Most crafters do what they do because they love to do it. But if you're good at a craft, it can open the door for money-making opportunities. There are all sorts of ways you can sell your crafts, including selling wholesale to retailers, placing items in consignment shops, and selling online.
But if you want to have fun and make money at the same time, craft fairs are something worth considering. Hitting the craft fair circuit gives you a reason to travel to places you may have never been before and to meet fellow crafters. And since they attract craft lovers, you can make a substantial amount of money in a short time.
Does this sound interesting to you? Here is what you need to do to get started.
* Get busy crafting. You'll need plenty of inventory to take with you to the fairs for quick sales. You can also take custom orders, but most craft fair attendees prefer to leave with something in hand.
* Check out the legal aspects of doing business wherever you might participate in a fair. To keep things simple, you might choose to only participate in fairs in your home state. But if you want to do business in other states, it shouldn't be too hard to get set up.
* Seek out craft fairs in your area and others you are willing to travel to. Ask your crafty friends to keep you informed about any they hear about; check the newspaper and search online.
* When you do find a craft fair that interests you, read the application information carefully. Most fairs will require application fees, and some are juried. You may have to pay additional fees for electricity and other amenities.
* Determine what you'll need to bring along to set up. You'll definitely need tables and chairs, and many fairs do not provide them. You'll also need a tent if the fair is outdoors, and you may need other items such as display cases depending on what you're selling.
* Get your office supplies together. You'll need some business cards and other promotional materials, such as receipt pads, bags, and a credit card machine if you will be accepting credit.
* Price your crafts if you haven't already. Take into account all of your expenses, including travel and meals. You'll need to make enough profit to at least cover this, and of course, preferably enough to pocket some of it as take home cash.
* Dress comfortably, and take along food and drinks. Bring an assistant or a friend (or two!) with you as well, if this is possible. Craft fairs are usually all-day (and sometimes multiple-day) events, so you'll need to be prepared. Having additional support is a great gift for an adventure such as this!
Craft fairs provide the opportunity for you to sell your crafts in a fun atmosphere. But be warned: it's hard to stop at just one! Once you've experienced a craft fair first hand, chances are more than good that you'll find yourself searching the papers and internet looking for your next one.
If you're new to the wonderful world of crafting -- or even if you consider yourself to be more of a "basic" crafter -- then Cricut's brand new machine is just for you! This nifty new machine is called the Cricut Explore One™ and it's perfect for crafting beginners and basic crafters because it offers a simplified design-and-cut system that is incredibly user-friendly. The Explore One™ actually offers most of the same features as Cricut's other Explore machines, it's just priced lower!
In addition to its affordable price, here are a few other things about the Cricut Explore One™ that you're sure to love:
- It can cut over 60 different materials, from the most delicate materials like vellum to thicker things like leather. It can also cut cardstock, vinyl, fabric, balsa wood, leather, and more…without complicated settings.
- You'll have free access to Cricut's Design Space™ online software and iPad® app so you'll able to design on your computer or your Pad®. You'll also be able to use a Bluetooth® adapter for wireless cutting.
- The Explore One allows you to cut a wide range of shapes and sizes with exceptional precision, from ¼" tall up to 11½" wide x 23½" tall. You just select the material that you're using on the Smart Set® dial. From there, the machine's Cut Smart® technology will deliver a clean, professional cut.
- You can upload your own images and use your own fonts -- for free!
- Each machine comes with over 25 free 1-click projects and 50+ free images to get them started right away.
- If you want to use the machine to write or score, you can easily swap out the cutting cartridge with the Cricut Explore One™ Accessory Adapter and Pen.
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