With Burns night approaching on Jan 25th, our focus this week turns to the wild and beautiful landscapes of Scotland and the rich tradition of knitting held within. So much of the history and beauty of this amazing nation is encapsulated in its knitting, and it continues to boast a thriving knitting community, exporting both products and expertise internationally. We at Craft Insurers are proud of our Scottish knitting clients, selling crafts online in the UK.

Knitting first came to Scotland from Europe in the fifteenth century and was the means of earning a living for many, as well as of providing warm clothing for the family. Initially it was mainly carried out by men, skilled at their craft and belonging to guilds or incorporations. As time went by, it developed into a family affair and was a source of income for many. As ships arrived from the Netherlands, trade, including knitted woollen garments, evolved between these two nations.

Women living in fishing communities on the east coast of Scotland developed the “Gansey” jumper, a heavy, hard wearing dark blue garment created to keep their menfolk warm during the long and sometimes dangerous fishing trips out to sea. They often displayed distinct patterns, handed down through the generations. Folklore tells us that these unique patterns were the means of identifying men if an accident had occurred during a stormy voyage. Whether this is true or not, having jumpers with your own particular family “crest” sounds a great way to strengthen family bonds.

Another classic knitting technique, Fair Isle, originated from the remote island, in between Orkney and Shetland, which bears that name. These distinct patterns, alternating between dark and light colours have now been replicated worldwide, but are still made authentically on Fair Isle itself. They were originally created using yarn form local sheep and dyes from plants available on the island. Truly a reflection of the landscape and culture. As synthetic dyes became more available the palette developed and they have had worldwide surges in popularity during this last century.

A lesser know pattern, or group of patterns, Sanquhar, is also named after its town of origin, Sanquhar in Dumfries and Galloway. Having been granted its status as a Royal Burgh in 1598 by King James Vl, trading flourished and textile exports were a part of this. The two coloured geometric patterns may have been developed to stand out in a generally thriving knitting industry, and thus protect the livelihoods of these whose income depended on healthy sales. Gloves often had the owner’s initials knitted into the cuffs. Maybe a marketing idea which could be taken up today?

Frame knitting came to Scotland following the development of the first stocking frame in 1589 by William Lee, an English clergyman. Another legend tells us that Queen Elizabeth l refused to grant Rev Lee a patent as she foresaw the financial implications even such small scale industrialisation would have on cottage industries who needed the income to sustain their families. However, by the end of the eighteenth century the Borders’ town of Hawick had several frames within a small factory, employing a workforce of both men and women. As time went by, the factory diversified from stockings only to producing other woollen garments. Then, in the late nineteenth century finer raw materials such as cashmere began to be imported and, to this day, Hawick is known throughout the world as a producer of luxurious merino and cashmere knitwear.

From this potted history of knitting in Scotland we can see what a rich heritage today’s knitters stand upon. Knitting truly is part of the culture. Right up until 2010 when financial cutbacks sadly put a stop to it, knitting was taught as a timetabled subject in Shetland schools. However, the resurgence of knitting circles, knitting classes, support groups, group knitting for charity and knitting clubs in schools is exciting to see. This interest in knitting has emerged right across the UK, and is very much seen in young people as well as those who have faithfully knitted for years.

Knitted products are ideally suited both for selling locally and, due to their relatively light weight, for selling crafts online UK. In an age where so many clothes are mass produced and made within ethically questionable working conditions, hand made garments created often from locally  sourced wool are very appealing to customers. Knitted garments speak of constancy, of a steadfastness which is often lacking in our modern world. The population of the British Isles has  been clad in wool for centuries, keeping out the bitter cold winter winds, offering protection from our grey drizzle and even, by conducting heat and moisture away from the skin, keeping us cool in the summer. It is good to know that we are continuing a practice which has been threaded through our nation for years.

Hand made woollen garments are appealing too in that they are both versatile and classic. A Fair Isle jumper will not go out of date, and has a certain “je ne sais quois” about it.  Similarly, knitted  clothing today is designed to last, both in terms of wear and tear and longevity of style. And it’s not just adults who can sport these beautiful jumpers, socks, hats and mittens. They are a great investment for children too. What child would not take on a slightly angelic look snuggly wrapped in a colourful, knitted jumper? Although the price may well be higher than of a synthetic garment it will continue to look good when synthetic counterparts have dulled. It can also be handed down for others to enjoy, thus ensuring the continuation of a family tradition.

So, for all of those selling crafts online UK, and in particular to our dynamic and creative Scottish knitters, we wish you a joy and fun filled Burns Night, red rose, haggis and all!

Happy New Year! All of us here at Craft insurance trust you celebrated well over the Christmas season and enjoyed many of the fun events, good food and friendship our local communities have to offer. Most of us will have indulged in some extra culinary delights, maybe some hand made chocolates or locally produced speciality gin along with the traditional seasonal fare. It is good to celebrate, to enjoy being with family and friends and to make the most of the holidays. 

However, an overload of sugar and maybe more alcohol than our bodies are used to, could also be leaving us feeling more sluggish, with less energy and a lower mood as we step into the New Year.

Do not be disheartened! Here at Craft Insurance we want not only to provide great value insurance for selling crafts in the UK, but also to offer tips and encouragement so that you truly can be your best self for your business, family and community. This week we offer some thoughts about keeping yourself fit and active over this coming year.

If keeping fit is not a part of your daily or weekly rhythm and you would like it to be, January is a good time to introduce some new habits. However, it is not easy to change the way we live, especially when most of us are stretched for time. So maybe a good place to start is to look at the benefits of keeping fit, because if we can be convinced of this, then we are part way to introducing more exercise into our days. The benefits of regular exercise are numerous and varied. Exercise enables our whole system to work better physiologically, including our cardiovascular and digestive systems, our respiratory and musculoskeletal systems. This leads to an increase in strength, stamina and flexibility. Psychologically, regular exercise lifts our mood, aids in concentration and in alertness. Alongside a healthy diet with limited carbohydrate intake, it helps us to gain control over our weight. Pulling all these benefits together, it is fair to say that introducing regular exercise into our lives alongside a nutritious diet will help us to feel better in ourselves, increase our self esteem and energy levels and thus impact many areas of our lives for the better. Why then, is it so hard to implement into our lives?

As we mentioned earlier, time is a big factor when it comes to incorporating exercise into our lives. Another is motivation. To help surmount both of these, an understanding of ourselves may help. Firstly, let’s consider what type of exercise we are most likely to succeed in sustaining. Questions to ask could be; do you like being inside or out of doors, do you prefer peace or loud music, do you crave solitude or do you thrive off being with others? If you are someone who enjoys being outside and need headspace to think, running or walking might fit the bill. However, if upbeat music, lights and the buzz of being around people lift your spirits, then attending an exercise class with a friend might work better. If you like being outdoors but would value some company on your keep fit quest, then maybe you could take up an outdoor sport, or join a running club. Try to find something which suits your personality and sporting inclinations. It’s not easy to keep to an exercise schedule, so it is well worth putting as many factors in place which entice you to get active and produce some easy wins.  

Another key to success is to try to incorporate your keep fit into your weekly routines. If you have a short travel to a workshop or business area, could you walk or cycle rather than drive? If you work alone from home, could you fit in a run or an online keep fit video during a lunch break? Or at the beginning of the day? Moving and stretching our bodies early on in the day helps with our blood flow, increases our concentration and alertness and thus will enable us to be more productive and creative. However, if you have children to get to school, and a work day to start, this simply might not be practical, and exercise towards the end of the day can help you to relax and sleep better. As your timetable will already be full selling crafts, any keep fit needs to be achievable within your daily rhythms.

Another consideration is finance, especially pertinent within the current economic climate. Walking and running are free, swimming and exercise classes cost money. Joining a club for a team sport will also cost, but possibly less than individual classes. 

A final consideration in choosing exercise which will suit you is to think about how you are motivated, Some of us are internally motivated and once we are convinced of the right thing to do, we will have enough drive to do it. Solo keep fit endeavours will be a good fit. Others are externally motivated and want to please others; team sports might work well for this group as they will be keen not to let others down so will show up even on a rainy, dark night! For others, motivation stems more from how they perceive the benefits for themselves. So, a clear conviction that keeping fit will increase self esteem, regulate weight and make them happier will nail it!

We hope you have been inspired to add, or increase, keeping fit into your lives this year, and that you have a clearer understanding of how you might best achieve this.

So, to all our valued clients, selling crafts in the UK, we wish you a very happy New Year. In the midst of global uncertainty, may your small craft businesses prosper as you produce beautiful and unique products, provide work for local people, join with others to form community and put a smile in the hearts of those who come your way. Go into this year with confidence in your creativity and your business aspirations. 

2023 will soon be here and with it, some new opportunities for promoting and selling your handcrafted goods. The New Year is often characterised by people looking for ways to keep themselves healthy from both a physical and mental perspective, and hand-crafted items can help give people a New Year pick me up.

New Year is a good time to look at how your business has performed over the last year and to ensure that you have all the policies in place that you need for the forthcoming year. Taking a look at ‘craft insurance near me’ will ensure that you have the right policy in place to cover you and your products and also help ensure that your stock is covered in transit and  to attend fetes and fayres. In order to get the year off to a swinging start there are a number of ways that you can prepare for what could be your most successful year yet.

Analysing

Take some time over the Christmas break to look at what items have been your most successful over the last year and to look at those ones that perhaps have not sold as well. This will allow you to see which handcrafted items you might want to focus on in 2023.

As a part of your analysis, you should also look at what items help make you the most money. These could be the items that give you the best profit margin. Your analysis will give you an insight into the types of products that could sell well for you again. It will enable you to start the year off on an exciting path.

Another form of analysis is to look at how well your craft items sell each month. This will give you an indication of any periods of the year where you might have a rush in sales or those periods of time where your sales may dip.

Planning

Once you know which products sell well for you and you have had a chance to look at those that might not be as profitable, you can set about planning your creations for the year. If you have in person events that you attend, you should plan this into your diary so that you can ensure that you have enough stock created for you to sell. You should also search for ‘craft insurance near me’ to ensure that you have the right cover in place to attend these craft fayres and fetes.

Your planning should also include looking at the best places to purchase your materials from. If you have a dedicated supplier, you may want to check whether there are going to be any price increases so that you can factor these into your budgeting and your sales forecasting.

After finding out whether you have any periods throughout the year where your sales increase or decrease, you can plan to ensure that you have enough stock in place or work on ways in which you can try to increase your sales.

If your products have a seasonal feel to them it is important that you plan to create and market these in time for the season to begin, This can mean creating Easter items at the start of the year and Christmas gifts around September time.

Marketing

The Christmas break is a good time to look at new ways in which you can market your business or to take a look at the effectiveness of the current methods that you are using. Once you have an in-person event planned and your product range designed, you will be able to look at some of the various marketing methods that could help you.

Social media has become incredibly popular with the handcrafting community and there is lots of content that you can create very quickly and easily. People like to see how items are made and you can produce some short snippet videos that can entice people to buy your products.

Other marketing methods that you might want to consider include printed items such as flyers and leaflets and also adverts in local newspapers and magazines.

Expenses

It is always a good idea to take a look at what your regular expenses are and to spend some time forecasting what these might be for the forthcoming year. This will help you with deciding whether you need to increase your prices or whether you need to look for new suppliers. Make sure to search ‘craft insurance near me’ to check out what your premiums might be and to ensure that you have your insurance in place for the year.

Have fun and be creative One of the many reasons that people set up handcrafting businesses is the joy and creativity that it brings. It is important that whilst you may set yourself some

Christmas is nearly upon us and people across the country will be looking out for those last-minute gifts for their loved ones. This can be a great time for craft makers of all kinds to bring in some final Christmas sales.

Over the years people have become more and more interested in finding gifts that are unique and that carry with them an air of design and style. Handcrafted items can be just the gift that people are looking for and there are some wonderful options that crafters can utilise to make the most of last-minute gift buying.

Stocking fillers

Christmas stockings were once filled with oranges and chocolate coins, but nowadays these are filled with small gifts that can include everything from jewellery through to small toys for children. When it comes to looking for last minute Christmas items that you can make to sell, stocking fillers are a great place to start. Take a look at some of your best sellers and see whether there are ways that you can make smaller versions of these products that can be sold at a cheaper price. You can then sell these via your website or shopping platform as well as taking some to local Christmas fayres. Make sure that you have the appropriate craft insurance UK policy in place to ensure that you are covered for any incidents that might occur.

Sales

Another great way to make the most of the last-minute Christmas rush is to hold a short sale. It is important to ensure that you have the stock available to be able to do this. If you have some stock left over, you could batch these together and sell them in hampers and gift boxes. These kinds of pre-packaged gifts are incredibly popular, especially with those people looking to gift something unique and truly special to their friends and family. Make sure that you factor in any postage costs and delivery times into your sales planning to ensure that your customers receive their deliveries in time for the festive period.

Materials

Christmas can be a good time to look at all the materials and stock that you have left over from the year, and to see whether you can use them in your Christmas items. In some cases, you may be able to repurpose some of your stock by adding in Christmas elements or simply packaging them together in a different way. For example, if you normally sell handmade blankets, you could package these together with a nice cosy hat and some gloves and sell them as a winter warmer gift pack.

Personalisation

Christmas is one of the most popular times of year for products to be personalised and this is particularly true when it comes to handmade items. If this is not a service that you normally offer you might want to look to see whether there is a way that you can add this into your offering. Personalisation does not have to be a difficult task. It could be simply adding a card to your products that contains a message from the person buying the item, written to their recipient. This can help those people who are looking for last minute gifts to be delivered directly to their friend or loved. It is important to ensure that you have the right craft insurance UK policy in place to cover any eventualities when it comes to your products being delivered.

Gift vouchers

If time is starting to run out for you to be able to craft some of your beautiful items for sale before Christmas, you could look at producing some gift vouchers that your customers and can purchase for their loved ones instead. In some cases, these could be generic vouchers that allow the recipient to purchase an item of their choosing or you could make up some gift packs that can be redeemed with the gift voucher. For example, if you have some best sellers, you can package these together in a gift box and allow your customers to purchase gift vouchers relating to the chosen gift box. Their loved one can then go on to redeem the voucher at a time that they wish to receive your item.

Christmas fayres

Over the last few weeks in the run up to Christmas there will be numerous fayres that will take place in local community centres and schools. Keep an eye out for these and if you have some stock that you would like to clear before the New Year, take the opportunity to have yourself a little Christmas sale. Be sure to clearly mark your Christmas best sellers and have some festive decorations to add to your table. Also make sure that your craft insurance UK policy covers you in case there are any incidents that occur as a result of your attendance at any of the fayres, or any accidents that occur when transporting your goods to the fayre location. Christmas can be a stressful time for handmade crafters, but there are opportunities that you can take to allow more people to see your items and to give yourself the opportunity to make a few more sales before the festive period ends. Plan for the possibility of some last-minute gift buyers and, where possible, try to have some stock in reserve for such eventualities. Any stock that you don’t sell in December, you can put towards a New Year sale. These work incredibly well for craft items, particularly those items that help to lift people’s mood and to allow people to feel pampered and rejuvenated after the Christmas break.

Before long the sights, sounds and smells of Christmas will be upon us and many of us will be gathering together with friends and family to share good food and nice presents. The crafting industry is coming alive with crafters creating items to sell to their customers ready for gift giving.

In order to be successful in your handmade goods this Christmas there is a recipe for success that you can follow. The recipe consists of a number of ingredients that you can take one by one and mix together and along with small craft business insurance this can lead to the best outcome for your business this Christmas.

Ingredient 1 – Products

Carefully select products that you know your customers will love. This might be a best seller that you already have, or it might be bringing out a new product specifically for the season. It is important that you think about the range of items that you have available and how easily you can make these. This may involve ensuring that you have all the elements of the product ready to create your Christmas products.

In order to pick the best products to create and sell for Christmas, it is important to understand your customers and potential customers so you can find their favourite products. You also need to understand what their buying habits are and whether they like to purchase small items or larger lavish gifts. This will help you to pitch your products perfectly, ready for the Christmas season.

Try to have products for all budgets so that you can appeal to both the customers who are looking for a larger present as well as those who may be looking for some cheaper stocking filler type gifts. If your products have a use by date on them make sure that this will last until after the festive season has finished and mark it clearly on your packaging.

Ingredient 2 – Pricing

This can be a difficult one to get right and there are a number of ways that you can price your products. The pricing method that you choose will be determined by the size of your business, the number of items that you have for sale and the time that you have available to work on your pricing. When it comes to Christmas sales it is always worth looking at ways you can packaging some of your products together into hampers or special gift packages. It is also worth looking at offering discounts ready to boost your Christmas product sales.

One of the simplest ways to price your items is to look at the cost of the elements of your products, the time it takes to create them and any other costs that you have (such as small craft business insurance) or equipment and spread these out across your products.

Ingredient 3 – Packaging

More and more consumers are looking for businesses that not only create beautiful products but those that also think about their impact on the environment and the world around them. Packaging is a great way to show off your products as well as demonstrating that you think about the impact that this can have in the environment. There are lots of options available that can be recycled and that can still be branded to your own business colours and themes.

Christmas is also a great time to add some sparkle and shine to your packaging. Why not add some festive paper to your boxes or add some Christmas themed wrapping? If you are attending some Christmas fayres, you may want to think about coordinating your packaging with your table display. You should also ensure you have the right small craft business insurance in place to cover any eventualities whilst you are at the fayre. This could include any accidents or injuries that may occur as a result of your table and display as well as any problems that may occur as you move your products into and out of the fayre.

Ingredient 4 – Marketing

This last ingredient for the perfect Christmas sale is essential to getting people to see your products. There are a number of aspects to marketing and each of these can be undertaken in isolation or as a part of a larger marketing package. Social media is a great way to show off your products and you can use the platforms to sell directly to your customers. Each social media platform operates in a slightly different way and will have slightly different users. Whilst it can be tempting to jump onto all of the platforms, you should pick a platform that you are comfortable with and build up your confidence on this platform before moving onto others.

Good quality photographs of your products are key to a successful social media campaign, and these can be used across all of your marketing strands. You can buy small light boxes that you can use to place your products inside to get some wonderful pictures. They are relatively inexpensive and give you the option of creating a number of different festive seasons from within the box.

Other areas of marketing that you might want to look at include using online platforms such as Etsy and Shopify, your own website and of course traditional marketing methods such as flyers and posters to let people know about your products and your business as a whole. Now you have the perfect recipe for success for your handmade goods this Christmas. So, sit back, relax, and start planning where you are going to promote your products and which items you are going to have on the ‘nice’ list for your Christmas sales.

From the earliest of times, and across all cultures, jewellery has been an integral part of our lives. Even in Genesis, the first book of the Bible, a man called Tubal Cain is mentioned who created beautiful items from bronze and iron.

In ancient times, jewellery was used not only to adorn men, women and children, but for trading and payment. In many cultures around the world, the jewellery a person wears tells their story; their position in society, how many children they have, their job and accomplishments. Just think about the fabulously colourful beaded jewellery of the Masai and the intricately carved bone jewellery of the Inuits.

Hand made jewellery regularly comes up as one of the top trending crafting items. A closer look at why this is can help you individualise and streamline your business, in what could otherwise be a fairly saturated market.

From the viewpoint of crafters, jewellery making is a promising business proposition as start up costs are low and the profit margin is good. Your products can be sold both online and through markets and fairs, with plenty of marketing opportunities. What is it then, which makes handmade jewellery so popular with customers, and how can you capitalise on this?

As we have mentioned previously, jewellery often tells a story with items being given as gifts to mark special occasions, anniversaries or birthdays. They may be picked up at a sunny open air fair on holiday, or on a girls’ meander through a festive Christmas market.  As they accumulate, each item will bring to mind a memory, a person, a place or an event. The gift is more than the piece of jewellery itself, however stunning: it’s the significant person or moment that it recalls.

One of the joys of handmade jewellery is it’s complete uniqueness. Not only will no two items be exactly the same, but it can also be designed for a particular customer. In an age when so much of retail is very impersonal, the ability to work with a client on a specific piece of bespoke jewellery can be very rewarding, for both crafter and customer. In this case, the item will also reflect the creative journey.

The jewellery market covers a wide spectrum when it comes to pricing, ranging from pocket money treasures right through to bespoke jewellery fashioned out of precious metals and stones. This offers huge scope for those starting up in business. Deciding upon your target audience will obviously direct the type of jewellery you will be making. Whatever price range you decide upon, you will need insurance, and as specialists in insurance for craft vendors, we can help you find the package which will best fit your individual products and business.

Another reason that handmade jewellery is in demand, is that customers can be assured of a certain ethical standard when they buy and wear it. It is obviously locally made, by both yourself and any staff you employ. Because you make the decisions over the raw materials which are used you can source UK manufactured components and packaging materials too. If you are working in the upper end of the market, you can ensure recycled gold is used and conflict free precious stones. You may also decide to give a certain amount of each purchase to a charity. If any or all of these are foundational aspects of your business, make sure they are reflected on your website, business cards and any other marketing tools you use. In an often seemingly cut throat retail world where profit margins are squeezed at the expense of staff and ethical working decisions, all of these will draw customers to your business.

Let’s now delve a little more into the world of craft fairs. Jewellery is ideally suited to these, as it is easy to transport, looks amazing and you can adapt your unique style to the customer base you will be serving. However, as we touched on previously, you may not be the only jewellery vendor at a craft market, so how can you ensure that your unique brand stands out? Display is all important. Using different levels on which to showcase your products, or choosing a colour theme for display items are great ways to catch the eye. Why not do a practice set up at home first, walk around the venue once set you’ve up and view your stall from different angles. And, don’t forget to have your insurance for craft vendors in place! Pick up the phone today and save any last minute stresses.

In a world which is arguably becoming increasingly impersonal, we still long for human connection. As a seller of hand made jewellery you can offer this. You are able to chat with customers you meet in person, be at the end of the phone for others, and even on a website, photos and videos of yourself and the story of your business will attract customers.

Finally, a few of you might consider taking your craft to a festival and offering customers the opportunity to buy individual components to make their own unique jewellery, alongside selling your own. These stalls are often very popular, particularly with young girls. It is especially important you have the correct insurance for craft vendors in place if you are branching out into this exciting world.

Whatever direction you choose to go in with your hand made jewellery, you will be offering something completely unique, and each item will be more than the sum of its components as it will tell a story and bring back memories. What a wonderful gift to offer!

The mainstream market for candles is very competitive but to my mind nothing beats a handmade offering. But why are they such fantastic products? Of course, the best thing about them, the most brilliant in fact, is that they are handmade. The love, skill and craft that has gone into the creation of these candles, as very candle maker knows, is incredible. However, there are lots of other factors that make a handmade candle brilliant.

Design

The “cookie cutter” approach to candle making is all to obvious in mainstream products. It seems that little thought has gone into the making of them. This is the complete opposite to that of the handmade creators. They will take the time to sit and plan out a candle form the top to the bottom. The colour will be decided on. The shape on length of the candle will also be planned out meticulously. If there is a theme, such as Christmas or Halloween for example, this can also be factored in. The fact is that with a handmade candle, the creativity involved is not limited to set designs. There is the capacity to come up with something for any celebration or occasion. This bespoke, tailor-made approach is what helps to make handmade candles brilliant, no two are ever the same. If you purchase one you can be sure that it is unique!

Scent

One of the ways in which the handmade candle can be made more unique is by its scent. The idea of scented candles is not new. However, the range of candles that are scented in the mainstream can be described as very “vanilla”, which is also one of the most common scents. A handmade candle presents an opportunity to make a singular product for yourself or someone else. Perhaps it is a scent that reminds you of a loved one or of a time long passed? Maybe you just have a favourite kind of scent that you really enjoy and want to fill the room with it. Either way, with a handmade candle you can achieve this rather than having to compromise with a synthetic second choice. The application of scents can be difficult, and care must be taken. You will need to have some protection in place which is why craft cover insurance reviews maybe required to find the best cover for your candle making needs.

Sustainable

The environment is something that is on all of our minds at present. With the increasingly grim warnings coming from scientists and climate change experts, it seems that we must all find ways to help to conserve the earth’s resources and give it time to recover. One of those ways is for us all to start looking to purchase nearer to home. Local buying is on the increase with more and more of us turning back to the local shop rather than the supermarket. The same can also be said of choosing to shop in large, out of town, retail outlet centres and the like. It’s usually a greener option to buy from a handcrafted local to you. As we’ve seen above, this means a bespoke product that is special to you and hasn’t cost the earth. Modern production of candles on a large scale can be a drain on resources, but a small-time artisan, usually working from home, will use nowhere near the amount of energy and materials.

Furthermore, the wicks used by hand crafters can also be of a sustainable material, like bamboo for example. Which brings us onto the next point…

Clean burning

When you have extinguished a candle do you find there is a lot of strong black smoke afterwards? And a malodorous smell? Sometimes it can even counteract the nice scent the candle originally had. The smell comes as a result of most mainstream candle wicks being soaked in paraffin or a similar oil so that they burn brighter and catch light quicker. This might seem like a good idea, but it means when you extinguish the flame a black smoke comes out of the candle and lingers in the room. Handmade candles often come with smokeless candle wicks that do not produce this when put out. It means that the candles warmth and scent doesn’t come at a cost to rooms’ ambience afterwards.

As a side note, on the subject of putting out flames, the last thing you want as a crafter of handmade candles is an accident. So, to protect yourself and your business look at some craft cover insurance reviews, we hope you’ll agree that Craft Insurance offers the kind of insurance that covers you for most eventualities.

Waste

This is something that all companies need to be aware of. The amount of waste produced by companies when producing products and services can be truly shocking. This is not the case with the smaller operator. With an eye on costs, which can make or break a business, the handmade candle artist is very aware that waste product will dig into the profits.

In conclusion, its simple to see why handmade candles are brilliant. They can be made to measure, just for you, using whatever colour scheme, design or shape you care to wish for. Not only that, but they can also have different scent(s) placed in them that can reflect your own sense of taste and choice. This is something that no mainstream supplier can do. Also, they are a great choice for saving the environment as a crafter will use a lot less materials than a larger company. The transport costs will be greatly reduced as most creators will look to use the postal service, or courier, rather than shipping huge volumes to supermarkets and retail outlets.  When using a postal or courier service you should consider protection of your products in transit, and her at Craft Insurance we offer suitable cover to protect your products in transit. Producers of handmade candles will also look to use recyclables and try and reduce waste as much as they possibly can, they need to reduce the amount of waste so that they can keep their profit margins as high as possible.

Finally handmade candles are brilliant as the don’t have to have the kind of wicks that create smoke after they have been put out. This means the candle just burns brightly bringing a nice warm light to the room, with no concern that there will be an unpleasant lingering after smell from the burning wick when it’s finished with. Craft insurance offer the very best kind of cover for hand crafters. But don’t just take our word for it, why not check out some craft cover insurance reviews to see what others say about us?

In generations past, autumn was a season when everyone, from farmers and housewives to business and land owners would be preparing for winter. Depending on the geographical location and time period, this would have involved gathering in the harvest, storing, bottling, and preserving it, salting meat and smoking fish, making candles and foraging.  Wood had to be collected and stacked, not only to keep homes warm, but to fuel the ovens and fires of businesses. Grain would have been bought and stored for bakers’ use throughout the winter, dried goods bought in and enough fleeces stacked up to supply spinning wheels and looms over the long cold months.

This has been a way of life for centuries, it’s even reflected in the animal kingdom where we watch squirrels forage and store nuts, water mammals fortify their river homes and birds fluff up their extra feathers. And although there are communities who still live off the land and prepare for harsh winters using the skills passed down from previous generations, industrialisation has meant that we have largely lost not only the need for this preparation but the skills to go with it.

It’s funny how these past two years have revealed many things to us, not least how vulnerable our supply chains are and how unpredictable life can be. So, as we look towards this coming winter, why not return to this mindset of preparation and plan for our businesses over the next few months?

So, what are some common sense preparations we can make to avoid mishaps which might lead to expensive insurance claims this winter?

1. First and foremost, ensure you have the correct insurance for creative businesses in place. Pick up the phone and we will help you work out the best deal for your business. This will give you the safety net you need, and peace of mind that if the unexpected does happen, you will be covered.

2. If you employ staff, it might be worth running thorough your workplace risk assessments again, updating anything which has changed and looking at it with an eye to colder, wetter weather. You will also need to have employer’s liability in place, whether you employ paid staff, self employed contractors or even have volunteers on your premises. As specialists in insurance for creative businesses, we can ensure you have the correct and most cost effective package in place so that you are not spending money unnecessarily.

3. This coming winter especially could bring financial squeezes for most people, small businesses included. Take a look at your overheads; is there anything you could cut down on, or any ways you could work differently to keep overheads down?

4. Do a thorough stock take of your raw materials, the packaging you will require for both craft fair and online sales and any other supplies you will need. With prices on the rise, and the possibility of supply chain disruption, it’s a good idea to ensure you have all you need to enable your own product flow to continue smoothly.

5. If you’ve not done so already, book yourself into some craft fairs. There are a plethora of markets to choose from leading up to Christmas, from school bazaars to Christmas Markets in your city centre. To avoid an expensive fee and takings which don’t match this, do some research beforehand as to previous footfall and wet weather contingencies.

6. To make the most of your stall, and maximise on sales, check out reviews of the market, either online or by local word of mouth. If you can find out what other crafters will be there, then you can adapt your own products to complement theirs and thus increase customer choice and your takings. Although not a legal requirement, most craft fair organisers will require you have the correct insurance for creative businesses in place; in this instance, public and products liability.

7. Take a look at your display boards, storage boxes and any other equipment you need for a craft fair. Repair any damage, and think through your risk assessment. Are you or an employee hefting heavy boxes from your vehicle to the building? If so, could you invest in a pair of wheels to protect your backs? If you cover the table you’re given with a table cloth, check the length and ensure it is secured well to prevent a trip or slip hazard. Do you display craft around the stall? Is this done safely or could it be a trip of fall hazard? If you use drawing pins for a display board, make sure you’re meticulous about storing them in a pot so as to avoid anyone treading on one of them.

8. Assess your target customers for each market and ensure you have products to suit them; an abundant array of lower cost products for a local or a school stall, and some show stopping higher end products for the big regional or vintage fairs.

9. Plan ahead for online Christmas sales. We have already had postal strikes and there could be more. To ensure your customers receive their orders on time, are there other postal services you could use? If not, try to ensure as quick a turnaround as possible between orders being placed and sent out. It is especially important you have the correct insurance for creative businesses in place this year, given the unpredictability of factors beyond your control.

10. Finally, remember to take care of yourself. We all know that we’re more likely to make mistakes or have an accident if we are stressed or in a hurry. The lead up to Christmas is a particularly busy time, and it’s virtually impossible not to succumb to the strain of it all. So, in the midst of the whirl, make sure you carve out moments to self regulate, whether that be a rhythm of breathing slowly and deeply throughout the day, regular exercise, taking a relaxing bath in the evening or even carving out a quieter day once a week when you can restore and replenish your body, mind and spirit.

With preparations made, correct insurance for your creative business in place and a winter plan in mind, you can go forward into this season with a sense of purpose, not completely vulnerable to the fireworks which might come our way and able to celebrate all the good things the season brings.

Lately, there seems to be a lot of negativity around as winter approaches,  and uncertainty about the future. We can help artists and crafters to prepare for many eventualities with craft business insurance but unfortunately it won’t stop winter in its tracks.

So what can be done…?

Perhaps rising prices will force everyone to return to a simpler life and there will be a higher demand for quality, hand made items which last longer, mean more to us and keep us really warm… Living a simpler life doesn’t have to mean living a dreary, joyless existence. Having one beautiful, quality, handmade jumper that lasts us for ages can be a lot more meaningful and special than buying new clothes every week that won’t.

Some ideas for winter wellness

On the subject of facing the winter, the other day I found an independent document called the ‘World Happiness Report’ which has been published annually for the past ten years. It ranks the inhabitants of the world’s countries based on well-being indicators. As I read it I was struck by the very high levels of well-being of one country in particular. This country has ranked in the top three in the world for happy inhabitants every year since the report was first published, ten years ago.  

Can you guess which one…?

Denmark. According to this report, the Danes are a very happy bunch. Strange, as the Danish winters are known to be long and dark, you’d think that there would be a high incidence of SAD in the population. Not so. The Danes fight the darkness with their best weapon: hygge (pronounced ‘hoo-gah’). There’s no direct translation for the word hygge in English, in fact it takes several English words to capture everything that hygge brings.

‘Hygge’ comprises a mood of coziness and “comfortable conviviality” with feelings of wellness and contentment. In essence, it describes a warm atmosphere: enjoying the good things in life with good people. The warm glow of candlelight is hygge, for example, and there’s nothing more hygge than sitting around with friends and family by the fire, drinking mulled wine, wrapped in knitted blankets, discussing life.

You don’t even need an open fire, as a hygge approach to life can be applied anywhere, and to simple, everyday things. It cannot be experienced alone though because one of its necessary components is a feeling or atmosphere of warmth and friendliness.

This ‘hygge’ aspect of Danish culture means that daily activities are considered to be meaningful and special, for example, enjoying a relaxing dinner together after a stressful day at work. Furthermore, taking a step back from technology and choosing to value the little things in life by making efforts to create a cozy, welcoming atmosphere.

It seems to me that the Danish have cracked their approach to winter and made it something to be enjoyed together rather than something to be endured. Taking out craft business insurance will take a lot of uncertainty out off the approaching winter, and in fact, handicrafts are a great way to bring the best out of the season.

Handicrafts such as quilting, knitting, crochet and candle-making offer a perfect way to face the darker winter months, making something really special out of the season and promoting family and social bonding. Having a box of home made throws and blankets by your sofa to put around your loved ones’ shoulders while you snuggle up together on a winter evening is downright hygge! 

Knitters in Scotland know all about this. Since the 15th Century they have been spending long dark winters making cosy woollen wear. Nowadays, the beautiful array of patterns and styles of hand knitted products originating from Scotland brings us timeless, warm, durable, comfortable items that are really special. There is such a variety of Scottish wool on offer that knitters have a huge variety of textures and possibilities and the resulting hand knitted items make really desirable gifts out of everyday items. Who wouldn’t want a thick, cable knitted Arran scarf or a genuine Fair Isle sweater for Christmas?

Although buying a special sweater might be a one time purchase, crafting together doesn’t have to cost much. Quilts can be made of material from old clothes that are no longer needed and wool can be purchased cheaply from many charity shops. Children too can get involved and learn a new skill that they can take into adulthood and in this way, skills are passed down from one generation to the next. For the older generation, time goes faster when you are enjoying yourself and children will sit still for long periods doing handicrafts.

Starting a community knitting or quilt making group is a great way to get people involved together, doing something worthwhile. And, apart from giving people the feeling of satisfaction that comes from finishing a piece, doing crafts together helps isolated people find the warmth of friendship and a sense of family and community. Doing a community craft activity is also a great way to have an excuse to check in an elderly neighbour without making it too obvious that you are doing so.

More good news is that the very act of knitting, quilting or crocheting chases away the winter blues, as it’s calming and therapeutic and a great accompaniment to a good chat. Anyone can get involved and you’re never too old to learn either. Older people actually benefit physically from knitting and crochet as it helps with digital mobility for arthritis. Added to that, the resulting cosy garments bring joy and they make the everyday that much more special. It’s a win-win!

Working together and making everyday life and everyday items purposeful, attractive and special is part of what being a crafter is all about. Our wonderful hand crafters at Ian Wallace Craft Insurance are helping to make life special for the rest of us and we’ll continue to provide them with the very best craft business insurance so that they can face the future with confidence, even when conditions are adverse!