May 24, 2022
Inflation is a pressing concern for large and small businesses around the globe right now. Learn how craft businesses are dealing with new challenges and methods to try to counteract the effects of inflation.
May 16, 2022
Sara Bryant started her business, Bee’s Knees Knee Pads, to solve a problem for a small, but specific, group of people — pole dancers. Her goal was simple: make a better knee pad.
May 5, 2022
Outsourcing some tasks to a freelancer could be the answer to your overwhelmed feelings as well as business stagnation. We discuss the ins and outs of working with a freelancer, including when and what tasks are appropriate, the legal aspects and how to handle conflict.
Mar 15, 2022
Coley International is a new consulting firm headed by Nichole Schneider, an experienced product developer, and sourcing specialist. With Coley, Schneider is focused on helping solo entrepreneurs and small business owners navigate the product manufacturing process from start to finish.
Dec 6, 2021
During supply chain disruptions like we’re now experiencing, having a detailed understanding of your business’s supply needs and how to adapt, can mean the difference between success and failure.
Oct 22, 2021
In this webinar, David Allen of Allen Manufacturing in Lewiston, Maine will explain all of the steps you need to have a product manufactured. David specializes in working with small businesses and will walk us through sourcing, creating prototypes, costs, minimums, and turnaround times, and protecting your intellectual property.
Oct 21, 2021
Hold on to your supplies, whether needles and thread, yarn, fabric, or templates. The supply chain bottleneck means getting necessary tools and stock is taking longer than before.
Oct 23, 2020
Kollage Square Needles has been acquired by Career Services, a Canadian social services agency that provides job training for disabled adults.
Oct 19, 2020
In this podcast episode, crochet designer Twinkie Chan talks about her career in craft including her licensing deal that led to YummyYou, her book deals, teaching with CreativeBug, and more.
Mar 13, 2020
California’s AB5 labor law classifies most workers as employees rather than contractors, but for all small businesses, it’s a perfect opportunity to reevalute employment practices overall.
Feb 11, 2020
Carolina Moore had an idea for a quilting notion so she partnered with a major distributor to get it manufactured and into shops.
Sep 16, 2019
Sourcing on Alibaba allows you to get customized products for you to sell at a fraction of the cost, but be aware of this advice before you begin.
Jun 28, 2017
Most of us begin our businesses as one-person shows. We make our product, take the photos, make the listings on Etsy and answer the emails. And that’s great! Starting small (with as little debt as possible) is a good way to begin your business. You’re agile with your product, can test what’s working with your customers and get a hands-on feel for what needs to change. But at some point it may be wise to hire help so that you can grow and professionalize. Here’s how to know when.
Jun 6, 2017
The story behind the creation and development of the adorable and useful sewing notion, the Binding Baby.
Dec 20, 2016
The key to having a sustainable business (one that can survive anything life throws at you) is to plan for the stuff life throws at all of us.
Sep 13, 2016
Options for child models, legal aspects of working with children, payment of minors, as well as the logistics of running of a photoshoot with children.
Jun 20, 2016
The subscription box model has become a popular one for craft business owners in recent years. The promise of steady cash flow through a subscription model is appealing to many entrepreneurs, but what are the risks involved? And what makes a subscription box program thrive?
Jun 7, 2016
Designers who create knitted or sewn garments often face the added challenge of finding and hiring models for photoshoots. It can be tough to find a model that has the right look, is experienced and at ease in front of the camera, and is also affordable. Read on for expert tips on how to do just that.
Oct 26, 2015
The ins and outs of selling fabric on Amazon with Christa Watson of Christa Quilts. There are many different aspects of the Amazon market to think about.
Oct 19, 2015
The CIA website is more complex than it looks. Believe it or not, it is because of that complexity that we decided to do as much as possible ourselves. Learn which tasks we tackled and which we out-sourced.