Sometimes at Christmas it can be so difficult to come up with suitable gift ideas.  My fail safe for anyone that is difficult to buy for is something edible.  Which got me thinking about all the wonderful homemade edible gifts that you could make and gift this festive season.

Here is a selection of my favourite handmade edible gift ideas:

Hot  Chocolate in a Jar

Essentially it is a jar or sealed mug with all the ingredients to make a delicious hot chocolate.  Now remember this is a Christmas gift so there is no need to count calories, the more indulgent the better.  If you know that the recipient has particular tastes this could also be catered for.  For example you could make it peppermint or chocolate orange flavour.  Please see this post from Everyday Savvy to get some ideas https://everydaysavvy.com/easy-diy-gift-jar-peppermint-hot-chocolate/

Raspberry Mint Gin

Gin has become a favourite drink for many.  It is very easy to make some flavoured gins of your own and they would make great unique gifts to give out to friends and family.  As with most edible gifts you may have to tweak it depending on their tastes but this recipe from Craft Invaders should give you a good head start https://craftinvaders.co.uk/raspberry-and-mint-gin/

Chocolate Truffles

Chocolate is always a go to for anyone that is difficult to buy for.  However so that the gift is not just dismissed you could go to the extra effort of making some chocolates to gift.  This basic recipe from Nonna Box should get you started that you can then add your own flavours to https://www.nonnabox.com/chocolate-truffles-recipe/

Cake in a jar

For many they say that some of the best gifts are an experience rather than a tangible gift.  Therefore you could gift to a grandparent or children a cake mix in a jar.  This could be presented in a pretty jar with a bow or tag to make it presentable.  However the actual gift would be the experience of baking the cake together with family members.  Please see this how to guide over on Very Best Baking for some ideas https://www.verybestbaking.com/toll-house/recipes/chewy-brownie-mix-jar/

Sundae in a box

Kids love ice cream sundaes and you can take full advantage of this by giving them a gift that will help them create their own.  Obviously this gift will also be perfect for anyone with a sweet tooth as well.  In a pretty container you can combine all sorts of sweets and syrups that could be added to make an ice cream sundae.  This post by Smashed Peas and Carrots should give you some pointers http://smashedpeasandcarrots.com/ice-cream-sundae-in-a-box-gift-idea/

Spice Mixes

If you know someone that is king (or queen) of the BBQ then a selection of spice mixes could make the perfect gift.  Often these mixes are presented in the clear fillable Christmas baubles but could easily be in small jars.  Let your imagination run wild with which ever flavour combinations you think the receiver would appreciate.  This post on Francis Can Health should help you gather some ideas https://www.franciscanhealth.org/community/blog/recipes-ornament-dip-mixes-easy-holiday-gift-idea

Cookies

Everyone over indulges on biscuits and cookies at Christmas so I am sure that a gift of this vein would be well received.  If it is for children you could go down the decorating gingerbread men cookies route, or you could wrap a stack of chocolate cookies in a pretty bow.  The choice is really yours.  One Simple Party have put together some ideas of what you could include in a gingerbread decorating kit to help you https://onesimpleparty.com/gingerbread-cookie-decorating-kit/

Jam or Chutney

At Christmas I think most homes have a cheese board that everyone picks over the festive season.  Add a special touch to this by gifting someone a chutney or jam that would go really well with cheese.  Have a look at this delicious apple chutney recipe from Homemade Gifts made Easy at https://www.homemade-gifts-made-easy.com/apple-chutney-recipe.html

With all gifts they say it is the thought that counts, I believe that a handmade gift will show a lot more thought has been put into their gift.  Therefore it is likely to be gratefully received.  Let me know if there are any other edible gifts that you have made and gifted.

If you have enjoyed this round up have a look at my favourite makes to keep you cosy over the cold season https://www.claireyatfairycrafters.com/10-best-cosy-winter-patterns-to-keep-warm/

The post Best homemade edible gifts for Christmas first appeared on Clairey at Fairy Crafters.

It is becoming more widely known that creativity and having an outlet for it can be very beneficial to mental health and wellbeing.  As this article outlines there has been a range of research into the connection between wellbeing and art https://www.artsprofessional.co.uk/news/even-minimal-creative-activity-boosts-wellbeing-research-finds

I personally believe that it is really important to cultivate this in our children from a very young age.  With all the lockdowns and home schooling children have really suffered with their mental health so providing encouragement to be creative could really help their wellbeing and mental health in the future.

When children are learning they do a lot of it through play therefore above anything else any creative activities need to be fun for them to do.  Another important thing to bear in mind is that they need to be given the freedom to explore and inevitability this is going to result in mess.  This is the part that I really struggle with.  Try not to tidy up around them while they are engaged in the activity and try not to take over to complete the piece of art in a more aesthetically pleasing way to your eye.  Again something that I really struggle with.

Now before you think that you are going to have to buy in a bucket load of craft supplies in order to engage your little one in creative activities I can assure you this is not the case.  Activities can be really simple and many of them will actually help children to foster skills that will later help them in their fine motor skills like writing.

Here are just a few ideas that can help you get some inspiration for the smallest children in their early years:

Nature pictures

These are pictures that are created by collecting items from nature like leaves, sticks or stones.  These can be arranged by the child to make a picture.  These don’t necessarily have to be stuck onto paper they could even just be placed on a pavement or some grass.  This will provide an opportunity for children to explore shapes and colours independently.

If the weather isn’t particularly nice items from nature could be collected during a walk and then brought inside to create a piece of art.  If the children isn’t too keen you could even get them to try and build a nature home for some insects or a hedgehog.  Although this isn’t a artistic activity they will be using their creativity to think about their creation.

Basic art table

As simple as putting some pens, pencils or crayons on a table with a pile of paper can really make such a difference to their creativity.  This isn’t always a preferred activity of children but others seem to adore it.  From the earliest age they can learn how to hold a pencil to be able to write at a later date.  Simple mark making is such an important formative skill that can easily be hidden in a creative activity.

If the child is slightly older they could be given a little bit of direction either by giving them a topic to draw or a purpose for their artwork like a Birthday card.  The possibilities are really endless, my youngest child loves to write lists at the moment so even encouraging them to write a shopping or birthday list could get them using their imagination.

Finger arts

There are a range of medium that can be used to fill a tray that will enable a child to use their finger to draw in the tray.  Usually food staples are a good choice like flour or rice.  Their little fingers can create shapes or lines in the flour for example.  The tray can then be shaken to provide a “clean” slate for them to start again.

At the end of the day young children need to be given the freedom to explore their creativity, this does not need to be tunnelled into painting or drawing but could incorporate any sort of play using colour or shapes.  Who knows this early encouragement could be for formation of a future Picasso or Banksy artist.

What were some of your children’s favourite art activities when they were young?  If you are looking for  some craft inspiration for children have a look at https://www.claireyatfairycrafters.com/top-10-christmas-crafts-for-children/ a bit of fore planning can help you fill your home with handmade Christmas decorations

The post How to encourage creativity in your child from an early age first appeared on Clairey at Fairy Crafters.

Here in the UK the summer holidays are up on us and we are suddenly responsible for entertaining the children for 6 weeks.  If you are looking for some ideas to keep the children occupied below are the top 10 summer crafts for children.

 Flower pot fairy house

Most small children are amazed by the concept of magical creatures and fairies.  Why not hone into this interest and have them design and create their own fairy house.  These can be made and then placed in the garden to add a touch of whimsy to your outside space.  If you don’t have a garden don’t worry they can look just as good added to your children’s bedroom décor.  For full instructions and some ideas head over to Angela’s article https://www.projectswithkids.com/easy-painted-fairy-houses-garden/

 Glue Suncatchers

An stained glass themed craft activity is perfect for this time of year as the sunshine can really light up their creations.  These glue suncatchers are great as they stick easily to a window or mirror and have a really striking stained glass effect.  Browse of Mishell’s guide over at https://www.printablesfairy.com/black-glue-bugs-suncatchers/  

 Painting with bubbles

Angela of https://livingwellmom.com/paint-with-bubbles/ explains how you can create some fun art using bubbles to paint.  This is a simple craft that could be done with children of a range of ages and abilities.  They require minimal equipment for set up so will be easy to quickly prepare for some garden fun.

 Water Bottle Spirals

CBC have created a how to guide for creating wind spinners that can be hung in the garden from plastic bottles.  These are great to use up any plastic bottles teaching the little ones about recycling.  Once decorated they make a colourful and interesting addition to your garden following the activity as well.  Follow the instructions at https://www.cbc.ca/parents/play/view/water-bottle-wind-spirals

 Bird kite

Even if the weather isn’t that great there is bound to be a day that will be nice and windy.  These kites are simply made out of a piece of decorated card and some string.  Each child can decorate their bird prior to being sent out the help it fly.  For full instructions including a video for the children to follow have a look at http://krokotak.com/2017/06/simple-bird-kite/

 Tie Die Art

There is something very summery about tie die.  This version is very low on the mess scale and can be done by children of all ages.  All that is needed is some wet wipes, felt tip pens and elastic bands.  Leave your children to unleash their creativity with colour and create bold pieces of art.  Full instructions can be found over at http://www.mudmates.co.nz/blog-baby-wipe-tie-dye-art/

 Bird Feeder

Children generally have an interest in nature and what better way to introduce them to the wildlife that exists in their own back garden than creating a bird feeder that will attract all the local birds.  They are really simple to make and use general household items.  For all the ingredients for feeding your garden birds have a look at https://www.honeyandlime.co/how-to-make-a-bird-feeder-fun-summer-crafts-for-kids/

 Puffy Outdoor Paint

Back in the day children were happy with just a tub of chalk and a pavement.  This idea has had a bit of an update with this puffy paint that can be used by children to make artistic creations outside.  The full recipe can be found on https://www.midgetmomma.com/sidewalk-paint/

 Shadow Drawing

This has got to be the easiest activity to set up for children.  All that is needed is some paper and something to draw with.  Then the children can spend endless time trying to find items from around the garden or house to draw around.  It can even be made into a guessing game where other family members have to try and guess what object’s shadow was drawn around.  If you need some inspiration have a read of https://growinghealthykids.co.uk/easy-weather-crafts-and-activities-for-kids/

 Shell handprints

Many trips to the sea side result in a whole pile of collected shells and stones however you are then left wondering what to do with these afterwards.  This keepsake idea on https://www.artycraftykids.com/craft/handprint-shell-keepsake/ will put them to good use and will provide a lovely reminder of a holiday or particular time in your child’s life.

Let me know if you have any other go to summer crafts that you like to provide for little hands over the holidays.  If you are looking for further inspiration have a look at the collection of the best garden activities for children https://www.claireyatfairycrafters.com/garden-craft-activities-for-the-children/

Many trips to the sea side result in a whole pile of collected shells and stones however you are then left wondering what to do with these afterwards.  This keepsake idea on https://www.artycraftykids.com/craft/handprint-shell-keepsake/ will put them to good use and will provide a lovely reminder of a holiday or particular time in your child’s life.

Let me know if you have any other go to summer crafts that you like to provide for little hands over the holidays.  If you are looking for further inspiration have a look at the collection of the best garden activities for children https://www.claireyatfairycrafters.com/garden-craft-activities-for-the-children/

The post Best 10 summer crafts for children to keep them busy first appeared on Clairey at Fairy Crafters.

One of the things that most crafters ask and are a little bit fearful of is Craft insurance.  Below I will try to simplify why you need insurance when it might be asked for and where to look for it.

What is Craft Insurance

There are a range of plans for craft insurance however the two main areas that most craft insurance plans cover is Liability Insurance and Product

If you make an item and sell it to another person you are responsible for harm that may come to a customer as a direct result of your product.  By having an insurance policy you are covering yourself in case any one looks to take legal action against you for the product that they purchased.  There are different levels of plan available that can cover customers in a range of countries.  So if you sell online to a customer overseas you may want to look into upgrading your insurance to cover more areas.

The other part of the plan that is available is to cover if someone were to trip or fall as a result of your stall or stand.  At an event you are responsible for the safety of customers in and around you pitch.  Therefore there is a part of the policy that covers you for customer injury at events.

When will it be needed

It is likely that you will hold an insurance policy and very rarely if ever have to show proof that you have the policy in place.  However if you are attending a show or event sometimes the organisers will ask to see a copy of your insurance policy so they know that all their vendors are correctly insured for attending the event.  This is more than likely the only time that you will be required to show your documents to anyone.

Where to look for it

As with all insurance there will be a whole range of providers available that will be able to provide a quote.  I would have a look at a few providers to make sure that you are getting the best value for money as many of the policies are completely different and have varying levels of cover for a range of prices.  By shopping around you will be able to choose the best policy for your budget and business.

A simple online search will return a number of insurance providers.  If you are looking for a more specific recommendation.  I personally use Ian Wallace (https://craftinsurance.co.uk/) for my own craft business insurance as they offer a range of levels that I could personalise to suit my business and sales.  However many well known insurance providers like Direct Line (https://www.directlineforbusiness.co.uk/small-business-insurance/craft-insurance) also provide a craft business insurance.

How to work out what cover you need

So the next obstacle for you to scale will be to work out the level of cover that you will need for your business.  There are a range of ways that different insurance providers will look to work this out.  Before you look into a policy there are a few questions that I would ask yourself to get an idea of what you need from your policy.

Where am I selling?  Are you selling online or in person at events?

Where are my customers based?  What countries are your customers based in?

What is my estimated income? This luckily is usually a drop down box with ranges in so if you are just starting out I would select the lowest bracket and adjust when you renew your policy.

Level of cover required?  If you are attending events they may stipulate the amount of cover that you require so maybe do a bit of research to see what the minimum level would be that is needed for your events.

As with all insurance we have policies in place in the hope that the situation will never arise where we actually have to make a claim against it.  However the saying Better safe than sorry stands in this instant a claim could prove very costly.  At the same time if you don’t have an insurance policy in place you may be limiting yourself.  Many events insist on an insurance document before you will be allowed to attend, particularly the larger events.  If you choose not to have insurance you will automatically make yourself unable to attend certain events.

Let me know who you use for your craft insurance and how you worked out what level of cover to take out.  If you are looking for advice on looking for craft fair events please have a look at my post https://www.claireyatfairycrafters.com/find-craft-fairs/

If you are attending your first fair and are looking for a checklist of everything you might need have a look at https://www.claireyatfairycrafters.com/craft-show-checklist-be-prepared/

The post An essential guide to craft insurance for your business first appeared on Clairey at Fairy Crafters.

We often struggle to keep on top of social media posts.  As a crafter it is also quite difficult to decide what to post to keep our followers updated.  I have created the Handmade May Challenge to help give you some inspiration and direction for your posts throughout May.  Follow this and May is sorted for you.

Many of us followed the March Meet the Maker Challenge that Joanne Hawker created, if you haven’t had a go at that challenge you can find details over at https://www.marchmeetthemaker.com/

Day 1 Rainbow makes

Makes inspired by the rainbow. Have you made any colourful or even rainbow striped items that you would like to share?

Day 2 Work in progress

Show us your work in progress. People love to see what you are working on, give them a behind the scenes look at what you are currently working on. This will also give your customers an idea of the work that goes into each of your handmade items.

Day 3 Work space

Where do you make your creations. As a general rule we are all a bit nosey, give your customers an insight into where you work. Either your desk or the room that you use to craft.

Day 4 Traditional makes

Traditional or vintage crafts or techniques. So much of craft has evolved over time, show how you incorporate traditional methods or designs into your creations.

Day 5 Nature inspired makes

Have you taken any inspiration from nature either weather, plants or creatures? Whether the items reflect the nature that you took inspiration from or whether there is a very tenuous link.

Day 6 Most recently finished

What have you most recently finished? We spend so much time working on items show something your have completed.

Day 7 Cool blue makes

Any blue makes or inspiration. Colours can instill certain emotions or connotations where does the colour blue take you with your crafts?

Day 8 Cosy makes

What cosy makes have your made? There is a whole other level to a cosy item when you know that it is cosy as well as handmade. Share the warmth!

Day 9 Sunshine makes

Any sunny makes in smiles or colours? Sunshine can be restorative and sunshine inspired or coloured makes can have a similar outcome.

Day 10 Miniature makes

Any mini makes or makes for little ones? Miniature also means cute so share your cutest makes.

Day 11 Raw materials

What do your creations start off as before you make them? Show your customers where their items originate from, nothing demonstrates the process more than showing the very beginning of the process.

Day 12 Handmade by

Who are you? Feeding the nosiness of us all again let everyone who you are and what you look like. Online it is difficult to get a sense of the person behind the craft so introduce yourself.

Day 13 Makes for me

What have you made for yourself? We always tend to make things for other people, but sometimes we treat ourselves. What have you made for yourself?

Day 14 Floral

Makes inspired by floral designs or flowers in nature. Nature can inspire us in a number of ways and everyone sees different things when they look so what from nature has inspired you?

Day 15 First make ever

What was the first thing you ever made? We all start somewhere and usually we look back thinking how awful it looks in hindsight. Share where you started from.

Day 16 Family

Any family inspired makes or how your family helps with your creations. Family is so important and can mean different things to different people your family can be biological, adopted, a circle of friends or even your cherished animals. We are now over half way through the Handmade May Challenge

Day 17 Organised

Any makes to help you get organised.  Or a snap of how you keep your supplies organised.

Day 18 Creative mess

Do you work in a creative mess?  Or the aftermath of a creative session. Perfection can cause quite a mess after all!

Day 19 Favourite tools

What tools do you use to help you with your creations? Is there one tool that you work with most that is your favourite?

Day 20 Inspirational

What inspires you? Inspiration can come from anywhere so where is the source of your creations

Day 21 Busy hands

Show us your hands at work! Customers are often fascinated to see how something is made so show your work method.

Day 22 Weather

Does the weather feature in your makes, inspire your makes or does certain weather cause you to undertake certain crafts?

Day 23 Pattern

Are you a lover of pattern?  How has pattern featured in your makes?

Day 24 Dots and spots

What dots and spots have featured in your handmade items?

Day 25 Happy Post

A picture of happy post either craft supplies being delivered to you or your makes packaged up ready to go.

Day 26 Animals

Any animal themed makes or animals that help you in your creative process?

Day 27 Hearts and love

What makes have you created that feature either hearts or love?

Day 28 Monochrome

What monochrome makes have you made? Some people can work in only black and white or shades of grey a limit of colour can actually be unrestricted

Day 29 Making aids

What do you use to help you with your creations? Some people are lucky enough to have a crafting buddy or hindrance in some cases

Day 30 Yum Yum

What do you make that is either edible or looks like food.  Or what do you like to have as snacks to keep you crafting!

Day 31 Crafting just for fun

Is there any crafts that you do purely for fun and the satisfaction of creating?

Well done you have made it to the end of the Handmade May Challenge, a whole month of craft related social media posts.

Let me know if you have found this challenge helpful or if there are any other social media challenges that have helped you with your social media post calendar.

If you are looking at other ways to promote your business have a look at https://www.claireyatfairycrafters.com/free-advertising/

The post 31 Day Handmade May Challenge – social media post ideas first appeared on Clairey at Fairy Crafters.

When it reaches the spring time we all look to have a clear out, tidy up and clean.  We take action in all areas of our lives.  So why should our craft room and supplies be any different?  Don’t worry though I am not going to tell you to just throw everything out, sometimes we can be more creative and productive if we have taken the time to sort through our endless supplies.

Scraps

Spring time is the perfect time to set yourself a challenge to try and use up all your scraps to try and create something out of nothing.  I call these items freebies.  You have already used the supplies for your intended project therefore anything additional that you make, in my opinion is considered a bonus.

Obviously your result will differ depending on your chosen craft, below are just a few ideas that sprang to mind:

Fabric scraps

There are numerous items that can be made with a patchwork theme.  Any left over scraps of fabric can be sewn together in a patchwork design which can then form the fabric for a new project.  Some of the favourites for patchwork are cushions, handbags or wall hangings.  Make your patchwork first and see where the inspiration takes you.

Wool Scraps

We are nearly always left with extra wool after we have finished a larger project.  Often the majority of our storage is used on partial balls of yarn.  There are many inventive ways that these could be used up. 

A simple and charitable way to use up your scraps is to make premature baby items and donate them to your local baby unit.  Small items including mittens, booties or hats could prove invaluable to prem infants.

If you are looking for a really simple but striking result with your scraps this honeycomb throw would make the perfect solution.  Small hexagons are knitted and then stuffed before being sewn together.  This created a padded honeycomb effect throw that can easily use up scraps of wool with a useful result. Check out tiny owl knits at https://tinyowlknits.wordpress.com/2011/07/29/the-beekeepers-quilt/

Jewellery spares

If you are a jewellery maker you are likely to have a large stash of beads, gems and charms that are currently unassigned.  Small bookmarks, keyrings or handbag charms offer a smaller solution to any odd pieces that you cannot envision in a piece of jewellery.

These bag charms over on my crafts would be great for using up spare beads and charms http://mycrafts.com/diy/how-to-make-chunky-bead-dangle-charms-from-a-single-chain/

Clear out

Now I did promise that my advice would not be to just chuck a huge amount out to do a craft room spring clean. However if you are anything like me you have tried a numerous number of new crafts.  Some of them you may have decided aren’t for you, or that you just can’t get your head around.  In a space critical craft room it may be time to look at these supplies or kits realistically. 

If you don’t enjoy the craft or can not get it to work in the way that you desire it may be time to clear these supplies out.  Some of these supplies could be donated to local schools or care homes to be used by their members.  This will hopefully clear out some room for you to fill with more craft supplies that are going to actually be used.

Organisation

There are a wealth of craft room storage ideas available online.  By sorting out and changing the storage in your craft room you will remind yourself of what supplies you have but also will be more productive as you will spend less time looking for things and more time actually creating.

Personally I use the Kallax cube units from IKEA to keep my supplies altogether in a neat and tidy manner.  There are a range of inserts that you can get to vary the storage available as well.

Good luck with your craft room spring clean, I know that this will be a huge undertaking.  It is likely to take you a considerable amount of time as you will become distracted by all the supplies that you will find.  We all forget what we have in our stash and a clear out and tidy up can resurface these items.  Hopefully once completed you will feel inspired and excited about the fresh ideas and supplies you have discovered.

You may also want to have a freshen up and spring clean of your online shops. Have a look at this post to get some guidance on tackling your online shops as well https://www.claireyatfairycrafters.com/freshen-up-your-online-shop/

Let me know how you get on and if there are any tips that you have for keeping your craft room sorted for the remainder of the year.

The post Do a craft room spring clean and become more productive first appeared on Clairey at Fairy Crafters.

Many many moons ago I was sat in a marketing lecture at university, being taught the life cycle of products.  Like with most things that we are taught at school or beyond it is hard to see how this information will be useful in later life.  Well it dawned on me the other day that I may actually put this knowledge into practice.

When you have been selling products for a long time you will come to realise that there are trends that mean that certain products sell.  Over time it may be worth reassessing these items for how likely they are to sell.  To give you an idea in the first year of me first selling my handmade products fairy jars were all the rage.  I made one as a prize for a raffle and soon was inundated with messages asking for some.  I sold a ridiculous number of these jars that were just a side product that was made as a special request for a customer.

Fast forward to last week and I was thinking about this product that I made a few years ago.  I have sold one in the last three years, therefore it got me thinking that maybe this item has reached the end of it’s selling life.  Therefore I can either remove this item from being listed on my online shops.  This would be an option as it is costing me to list this item despite not actually selling any. 

This would be the case on a selling platform like www.etsy.com or www.ebay.com The other option is that I give this product an upgrade.  Have a think about how you could update a product to meet with current trends or change the item into a new product that may be more sought after.

This may get you worried that in the end that every product will come to an end of being sellable.  However this may not be the case.  I think the technical term used is a cash cow, a product that continues to sell at a steady rate.  This is a popular item that will continue to sell at a steady rate despite trends and fashions.

New Products

Everyone’s favourite is a new product that is in height demand at the beginning part of the life cycle.  This product will be selling fast with more and more people wanting to have one.  This can result in an influx of income as you keep sending your products out.  However unfortunately this is more than likely not sustainable.  If you think about it if you continue to sell your item at that rate you will eventually everyone will own one and will not need to purchase another one.  Therefore customers will start to drop off and the income from this product will start to slow down before decreasing.

What is ideal?

The ideal situation to be in is to have a mixture of products that are at different stages in their life cycle.  That way you can keep up with new trends as well as knowing when it is time to stop a product.  You will ensure a regular income from your products if you have a mixture as otherwise you run the risk of all your product coming to the end of their life at the same time potentially causing your business to come to an end as well.

To ensure that you know where your products are in their life it is important to keep informed with what is popular and trending.  This can be as simple as having a browse of social media to see what things are popping up most frequently.

Have you ever thought about your products and  which ones are continual sellers or are maybe coming to the end of their life?  What helped you identify them?
If you have liked this post you may be interested in my post on my lessons learnt in craft business https://www.claireyatfairycrafters.com/craft-business-lessons-learnt/

The post The life cycle of products in handmade business first appeared on Clairey at Fairy Crafters.

The last year has been like no other with the never before experienced Covid pandemic.  We have all had to adapt and adjust how we live our lives.  At the moment it is hard to imagine returning to a normal life like we experienced before.  But I think a lot of us will approach life in a whole new way when things settle down.  From a business point of view it would be silly not to take some lessons from the Covid pandemic and put them into practice going forward.

Control

I think the thing that I learnt during the pandemic as a whole, is that sometimes things happen that are out with our control and we have to just roll with it and see what happens.  During the lockdowns we had no idea what would happen, or when things would return to some level of normality.  So we were forced to just take things as they came.

Planning

I have always struggled when things are outside my control.  During the pandemic with so much I couldn’t control I had to learn to just take things as they come.  I felt a lot more in control if I had a series of plans in place that would cover most eventualities.  With any luck a pandemic of this scale will not reoccur however we could definitely benefit from considering different scenarios occurring in the future.

Diversify

So many businesses suffered as a result of the lockdown restrictions and many were forced into approaching their business in a whole new way.  Many crafters specifically lost their main source of income, I wonder if this is due to relying too heavily on one income source.

To give you an idea of what I mean, there are some crafters who get the majority of their income from fairs and events.  Due to this income stream working so well for them they would often overlook other ways of appealing to customers.  To quote a few that I personally have talked to, “online shops require too much work, it is easier to sell face to face.”

I am not saying that they should not look at going back to events but I think they should look at diversifying where they gain their customers.  Therefore if they were, to move area for example, while they are trying to work out the best events are located they could continue to make an income from online sales.
The best businesses do not put all their eggs in one basket so to speak and I think the pandemic has forced many of us to change our businesses to cover more eventualities.

Shop Local

When some of the restrictions were lifted we were allowed some degree of freedom however we were encouraged to stay local.  Therefore many people started to look more to local businesses.  In addition when the Brexit agreement came into effect many people started to experience an increase in the cost of items from outside of Great Britain.  This got a lot of us thinking about how we could make more local customers aware of the products that we offered rather than them looking further afield.

Delivery

Many of us relied heavily on the postal and delivery services available from many companies.  Which got a lot of us thinking about how we can bring our products to people in their environment.  Many restaurants for example looked to offering their dishes in a takeaway capacity which would enable customers to still experience their food.  Many of us were forced into considering how we could package and post our products out to enable customers to shop from the comfort of their own home.

Although many of us were forced in to adapting to this approach I believe that it will be very beneficial to business to continue to offer this option.  If anything it would open up your customer base as you could appeal to new customers who maybe couldn’t access your products previously.

I believe it would be detrimental to us to try to return to operating our businesses as we did prior to Covid.  It has offered us a valuable situation where we were forced to adapt and approach our customers in a different way.  Although it would be nice to return to some normality I think we should also continue with the additional services and platforms that we have used during this time.

Time will lead many businesses to adapt as new scenarios are presented, I believe that the Covid pandemic just forced us to look at our businesses and how they could adapt.  If you are interested to see how a craft business can evolve when not faced with a pandemic please have a look at my post https://www.claireyatfairycrafters.com/growing-my-craft-business-how-i-did-it/

What changes did you have to make to your business during this time and which ones are you looking to continue into the future?  If you were adversely affected due to the lockdown please have a look at the support available to businesses on the UK government website https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus/business-support

The post Lessons learnt from Covid lockdown first appeared on Clairey at Fairy Crafters.

When you run a small business the reputation of your business can be your biggest advert, for many their reputation is based on their professionalism.  However many people who run a small business do not think about how their attitude or approach to customers can have a negative impact on their business. 

Although during peak times sometimes customers can come across as rude or demanding, from their point of view they are dealing with a business.  Therefore they expect their orders and requests to be dealt with.

Above everything else it is absolutely essential that you remain professional when dealing with customers.

Here are some areas that you can look into, to try and give a more professional appearance:

Message language

In general our tone of written language has changed.  Increasingly we use slang and emojis to communicate with each other.  However when you are dealing with customers is important to use proper language and grammar.  This will give a much better impression to the customer and give a much better opinion of your business.

Pre-emptive actions

In this day and age many of us are moving more towards selling our items in an online environment.  Online selling platforms like www.etsy.com or www.ebay.com are becoming increasingly popular amongst shoppers.  This means the customer will not have actually interacted with a product before purchase.  Therefore it is vital that you explain and show to the customer exactly what the item is that they are receiving.  This will hopefully head off any disappointment from the customer once the item is received.

Demonstrating in photos and explaining in the description is the easiest way to convey to the customer exactly what they will be receiving.  In addition by adding options that the customer can choose from on a listing will mean that the customer is offered a personalised service.  For example if they can choose the size or colour of a product they will feel they are getting a more specified item. 

Obviously despite all best intentions there is sometimes a misunderstanding where customers believe they were purchasing something different so complaints may still arise, but you have tried to minimise this by thinking ahead and including as much information as the customer would want in the product specifications.

Dealing with complaints

It is very difficult when a customer comes back with a complaint and it can be very difficult to not take this as a personal attack.  However there is a very old saying that states “The customer is always right”.  I know that this does not always apply however it is a thing to keep in the back of your mind when you are dealing with customers. 

When communicating with a customer about a complaint or issue with their order your should always remain polite.  You should also try to see the issue from their perspective.  If you had ordered something from a large company and were experiencing a problem you would expect a professional response and solution so approach it with this in mind.

At the end of the day customers are far more likely to share a bad experience with everyone they knew than an exceptionally good experience.  Therefore upsetting a customer has the potential to cause substantial damage to your reputation.

If you find it difficult to deal with complaints and take them  very personally you may want to have a read of this blog post: https://www.claireyatfairycrafters.com/sources-of-negativity-in-small-business/

Timing

Even though you are operating as a small business customers will still expect to be dealt with in a timely manner.  To ensure professionalism try to make sure that messages are responded to promptly.  In the same way orders should be processed and dispatched in a reasonable length of time.  Obviously if there are going to be delays you should try to make the customer aware of this so they are aware of the progress of their order.

Packaging

Although many customers are very supportive of recycling and the reduction of the use of plastics etc.  They do expect their items to arrive in suitable packaging.  I remember seeing a customer who had received an item wrapped in supermarket pizza box.  The customer was very disappointed that their item was packaged in that way.  Try to think about how the customer will feel when they receive their item.  

A customer can see professionalism in a range of interactions with your business you need to try and ensure that you are giving the best impression with these aspects combined.  What areas of your business have you concentrated on to try and give the best professional experience to your customers?

The post Professionalism in your small business first appeared on Clairey at Fairy Crafters.

Sometimes some of the best inspiration that you can get is from nature itself.  We as crafters are always looking for inspiration or trends that we can tap into.  Which is probably why we spend so long scrolling on www.pinterest.com. Sometimes you don’t need to be on trend, sometimes you can just tap into the seasons instead.  Therefore I thought I would inspire you by splitting ideas into the seasons.  

By tapping into the seasons you can really be in tune with nature and also what customers are looking for.  I don’t mean being festival specific as you can run into issues of customers not following certain religious holidays.  But I mean the natural colours or events that customers can experience regardless of beliefs or interests.

Spring

If we are to look at the year in a logical sense we can start at the beginning of the year when we would have the Spring.  Now obvious trends around this time of year are Easter but I am hoping to provide you a bit more of a range to tap into.

Easter

So although I said not to tap into religious festivals Easter is slightly different as a lot of customers regardless of beliefs have chocolate eggs for Easter.  So if you are going to look to Easter for inspiration some of the ideas are Chocolate, eggs, bunnys and chicks.  These themes are more likely to be sought after at this time of year.

Nature

Spring is such an inspirational time of year traditionally it is in nature all about new beginnings.  So at this time of year spring bulbs are emerging.  Customers are looking for fresh florals to brighten their homes after the winter months.  Therefore anything that features florals especially tulips or daffodils do well at this time of year.  Fresh colours including yellows and bright spring greens really reflect the seasonal colours.

Summer

Summer is probably my most favourite season and can be a really inspirational season to get some ideas from.  

Holidays

Many people use their summer holidays to take a break and have a holiday.  It is also reflective in what customers are purchasing at this time of year.  In my bricks and mortar shop I find that any beach, camping or sunshine items sell well at this time of year.

Weather

At this time of year everyone is hoping that the weather will be hot and sunny.  Therefore you need to have a think about what people are likely to be buying at this time of year.  For example on a burning hot day in the height of summer it is unlikely that customers will be purchasing leg warmers or woolly hats.  Have a think about the weather and what items are going to be more popular.

Outside

At this time of year a lot of us are spending a lot more time outside.  Customers are often spending a lot of time in their outside spaces either balconies or gardens.  Therefore as a result they are looking for more products that can be admired in these areas.  Therefore sale of items like plant pots, garden ornaments and bird feeders are more popular at this time of year.

Autumn

Autumn is the prettiest season in my opinion there are so many natural colours that happen at this time of year, it can be really inspirational.

Leaves

Having a look at the changing colours of the leaves can really give you a bit of guidance in regards to colour themes.  Any rusty colours or oranges, reds and yellows sell really well at this time of year.

Halloween

Again although many people do not celebrate Halloween there are a lot of autumnal themes connected around Halloween.  This last year I found that pumpkins sold really well.  People wanted to decorate their homes for the Autumn season and they really tapped into the seasonal produce at this time of year.

Winter

Not many people like winter due to the cold and wet change to the weather but a lot of inspiration can be taken from this frosty season.

Cosy

As you may be aware from a previous blog post I love to feel cosy and at this time of year customers are really looking for warming items to help them keep warm.  Clothing accessories like scarfs, hats and gloves see an increase in sales at this time of year. If you are looking for a cosy project for the winter you could have a look at https://www.claireyatfairycrafters.com/10-best-cosy-winter-patterns-to-keep-warm/ for some ideas.

Christmas

Another festival that is not perhaps followed by all customers however there are so many themes that work around the Christmas umbrella.  Anything red and glittery takes centre stage at this time of year.  In a similar way Christmas themed characters are also popular.  Any variation of Santa, elves and reindeer can sell really well in the run up to the festive season.

Nature

At this time of year the weather can be quite harsh however it can also be quite pretty.  Snow glistened tree branches are beautiful.  So inspiration can be taken from the weather like snow.  At the same time there are a lot of themes that centre around winter animals.  Robins for example become very popular over the winter season.

Where ever you get your inspiration from it is always a good idea to keep in tune with the seasons to keep your makes on trend.  I wouldn’t necessarily change all your stock over to suit the season but having a few key pieces that are season specific are a great way to tap in to new customers that don’t ordinarily look at your items.

Let me know what inspires you and what your favourite season.

The post Find inspiration from the seasons of nature first appeared on Clairey at Fairy Crafters.