The Handmade Marketplace

August 1, 2014

For many crafters, turning their hobby into a full-time job is a dream come true--but it's also a lot of work. In the second edition of the author's 2010 guide to creating and growing craft-based businesses, Chapin (Grow Your Handmade Business) provides advice on starting from the ground up, covering everything from choosing a catchy name to developing a logo and marketing strategies. There's a strong focus on using social media and blogs to promote one's business--a must in today's connected world--and Chapin gives thoughtful guidance on how to do so without overwhelming followers with your message. Online sales aren't everything, so there's also facts about selling at craft fairs and through brick-and-mortar stores. Quotes and essays from successful business owners are interspersed throughout the book. VERDICT Chapin's guide contains real-world (and often tested) advice on making craft-based businesses successful, and this updated edition includes information about services such as Pinterest and Instagram, which weren't on most crafters' radars when the first edition appeared.

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