Today I want to address another critique of the group in case others of you feel this way. It is said that I sugar coat the whole idea of events, am not taking this seriously, and am actually harming some of you new folks with constant encouragement and talk of fun instead of showing you the realistic side of this business. So heres the realistic side of the last few years of my business. I was selling all online until invited to a craft fair. I took crochet, sold a little... changed up my line, sold a little more. Ive had to adapt my business a couple of times, even changing my product line and business name and basically starting over with everything. I did this last May when I bought the tools and supplies to start making candles. I work about 14 hrs a day, 6 days a week... either crocheting, sewing, making candles, or promoting my work. I have fibromyalgia, so this is especially hard... but I LOVE doing this! Since May, my profit is less than $600. Yep, all those hours, all the sweating in the sun, all the muscle ache and, sometimes, stress and worry. For a measly $600. But if you say it isnt worth my time, I say that next year will be even better, and the next year more so. And I believe that! So to me, for now, that little bit of actual profit is enough. Its GOT to be when youre first starting out! The real fact? Most of us are NEVER going to be able to do this for a living. Heck, the majority of the group isnt even trying to. We just love what we do and dream of some day doing it full time and making an actual income. And regardless of who you are, I intend to encourage that and support you, because thats why I figured you were here. :-) My constant words of, Have fun! are because on some days at a craft fair, thats all youre gonna get. Take those bad days and get around and network and meet other artists because we all know a little something we can share, and we ARE each others best support! And hang in there! Everyone isnt going to like your work, everyone isnt going to like you. But you have to believe in yourself if you want to do well doing what you love.
Posted on: Tue, 14 Oct 2014 14:30:35 +0000