If you ever had a yard sale you know it is much more successful to have a community yard sale. In addition to getting the word out on a larger scale, the fact that there are multiple families hosting a sale is more of an incentive for visitors to stroll by.

Well this principle is not lost in many niche markets. As you surf the web you will find many associations, groups, society, and so on in such markets as songwriting, poetry, and arts/crafts. Today we are going to take a close – up look at the arts and crafts arena.

In order to help us get an idea of how to present and arts and crafts web page we are going to take a look at a couple web sites in the arts and crafts niche. The first site we are going to visit is also an example of the community concept we started our discussion with. So not only is it an example of presentation but it may be an outlet for you to help jump on this community to help boost your own exposure and the arts and crafts market all together.

Let’s visit the Arts and Crafts Society at http://www.arts-crafts.com/. The header is very nice and in the spirit of expression and the arts. The logo of sorts is very inviting and the artsy font is classic. Immediately you are given a tool bar with some interesting options.

• Articles: A variety of topics are discussed and provided.
• Events: Give a schedule and some brief history/description of events.
• Marketplace: Features a chance for crafters to become a part of what they call “the movement”.
• Bookstore:Offers a wide array of publications related to Arts and Crafts.
• Forum: Is an opportunity to share and learn as you have discussions with others like you. (Also FAQ)
• Homes: An interesting twist I thought. This presents arts and crafts homes for sale

On the home page there is a left column that is a menu providing information connected to the web site articles and events concerning the Arts and Crafts Society. In the middle of the page you have a welcome section describing the intentions and mission of the Society and their web site. Following the Welcome, and continuing in the middle the site gets right into articles.

In a column to the right they offer a craftsman spotlight and then tease you with some things available in their bookstore. Nicely tucked in between these 2 features is a link to the site forum.

Okay it is always valuable to offer a mission/welcome statement that explains and gives people a reason to get excited about your page and what it has to offer. Their “Welcome” paragraph is very good, concise, brief, and enticing.

The variety of things the site offers is well presented. None of the pages are overly cluttered and confusing. They walk a nice line between being a society for a genre and offering help and exposure to participants. With that in mind the forum is very beneficial. Yes a forum is helpful to your site and helpful to those who contribute and follow along.

The site is very light in the affiliate ads although selling books and offering artisans exposure is a type of affiliation. But you do not have many banners or ad tag lines.

Now take a look at this site http://www.urbanartsandcrafts.com/ . This is a snazzy looking site that has pages with a scrap book appearance. This site is an on – line supply store that is run by the Urban Arts and Crafts store in Kansas City, MO USA.

The tool/option bar across the top from the right toward the center gives you categories to click on.

• Beads
• Yarns
• Papers
• Ribbons
• Buttons
• Fabrics

They provide their email in a clever tacked on note and offer some gift ideas in a ribbon box. They offer more links on their site under the choices of -

1. Shop
2. Look
3. Learn Something

Overall their use of images and photos in the scrap book style is very innovative and theme related. Each page has more choices that break down the categories for you. There is plenty for the beginner and the expert. The site is also presents the personality of the owner. That offers a fresh and committed touch.

So all you creative people take notice! You are not alone, you have a wonderful community. You have a market of creative consumers who are looking for product already made and people who want to get their hands on. Review these sites and learn from the way they present and work in conjunction with their business aim.

Then cater your site to your needs and goals!

		Subscribe to BevyHost via RSS Feed
		Follow BevyHost on Twitter

Copyright © 2009 BevyHost.com.

There was a local diner that had an advertising billboard on the edge of their parking lot. Over the years the diner had their ad placed prominently on that billboard. At some point for reasons never disclosed the diner discontinued the ad. One day an ad appeared advertising another local eatery. The owner of the diner was very upset.

According to the story he contacted the ad company and voiced his displeasure over this development. His argument was that he felt this was unprofessional to place a competitor’s ad in the face of the diner. Especially considering that they had faithfully used their advertising services for many years.

The ad company essentially laughed at him and refused to do anything about it. He threatened to plant a tree and render the billboard useless. The ad company laughed even louder presuming it would take years for a tree to grow that high to block that billboard. But you know what they say when you assume things.

Within days of the conversation the diner purchased a tree that was already big and tall enough to reach and cover the sign. They had a professional landscaping service plant it in the perfect position on the property of the diner and yet completely hide the billboard. That got the advertising companies attention.

They immediately tried to arrange a meeting with the owner of the diner. This time the owner enjoyed a laugh at their expense. He basically blew them off and reportedly told them as far as he was concerned he had already taken care of his problem. The problem that he had allowed the ad company to work out an agreement over.

The ad company got into further trouble when the present advertisers refused to pay for their ad that was now covered by a tree. So the ad company went to visit the diner and begged for him to reconsider a compromise. At first he told them to hit the road and that he had already tried to do that.

Finally, knowing he was in the driver’s seat, the owner of the diner called for a meeting. He gave the ad company an ultimatum. He said that he would take the tree down if they put another billboard on top of the present one and predominantly displayed their diner. They also had to agree to never advertise another restaurant on the original billboard ever again. The ad company agreed and the tree came down.

What does that story tell us? It tells me there are many positive uses for a tree ad its branches. That is why we have been using a tree and its branches as an illustration to discuss Internet businesses. Today’s tree is the arts and crafts market.

One branch of the arts and crafts market is the field of supplies. Yes indeed, the world of art and the creating of crafts is a fertile market for suppliers. From items like beads, paints, tools, engravers, gems, and so on the handy people need the supplies to keep the dream alive.

Being a supplier of supplies can be very profitable and also very competitive. Practically speaking some people have more of a knack than others to acquire those supplies and make them available at an inviting price. That could be you.

The secret to success is simple. Once you have a network set up to have an inventory of supplies it is a matter of contacting arts and crafters. Many of them can be found on line. As a result it is also in your favor to maintain your own Internet presence. The combination of these two will likely lead you to some partnerships.

Another valuable partnership related to the arts and crafts business is helping the artisans to sell their products. Perhaps you could set up and manage the Internet sales and web information for the craftsmen and craftswomen? This will mean an outright service fee or a share of profits with your partners.

And then there is another partnership possibility. Are you good at organizing events like showcases? In the world of art and sometimes arts and crafts this is a tremendous way to sell creative work. The Internet is a powerful tool to advertise and get people to attend a show! In fact you can even have an online show!

Yes with today’s technological advancements and improvements it is easy to put together an online show. We’re talking more than just a use of images. We’re talking about video conferencing and interaction between sellers and buyers. This is becoming more and more of a realistic practice as technology continues to improve.

Remember our true life story in the outset? Hey often times a little ingenuity and business awareness can lead to creative thinking. This often leads to business opportunities. That leads to income and satisfaction.

What about you? Not a handy person? That doesn’t mean there isn’t a place for you in the arts and craft market. Because there is!

		Subscribe to BevyHost via RSS Feed
		Follow BevyHost on Twitter

Copyright © 2009 BevyHost.com.

We have been really busy here in our Internet garden of online business possibilities. And just like our back yard garden we are excited and looking down the road at the potential harvest. Even if you are a seasoned gardener the year begins anew and another spring, summer, and fall of hands in and around the soil gets the blood flowing.

However if we are new to the garden game we are extra anxious and maybe a little nervous. Nevertheless if you have done your homework and prepared yourself for the steps ahead you have reason to be confident. And in the case of your back yard garden you also have the luxury of knowing that barring faulty seeds, damaged soil, or laziness by you nature is going to take its natural course.

Lucky for those of us dabbling in the Internet gardening this is also true. Yes the on line “soil” is fertile and ready for more on line entrepreneurs to jump on the wagon. Keep in mind though this is not just an easy as pie project. True it is not rocket science, but you must be patient and positive, especially when it comes to selling items via the Internet.

For today’s discussion we are going to look at selling our own arts and crafts by way of our on line business. Keep in mind: many creative people are doing this successfully, so it is a viable option for those of you who are handy with craft tools and materials.

On one hand there is no question that the Internet has changed the entire dynamics of sales, and no doubt for the better. Managing and maintaining an online presence is far less expensive than leasing or owning a physical store. Not that you can’t have both of course.

The World Wide Web has also made the size of your fishing net and your target market a gazillion times bigger. Yes imagine a little fishing boat out in the bay trying to real in a catch with his 10 x 10 net. Then picture is he suddenly had a net that could comb the entire bay! Naturally his odds of catching fish, likely more fish, just went through the roof.

Where is the challenge then? Okay well here you are with your garage converted to your workshop. You call it Knick-Knack Central. Clearly making unique and attractive crafts is not your problem. Getting buyers is. You have your web site and it just hasn’t taken off like you though it would.

Relax, it takes awhile to build a legitimate on line presence. So hang in there. Remember our back yard garden? You don’t plant zucchini on Wednesday and harvest it two Fridays from then do you? And isn’t there some items to care for during the germination period? We all know the answer to that question don’t we?

Okay so you have your Knick-KnackStore.com and you are not getting any response. Okay one thing you need to do is access how much of a reputation your business has period. Why is that?

When it comes to sales, especially of handmade items, referrals or word of mouth spreads like wild fire. So you will benefit from building a local network. Maybe you have a flea market stand or a store. Keep it, at least for now. But even while you are at the store push your Internet site hard and aggressive. Try and get even your local customers to use it.

Be certain to give time to marketing your site outside of your local network. Meaning you will need to learn how the Internet works and follow tips on Internet marketing. If you have some money to invest, consider hiring a professional service to get your web page on the arts and crafts map.

Remember the old adage to be careful what you wish for also. The Internet end of the business can “blow up” on you in a hurry. So be prepared to meet orders and deliver them in a timely fashion. Know what is involved before the Tsunami is upon you!

Give some serious thought to the appearance of your web page. Does it tell the shopping public about you? Will visitors find everything with ease on your site? Can they contact you with questions or special orders? Is the information updated and accurate?

I guess we should also mention that you need to be honest about your product in this regard. You can do everything correct but if the product is not appealing or cost to value friendly it won’t sell. Sometimes that is the harsh reality. That should not stop you from taking a step back and launching new items though.

Think about our back yard garden again. Sometimes the zucchini may not yield a bumper crop. That doesn’t mean your garden was a failure or that you are a bad gardener. It may mean that you may try another plant, or it may be as simple as trying again. Maybe you realized you planted the zucchini in a bad spot. Perhaps the plants did not receive sufficient sunlight for example. You get the point don’t you?

Creating hand made products is very rewarding and a wonderful skill. Getting others to purchase them and enjoy them is also rewarding, but much more challenging. Using the Internet ultimately can increase your potential for sales if you apply the tried and trued methods that you learn from your diligent research.

And be sure to take off the “creator” hat and put on the “marketing” hat. I know you arts and crafts wizards, you get making things and there is no stopping you. But in business, like gardening, there is some cultivating to do.

And hey if you really, really do not want the hassle, by all means solicit the services of people who excel in the marketing game. Form a partnership if need be. But by no means think that just putting stuff on the web means people are going to see it.

Whether you hire marketing pros or not, remember to always remind people about your Internet store. Even when you are on Facebook, Myspace, or Twitter. Find on line advertising options. Join arts and crafts forums and talk about your passion and slip in your web store address. In time the word will get out, especially as products are purchased and appreciated.

Okay you crafty designers and builders, you got some gardening to do!

		Subscribe to BevyHost via RSS Feed
		Follow BevyHost on Twitter

Copyright © 2009 BevyHost.com.

There you are sitting in your workshop working on one of your craft creations. You are thinking, as you often do, ‘I would love to sell more of these’. Then you begin, as you often do, talking to yourself.

“People at my flea market stand love these things. And I sell a lot of them from my little space. And my, ‘insert item name here’ people really like them also. I wish I could do more than the flea markets. I know people sell their crafts on the Internet. Why don’t I do that?”

Then your mind wonders and you picture yourself working hard with a big smile as the orders are coming in from your on line store. But how do you accomplish that? You know what they say, you got to start somewhere.

When it comes to your art creations and your craft sensations you may already have begun your quest toward an on line Arts and Crafts business. That’s because to start with you need a viable product or products. So whether you have been developing your own doo hickey’s or you know how to acquire an inventory of desirable crafted goods you have made the first step.

Yes you need to have items to offer. Of course under the description, Arts and Crafts, that may encompass a wide range of possibilities. Nevertheless you have your products and you have your heart set on selling them. In fact, as often is the case and as we illustrated above, you probably already have been selling your wares in a local setting.

It is common to find experienced and/or enthusiastic artists of various sorts offering their creations in showcases, flea markets, yard sales, or various local venues. Many of them travel from flea market to flea market and have a “store” in a few markets every week in their general locale.

The Internet simply opens the door to a bigger market. One that is open 24 hrs a day, 7 days a week. A market that does not require loading and unloading your van or station wagon.

So you got the goods, now what? Well now you need to have a frank conversation with yourself. “Self, what do you really know about the Internet?”

Depending on your response to that question will determine your next move. Like most people you may need to learn how to get the Internet store, site, up and running. It may benefit you to do this in stages. What?

Yes, it may be helpful to combine your goal of having an on line arts and craft store with the start of an on line auction business. Double what?

What we are suggesting is that it is often easier to use sites already geared to selling items as a place to start. This will allow you to get a feel for the world wide web and selling items on the Net. One easy place to start is eBay or a classified style set up like Craigslist. These sites and sites like them are set up for the beginner and very easy to start and do.

From there you can search free hosting or reasonably priced host services that offer easy templates that have a web site basically set up for you. You just need to “fill in the blanks.”

And as always is the case, you have the option of consulting or hiring the services of a professional web company to help you get your web store up and teach you how to manage it.

From there part of the beginning phase is thinking a couple of other things through. For example, when you sell one of your creations at a flea market you simply hand it over to the buyer. Easy delivery right? At other times people eye something and they place an order with you. At this point you arrange for them to come back or you have some kind of method in place to get them the item they ordered right? Well this is a major detail you need to set up from the beginning with your on line sales. You need to know and plan for getting orders to people who order from miles and miles away.

That also means you understand that this is a part of a cost and a part of the value of your item. So you have some planning and learning to do.

Looking ahead however, the sky may get clearer than you think. Your online efforts may eliminate the need for you to have your physical stores available. Think about it. No loading and unloading, no sitting in the hot sun or the cold wind. No rain or snow to deal with. No starting and stopping of your creating to talk to a customer visiting your stand. You can schedule your time to work and your time to manage your web store. No packed lunches or buying funnel cakes. Wait a minute, no funnel cakes? Trust me; you will not miss the funnel cakes. (Okay maybe you will a little)

Hey the advantages can go on and yet at the same time maybe you will still want the interaction of the old school sales methods of your arts and crafts. But just remember this; the more people that see and talk about your creations the more people will want them. With your Internet Arts and Crafts business people will be browsing all the time. Ponder over that thought.

		Subscribe to BevyHost via RSS Feed
		Follow BevyHost on Twitter

Copyright © 2009 BevyHost.com.

Raise your hand if you liked art class as a kid? And the best part was hearing mom say “wow junior what a nice …. a nice …… what is it honey?” And then watching her put it on the refrigerator door was the crowning achievement wasn’t it? And we are glad to say that tradition has carried on to our day. Perhaps you have your child’s art plastered on your fridge right now?

You know for some of us art class resonated in our persona so much we continued our passion for art into our adulthood. Some of us have become quite creative and proficient at arts and crafts. Among that crowd an ambitious bunch has parlayed their talent into a small business.

There are those who have handcrafted their wares and have created outlets to offer them as merchandise. Yes they have set up their flea market stands or they perhaps have their own independent shop where they retail their goods. And technological progress has opened yet another door, a door that many artsy crafters are cashing in on.

Hello Internet. Yes, indeed whether working out of their workshop, sewing room, transformed garage or basement, or out of their retail store/work shop, a multitude of artisans have offered their creations and designs on line. And this has been very successful.

Now for all practical purposes selling your arts and crafts on line is a form of e-tail and e commerce. We are separating it from those business models for a reason however. That is because as a business it is different over all. After all you are taking the process of retail from the manufacturing phase all the way to delivery. And there is a subtle departure in the sales approach. Let’s dissect the arts and crafts business as it relates to an on line venture.

It all starts with the planning, design and innovation from you the craftsman. Among the popular items produced and sold by hand merchants are handmade jewelry, accessories, bead creations, painted works, knick-knacks, decorative items, pottery, glassware, quilted goods, and so on. And many of these products will take on a theme at times.

Regardless of what you are offering the concept is that you are responsible for making it and/or providing it. Now if you start to find yourself supplying the work of others than you have bridged the gap between outright e commerce and the arts and crafts business.

With that in mind you will need to sell these products. Now the subtle nuance in selling handcrafted or homemade goods is just that, they are custom and/or handmade. You are selling original work. As a general rule arts and crafts are not machine manufactured. Actually they are not manufactured in the sense that you are not running a factory. These are not likely mass produced items. That makes you products unique and special. Therefore your sales “pitch” and accent will be on that fact.

Now that doesn’t de-value manufactured factory made goods. But it does make it different. In some case you are offering a “one of the kind” item.

The mother of all examples of successful arts and crafts businesses is the Vermont Teddy Bear Company. Their initial debut onto the market was a telephone push but they have built quite an Internet presence. Now of course, at this point, they have mushroomed past a small shop business. Ultimately though, I am sure you would be okay with that if it happened to you wouldn’t you?

As a comparison I can give you my step daughter as an example also. She is quite talented at making hemp material accessories. She makes some stylish handbags and bracelets for instance. What makes this a good example is that there are others that have given this a go. However the combination of her talent, finished product, persistence, market knowledge, and doing festivals all to compliment her web site has made her a nice little business.

Now to make this work for you obviously you need to have the creativity and ability to craft goods to sell. You then need web marketing, sales, merchandising, delivery, e-commerce, and some networking and basic business knowledge.

Now one thing to calculate is the cost of making your products. So while you may have the passion and talent to pull it off, you need to produce cost effective goods, goods that you can make and provide at a palatable and reasonable price. Yes supply and demand is the old reliable guide but in manufacturing, even on a handcrafted scale, the supply and demand is very much influenced by educated business decisions of what you decide to make an offer. This also emphasizes why you need to know your market. Because you need to have your ear to the ground or your thumb on the pulse of your target market to know what types of goods people may be enticed by.

This is the part of our discussion we need to remind you that this is also another opportunity to enhance your web site and web business with advertising. And with advertising comes advertising income potential. Naturally if you pursue this supplement to your Internet enterprise than you need to add affiliate marketing and web advertising to your “need to know” list. And honestly, you should consider this aspect.

So go ahead, get those glue sticks and cray paper back out and relive those memorable days of your childhood! Okay, I’m just joshin’ you.

The fact is you know who you are. The creative people reading this are aware of what they are capable of designing and making. However many of them have missed the boat on how to sell these goods to the World Wide Web on their own attractive web site!

Attention all art and craft makers! Next boat leaves NOW! Get on it.

		Subscribe to BevyHost via RSS Feed
		Follow BevyHost on Twitter

Copyright © 2009 BevyHost.com.