Crafty Reads: The Handmade Marketplace

Want to get down to business with your craft? This book can show you how.

By Maya Mackowiak Elson
Published: May 19th, 2010 | 12:04am

It seems at some point in time, every crafty gal I know dreamed (or still dreams) of making her hobby into a career. With the advent of online marketplaces like Etsy and the increasing ubiquity (and quality) of craft fairs, this dream actually isn’t that crazy. However, making money at your craft is almost never as easy as simply opening an online shop or setting up a booth at a fair. So what’s a girl to do? How can you DIY your heart out and earn a living doing it?

If you’re serious about getting down to business with your craft, The Handmade Marketplace: How to Sell Your Crafts Locally, Globally, and Online by Kari Chapin (Storey) is a great place to start. This handy volume, adorably illustrated by Emily Martin (a.k.a The Black Apple) and Jen Skelley, is a trove of information designed to help you focus your ideas, get acquainted with the basics of business, and find the motivation and inspiration you need to pursue your passions.

Part one takes you step-by-step through getting your business set up. Who’s your audience? What should you call your business? How are you going to get a logo? Do you need an accountant? Some of these questions may seem obvious, or perhaps like steps you aren’t quite ready for, but the intent is spot on: you need to consider all the aspects of what having a business—even an artsy-craftsy one—means. It’s not just making decoupage boxes or hand-knit hats. At the same time, Chapin presents the realities of what it takes to run a business without crushing The Dream.

Part two is all about the big M: Marketing. It presents a breadth of ideas for promoting your business and product and how to do it though traditional marketing venues, working your network, and finding new buyers online.

Part three focuses on selling, where and how to do it. Chapin offers info on how to approach all the typical venues (craft fairs, online, local shops) plus creative ideas for other ways to sell (house parties, kits, trunk shows).

The nitty-gritty information in this book is extremely valuable, but it’s the added touches that make it surprisingly engaging. Chapin tapped into what she calls “My Creative Collective,” a veritable who’s-who of craft industry professionals who she interviewed about their own creative business pursuits. Q&As with these folks are strategically placed throughout the book, as are their quotes and advice. These seasoned pros’ experiences give the reader a lot of food for thought and their voices add a mentor quality to the otherwise basic information presented throughout.

As for other small touches, the resources list at the back seems very comprehensive and like it would be a great, well, resource for the reader who uses this book like a manual. I also appreciated the craft show checklist at the back, designed to help the newbie craft business owner ready herself for running a booth. And overall, I was impressed at the breakdown of the book. Within parts and chapters, the information is presented in manageable bits, which makes it easy to scan and find the points you’re most interested in. This also keeps the book from being dry and boring, a state an essentially business book like this could have easily fallen into with a different format.

Those who’ve always dreamed of selling their crafts have probably searched high and low for a book like The Handmade Marketplace. And now that it’s finally here, I think you’ll find it’s just what you were looking for—and then some.