the first impression anyone gets of you, so take the time to choose the right one.

  I learned this the hard way!

  When I first started selling my handmade greeting cards for kids, I called myself 'Messy Paws' and naturally had business cards and labels printed. It was fine then, but when I started doing handcrafted jewellery (including bridal), it was no longer appropriate and definitely didn't project the right image for my business any more!

  I had to find another name and, apart from the expense, changing the name also made my business seem a bit 'flighty' and I've had to work extra hard to counteract that.

  I now just use my own name for my business, as this gives me room to move in whatever direction I want to, and also implies that I'm taking responsibility for my own products.

  I hope you learn from my mistake! Whether you use your own name or choose something else, make sure it will always give the right impression of your business, both now and as your business grows.

• Keep your business separate from family life

  It helps if you have your own workroom, but at the very least make sure you have somewhere to make calls in private. Your son nagging you for dinner while you're trying to persuade someone to book a party isn't going to help with your professional image. Neither is your three year old daughter picking up the phone when someone calls about a business matter.

  Make it very clear to your family what is expected of them when you're working - they need to learn to respect the fact that you are a professional crafter, with a job to do.

None of this means that you have to cramp your creative style. Run all aspects of your business professionally, but use your individual flair to make your handcrafted items stand out. Creativity and professionalism combined will hugely increase your chances of success.

Are you a professional crafter? Click here to send me your tips and suggestions.