Category: Tips for Crafters

The UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, Agenda 2030, High Level Political Forum and “The Future We Want” are likely to become household buzz words as the UN’s plan of action for “people, prosperity and the planet” gains momentum. These include goals such as “to end poverty and hunger in all their forms and dimensions”, “to foster peaceful, just and inclusive societies which are free from fear and violence”, “to create conditions for sustainable, inclusive and sustained economic growth” and a pledge that as they “embark on this great collective journey”, “no one will be left behind”. Strategic partnerships and stake holders will work together in an  “integrated manner by pooling financial resources, knowledge and expertise.” The theme of the January 2023 Partnership Forum was “Accelerating the recovery from the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and the full implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development at all levels.”

This sounds like weighty stuff and decisions surrounding the Sustainable Development Goals and Agenda 2030 do indeed take place within the top power houses around our globe. So, how do they relate to us? What can we do to take some of the concepts and implement them into our own businesses? And how in particular can small crafting businesses run with these ideals?

Our world is made up of many small communities and while ending all poverty and having zero hunger (goals 1&2) might seem somewhat unrealistic goals for us to tackle within our own businesses and communities, we can certainly develop practices and habits which will make an impact on someone. And, if this is extended to many small businesses and then to consumers, the impact will be larger.

As a small craft business owner you will be very aware of the raw products you use and indeed sourcing locally produced products is a selling point which you should advertise. However, there are some products you will not be able to procure locally and you could look to buy these from businesses which are registered as fair trade. Coffee beans and cotton are two obvious commodities whose production can cause real harm to those who harvest and process them. Not only can the hours be long and the conditions poor, but the chemicals used can be very detrimental to those in contact with them. Choosing to buy fair trade will be more expensive and this price increase will have to be handed on to your own customers; use your fair trade policy as a selling point and you may be surprised at how this will draw rather than deter buyers.

Incidentally, if you own or are starting up a business selling handmade goods you will need to know about the regulations surrounding safety, including clear labelling. As you check out laws on selling handmade crafts UK  a good place to begin could be the local Trading Standards office if there is anything about which you are unsure.

Number eleven of the Sustainable Development Goals is to “make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable.” In the U.K. most of our communities have a rich history, with crafting woven through the centuries, telling us stories about the place and its people. Local communities have not sprung up in isolation and having a good understanding of the history and heritage of where we dwell will help to build strong and resilient communities. From the knitwear of Scotland to the willow weaving of Somerset, each of our regions will have distinct crafts which reflect both the geographical and political nature of those areas. Crafters are in an ideal position to keep these traditional crafts alive and enable our unique and regional heritage to be celebrated. There are many ways to display these crafts; perhaps in conjunction with local or regional museums, maybe at craft fairs or possibly at historic or re-enactment events. These are all fantastic opportunities not only to sell your own produce and showcase your particular skill but also to educate the public on the wonderful crafting heritage passed down to them. If you are considering branching out into any of these exciting opportunities this year, remember to check out laws on selling handmade crafts UK and ensure that the correct public and liability insurance is in place. It might seem overwhelming at first, but a little investigation into the laws on selling handmade crafts UK and the right advice you will be able to navigate what you need to have in place for your business. Give us a ring and we can make sure you are covered and all set for these next adventures! As you bring alive a community’s sense of place and history, you’ll help people to identify more with the place in which they live, feel a sense of pride in it and gradually become more committed to investing in it, at the same time forming the kind of relationships and networks which build resilience.

Another of the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals which might be easier to consider implementing is number twelve, which aims to “ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns.” This is one in which, as a small, locally based crafting business you have many advantages over large multinationals when it comes to sustainable and ethical production of your goods. Sourcing raw products locally reduces travel miles, and for those materials or ingredients you cannot find nearby, you can choose fairly traded products. You have control over your packaging; you can recycle boxes for shipping, use old newspapers for wrapping and paper bags for craft markets. You can work using recycled materials; sea glass for jewellery, recycled fabric or even an assortment of plastics. You may make products which will encourage your customers to walk more lightly on our beautiful planet, for example fabulous beeswax wraps or trendy fabric shopping bags. Furthermore, your products will be durable and last for years.

Small is definitely beautiful when it comes to working ethically and sustainably so make sure you advertise this well as you promote your business. Take inspiration from the colours and textures from the natural world. And enjoy the process of creating stunning, durable products with skill; this is in itself a reflection of the wonderful world in which we live.

Quilting has been around for centuries, and it is a way in which material is used in patchwork sections sewn together to make another item. These items can range from a traditional bedspread through to quilted table runners and coasters. There are a number of ways that you can establish yourself as a quilter and for some people this may include moving into the sale of your finished items. You may be wondering what the answer to questions such as Do you need public liability insurance for a craft stall? is and it is important that you explore all of these important business requirements when you first start looking at producing items for sale.

As a craft, quilting has made a spectacular return over the last couple of years. This has been in part been due to the rise in a number of high-profile crafters that have shared their knowledge and skills with wider audiences. One such example is the late Melanie Ham.

Melanie was an avid crafter from a very young age, and it was in fact her mother who taught her how to quilt. With her husband away in the forces in America and Melanie bringing up two young children, she turned to crafting to help her build connections with others and she founded her You Tube channel. As well as sharing step by step guides on how to make a number of quilted items, Melanie also shared tips and instructions for other crafts such as crochet and macrame. Over time her You Tube channel grew to 800,000 and she regularly shared updates across all of her social media channels. In 2020 Melanie was diagnosed with an aggressive, rare cancer and she passed away in January 2022. Her You Tube channel still remains for people to learn the art of quilting.

Quilting can be traced back as far as medieval times and there are examples in the Victoria and Albert Museum of items from Europe, the Far East and India. This textile method of sewing layers of material together come from the Latin word ‘culcita’ which means cushion or bolster. It is thought that this referred to the padded texture of the items that were created.

The earliest forms of quilting were used to make bed covers, and this remains a popular quilting option today. Many of these items would be passed down through the generations and would become family heirlooms. Today people often make smaller items using quilting that can then be sold at craft fairs and through other platforms. When looking to sell your items at fairs you need to be sure you know what the requirements are in relation to questions such as Do you need public liability insurance for a craft stall?  and whether you need to have any particular labelling on your items. It is important that your items are advertised as home ware and that they are not marketed as toys, unless you have the appropriate safety certificates.

In medieval times items of clothing were also made using quilting and the most popular items were jackets and overcoats. These would be worn on special occasions or used for wear underneath armour to help provide some protection from the metal against the body.

Quilting can be undertaken using a sewing machine or completed by hand. In the case of English Paper Quilting, individual sections of material are taken and tacked around a small hexagonal, triangular or square piece of paper. These pieces are then sewn together by hand. Once the pattern has been completed the entire piece is then machine sewn onto a backing material and batting and wadding may be used as a middle layer to provide some padding.

When quilting by machine it is possible to not only join together each element of the quilt but to also combine the batting, wadding, and backing material together with ease. Once the quilt is completed, some sewers like to sew intricate designs onto the right side of the quilt. This topstitching helps to add an element of design to the quilt.

If you are looking to find a way to sell your quilted items, it is important that you think about the cost of each item that you make. Smaller items for example may be quicker to make but you may sell them for a lower price. Large items such as bedcovers will take longer for you to make and will cost more for people to buy. Be sure when you look at pricing to include your materials, times and sundries. At Craft Insurance we can help you up to answer the question “Do you know the answer to Do you need public liability insurance for a craft stall?” Then you can factor in any costs associated with insurance and marketing your stall or other costs linked to items that you buy for displaying your items on your stand and packaging them up for people to take home.

Popular items that people like to buy that are quilted include bags and purses, coasters and table runners as well as small clothing items like skirts. Seasonal items such as Christmas stockings and even easter bunting and other decorations can be made using a quilting technique. It is important to ensure that you pick the material that is most appropriate for the final item that you are going to be creating. If your material is delicate make sure that you give your customers information on how to care for and wash their items to help avoid damage occurring. This also gives an added element of customer care that will help to keep your customers coming back time and time again and will also encourage them to recommend your business to others.

What springs to mind when community is mentioned? A village hall buzzing with jumble sales, meals for the elderly and toddler groups? A cosy roomful of friends chatting over tea and cake as they craft away the winter evenings? A running club? Maybe an online community? Or, perhaps we think of community more in terms of intangible concepts such as friendship, support, a sense of belonging and shared fun.

There is no doubt that when we look back through history it is the strength of local communities which have kept our predecessors going through times of turmoil; even in the recent twentieth century, the cohesion of our communities during the economic depression of the 1930’s and the war years of the 1940’s shines out in the midst of these dark periods.

Equally, it is eminently arguable that with easier travel, advances in technology and the disintegration of the multigenerational family unit, that people are more isolated. This in turn has led to increased loneliness and impacts on both mental and physical health. However, there seems to be a resurgence in the desire for local connections and the crafting community has been at the forefront of some of this. With our emphasis already being on producing locally made products using locally sourced raw materials and selling in local craft markets, local is a theme that runs through crafters’ veins.

You may already be part of an established local crafting community, and if so we’d love to learn from your experience. However, if this is something which you could integrate more into your life, we hope the following ideas will both inspire you and offer some practical suggestions of how to strengthen community within your own area.

Taking that first step towards building community can require courage, especially if our character leans more towards the introvert than the extrovert. Having a clear understanding as to why living alongside others is important is therefore a strong motivator. We’ve mentioned before that many people feel isolated and lonely these days. We are not designed to live in a bubble; we thrive best when interacting with others, when we feel a sense of belonging, and we know we are accepted and have friends around who care for us. When we are confident someone will give us a call or knock on our door if we don’t show up, and when we can share our anxieties and concerns with friends over a kitchen table with a comforting mug of tea or at our local pub surrounded by others facing similar dilemmas. It’s good to laugh together and celebrate together; to walk side by side during the tough times and party together during the high times.

Crafters have a number of natural meeting places out of which friendships can develop. One of these is through attending craft fairs.  A sense of camaraderie often develops as you set up, maybe grabbing a drink for a neighbouring stall holder or watching over each other’s tables during the much needed toilet breaks. If there are two of you running the stall, it’s fun to take the opportunity to wander around and chat to other exhibitors, gathering inspiration and making connections.

As you begin to plan ahead for  this year, remember to put your public liability insurance craft stall in place. There is always so much to prepare just prior to a fair, it is well worth sorting this out ahead of time. As a family run business which specialises in craft insurance we would love to chat with you to find the best package for your unique business. So, pick up the phone and let’s get your public liability insurance craft stall in place.

Another fantastic way of building crafting communities is around the use of shared space. Art studios, craft quarters or community workshops have been growing in number and popularity. This is exciting as the potential that they contain is huge. Many small craft businesses are a one person show, and this can be lonely. By joining together with others in a shared work area, not only can friendships can be formed and support networks grown, but through collaboration a multitude of creative projects can be birthed. This could be workshops for local people, where they can get to know others and learn a new skill. Or it might be a weekly club, where a consistent group who all share the same craft get together to share skills and swaps ideas. It might be an annual art exhibition within your locality, giving opportunity for individual workshops as well as the communal ones to be opened to the public. These are great ways to form connections with other like minded individuals. In this way, an established crafting community is ideally situated to blow on the embers of neighbourhood cohesion and light the fire of community spirit.

Of course not all crafters work alone and many of us have already established our own  communities as the business has grown. Here at Craft Insurance we champion local businesses for many reasons, not least of which is the beneficial impact they have on their surrounding neighbourhood. By employing local staff, using locally sourced raw products and selling at local venues, local businesses not only provide a boost for the local economy but are also a hub for friendships and support.

The final mention goes to those crafters who use their skill and open up their homes informally to gather together like-minded craft lovers. Over warm drinks and an indulgent sweet treat or two, conversation flies as fast as the knitting needles and many cosy evenings are spent with problems shared, patterns swapped and hearts refreshed.

With some potentially tough times ahead for us all, maybe we could resolve to do our part in establishing or strengthening groups around our craft to build strong, cohesive communities who will weather the storms together.

And don’t forget, as you begin to book craft fairs for the year ahead, be sure to get your public liability insurance for your craft stall in place.

Did you know that the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goal for education is

“To ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all”?

As crafters, we all know how enriching it is to learn and master a handicraft and, for many of us, that experience was gifted to us at a young age by a forward thinking adult. Indeed, for some, what started as a childhood hobby became a passion and then an opportunity to make a living which has itself represented a lifelong learning opportunity to us.

There’s no denying that connecting children and young people with traditional techniques and skills to teach them to create handmade items enhances their education and makes it more inclusive. Many a creative genius experienced struggles with academic subjects at school and yet their creative talent was undeniable. The opportunity to learn crafting skills and techniques as part of a balanced curriculum offered a place for them to excel along with their peers.

Nowadays, it does seem that in our schools craft education plays second fiddle to a system geared towards theoretical knowledge and digital learning. Added to this the instant dopamine rush of social media and online gaming available to young people and there is a real danger that the benefits of learning craft techniques and the joy of experimenting with materials will be lost to many.

Our current generation of young people are being taught to value speed, efficiency, and technological advancements when working with your hands is slow work requiring patience, concentration, and practice. Speed, efficiency, and technological advancements are all good things but we also need to consider that we have a crisis of mental health being experienced by the young. So shouldn’t we also be offering them the kinds of activities that don’t contribute to the general level of panic? There are so many mental health benefits that come from slowing down and focusing on doing something peaceful and tactile, and creating a tangible product with your hands boosts confidence and self-worth. Crafting provides an antidote to this fast-paced world of instant gratification.

The good news is of course that there are many young people who know this already and are active on YouTube and other social media platforms, making a name for themselves by posting videos of themselves in action, whether they are drawing, painting or crafting. They know that combining handicrafts and Youtube is a match made in heaven!

So what’s to be done in general about passing on traditional skills and techniques to the next generation in order to ensure their survival? (I did mean the survival of the skills and techniques, but they won’t do the next generation any harm, that’s for sure). Maybe you are interested in connecting young people with traditional art or craft techniques, but you’re not sure where to start or how to do it in a safe, genuine and responsible way. Perhaps the techniques you use are potentially unsafe (I’m thinking chainsaw carving as an example). Thankfully, the digital world has opened up possibilities for us to share our skills. Having your own YouTube channel means that you can share your love for your trade and even go viral! (More on how to start one later).

We’ve put together a few suggestions below for artists and crafters looking for opportunities to give the next generation a helping hand into the wonderful world of craft.

Craft Fairs

This is where craft fairs can come in handy; they provide a place where young people can explore creative activities and develop new skills. If you’re running a craft stall however, it’s essential that you make sure you have craft fair public liability insurance. Craft fair public liability insurance will protect you from any legal action taken against you if something goes wrong.

If you are offering young people a free learning opportunity in the form of ‘having a go’ at your craft fair stall it’s also a good idea to get parental permission. And with parental permission (you’ll need to have a consent form for parents/carers to sign, at hand) you could even film and show young people learning on your social media to help spread the message.

Make sure that whatever activity you plan, it is age appropriate, safe, and involves minimal supervision from adults. Then, with parental permission and craft fair public liability insurance in place your young participants are safe, any damage to property is covered and you can go right ahead and impact some young lives for the better!

Crafts Council

Another way to pass on your skills and encourage the next generation is to get involved with a charity (such as https://www.craftscouncil.org.uk) that helps young people who have an interest in craft and making. The many activities they support offer multiple opportunities to join in and help safeguard traditional handicrafts for the future.

Become a YouTuber

An obvious way to connect with young people AKA ‘digital natives’ is to speak to them in the place where they hang out! In order to become a YouTuber you will need to create a Google account, if you don’t already have one. Then, you can have as many YouTube channels as you want on that one Google account. Here is how to do it:

1. Go on the Youtube app and click the profile icon. Click on ‘log in with your Google account’  and add your details.

2. Go on Youtube and watch other people presenting the same material that you want to and study how they make their videos and tutorials. Find a style of presentation and editing that you like. Now you can forge your own signature style as you start to upload.

3. Make your film to showcase your skills. The easiest way to do this is with a smart phone.

4. Edit your film. The easiest way to edit your video is with your smart phone. You’ll need to download the IMovie app (this only works for IPhones, other apps such as CapCut work for other smart phones) to edit your videos as it’s the easiest way to edit your content. If you are unsure of how to upload your videos onto Youtube from your phone you can select ‘upload video’ through the ‘plus’ icon at the bottom of the screen.

5. Try and comment a lot on other people’s pages. Find connections with established YouTubers where there is common ground and comment on what they are already doing. Ask these people for ‘shout outs’ for your videos (so they mention what you are doing to all of their followers) and that will increase your reach. Pick someone with around 100,000 followers, if it’s more than that they probably won’t bother getting back to you.

6. If you want more reach (more people clicking on your videos) YouTube shorts is how to do it. Shorts are usually twenty – thirty seconds and they are what the majority of young people are scrolling through, (similar to Tik Tok). You can edit these down from longer videos and give some useful info along with a link that takes the viewer to the longer video.

7. And finally, look on YouTube to learn anything on this topic. Literally anything about learning to become a YouTuber is already on YouTube!

Do share with us if there is anything that you are already doing for the next generation by passing on traditional techniques, we’d love to hear from you!

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!

We’ve all heard catchphrases for this time of year many times: “Your biggest year yet…” or “New year, new you…” which can either excite and inspire us or intimidate and freeze us into inaction!

We decided to put together 23 exciting, inspirational, (hopefully  not at all intimidating) ideas around how and where to sell handmade crafts in the UK and beyond and help set your creativity free in 2023…

1. Build an online community using Facebook.

It becomes your very own tribe in which to thrive. Rather than searching the internet for ‘where to sell handmade crafts UK’, think about what unifies your audience and then serve their needs via the group.

2. Leading from the heart is how you start.

Do that thing that excites you as a ‘side hustle’. That way you can test what works and what doesn’t. Creativity works best when you’re not under pressure.

3. Give value to your community.

If you are concerned about giving away knowledge for free, there’s no need to worry. Just keep learning, experimenting and discovering! There’ll always be someone following in your wake, needing a helping hand. Help to create empathy by reviewing your life experience and create a link between that and business.

4. Tell your story.

Your story is unique, even though your product might not be. So many people try and reinvent the wheel when in order to be original all they need to do is tell their story to capture their audience’s interest.

5. Think ‘show’ rather than ‘sell’.

Turn to the people who have bought from you. Get them to share their experiences with reviews and videos for your group. Videos help tell the truth and truth gets traction.

6. Collections keep attention.

Taking products and grouping them as limited editions make them worth more. From fine art to figurines, investors know the power of the ‘collective’ approach. Take an original piece of art and then create a set of limited prints. If Banksy can do it, you can too! We all have to start somewhere.

7. Product placement starts where you live.

The greatest studio you have is your home, so why not start sharing your work in its place? Whether it’s a family photo or a product shoot, start at home, because ultimately, a home is where the products that people buy will be housed.

8. Go LIVE for 5.

Give people 5 tips about your product. These could cover keeping it clean, boxing it, or even the best way to frame it. Use video to give simple tips for the top.

9. Themes and seasons are so important to us all.

The fashion industry have colours and seasons, so we in the crafting business can think the same way. The best brands and marketers in the world bring accepted strategies from one industry to another. Craft is no different.

10. Give something away.

Who do you know who would benefit from what you do? Maybe it’s a charity or a local school. Givers gain attention by impacting the community around them.

11. Location, location, location.

Go to a great location and take a shot of your product. I immediately think of Castle Coombe in the Cotswolds which is famous for its fantastic setting. Use images that combine a great location with your product then use the hashtag and location in posts. It will get you noticed.

12. Double up.

Find a brand or another crafter you love and share the love. Offer an incentive to your audience to buy from you both, such as a discount or another free item! Help each other by giving each other exposure. Rather than compete with each other, complete each other!

13. Email your buyers and thank them for buying.

If you offer to email them a receipt when they purchase from you it’s an open door to further conversation and a chance to say thank you for their business. Just be nice. Remember, it’s the last thing you said that you will be remembered for.

14. Network online.

Hundreds of networks have sprung up over the last few years. Invest in a network and it will increase your net worth. Talking to strangers isn’t scary.

15. Words create worlds.

So get used to talking about why you started, loads. From social posts to blogs and even a few podcasts! Comfortable never wins. Start talking about why you do it, as much as how and what you do.

16. Get fans rather than followers.

Fans buy from you. Simple. The size of your following is not the size of your business. They need to buy into you. They might not spend all the time BUT they can tell someone else about you! Reward those people!

17. Mix the medium.

Lately, there seem to be more and more artists who have realised that their work can translate onto high street fashion. Could your cushions become a jacket? Or you picture, wallpaper? You have the product, but what else could work?

18. Get chat on your website.

You can even link WhatsApp. Be available and when you’re not, add an email address. Chat can change you opportunities x10.

19. Join your audience.

If you’re googling ‘where to sell handmade crafts UK’ then why not join your audience? Find out where they hang out and be there. If they’re at an art launch, go. If they’re on Instagram, comment. Learn how to hang out with the crowd you know you can serve.

20. Replace fear with facts.

Whatever you fear, there are 10 reasons not to worry and things you can do to mitigate the risk of failure. Fear isn’t failure, failure is letting fear win.

21. Ask more.

Just ask. Ask for the sale. Ask for the promo. Ask for advice. Ask for help. Learn to ask and you’ll get answers. If you don’t ask, you only have questions.

22. Don’t compare yourself.

The worst thing you can do is compare yourself to someone else because everyone has their own unique story. Focus on your story. Compliment others but don’t compare yourself to them. An overnight success takes 10 years at least, so keeps investing in you.

23. Invest wisely.

Your time, talent and treasure are your biggest resources. Spend them on the things that give you peace and turn a side hustle into a business with real muscle for the long term.

Hopefully you are now primed and ready, with a few more ideas  about where to sell your handmade crafts as well as inspired to do great business in the year ahead.

As we continue to support the craft industry with the very best craft insurance, we invite you to join the craft group and ensure that you’re part of building great craft businesses, now and for the future!

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

Welcome to this special Craft Insurance Christmas edition of our Crafters blog, in which we’ve put together our best Craft Insurance Christmas quiz for you, with a crafty twist! This is a busy time for all of us, and especially when you own a craft business, as you work flat out to meet your online orders, prepare and attend craft markets, obviously with the best craft insurance in place, and somewhere in between try to pull together your own Christmas preparations. We hope that in the midst of it all, maybe as the whirl settles down between Christmas and New Year, you might find time to make yourself a hot cup of tea, grab a treat to eat and settle down with the puzzle. Or, maybe you could use it as family entertainment, around the dinner table or for a cosy evening of games in front of the fire while the Christmas tree lights twinkle their festive cheeriness.

There are eighteen crafty questions; some you will know or can guess, some you will probably have to look up. Don’t worry if you have to check Google for the answers, at least you’ll come away with a few new fun facts which might come in useful at your next pub quiz!

Make a note of the first letter of each answer, as these will make up the winning phrase. You will need to unscramble them to make up three words. A clue; these could be a motto for our company. Happy puzzling and a very merry and peaceful Christmas to you! We wish you all the best from Craft Insurance.

QUIZ

1) What is the name of the German city which hosted one of the earliest Christmas markets?

2) What is the name of the city in the South West England which hosts a yearly Christmas market against the background of its gorgeous Georgian architecture?

3) The origin of the Christmas market is thought to be the “Dezembermarkt”, a winter market held in Vienna to allow the townsfolk to stock up on foods for the long winter ahead. The right to hold this market was granted to shopkeepers by a certain Emperor. What was his name? (You’ll have to Google this one!)

4)Franz Skarbina was a German artist. Look up his painting titled “Christmas Market in Berlin” (1892). How many trees are on the left of the scene? If you like this painting, take a look at “Berlin boy from the Christmas market” and “Christmas Market”.

5) In Finland, traditional lanterns are crafted from which natural material each Christmas?

6) What is the delicious sweet egg bread with candied fruit which originates from Saxony? It dates back to the fifteenth century and was given as a Christmas present.

7) What are the yellow buns called which are eaten in Sweden at Christmas time?

8) What is the traditional pudding eaten at Christmas time in Denmark?

9) Not quite a Christmas question, but related! What is the sauce which accompanies the turkey at Thanksgiving? We also eat it at Christmas time!

10) Our own Christmas pudding dates back to medieval times when it was more of a savoury pottage. Over the years more sweet fruits were added and by the Victorian era it looked much like the pudding we know and love today. Recipes use a variety of dried fruit, but they all have either sultanas, currants or _ _ _ _ _ _ _ .

11) What is the season which directly precedes Christmas? In the Anglican Church it starts on the fourth Sunday before Christmas? We open calendars to count down the days during this time.

12) Another one on the church theme. What is the name of the twelfth day after Christmas? In Mexico this is called Three Kings Day, and is also known as Twelfth Night.

13) What was the name of the underpaid clerk in Dickens’s “Christmas Carol”? (Looking for his surname).

14) Tchaikovsky wrote three famous ballets. One of them is often performed at Christmas time as it begins with a scene in which Uncle Drosselmeya presents Clara with a gift of the same name as the ballet.

15) Another literary one… What is the first word of the first line of the famous poem by Clarke Moore, written in 1822 telling of the exploits of Santa and his reindeer on Christmas Eve?

16) Onto some movies. What’s the name of the 2003 movie starring Will Ferrell, about one of Santa’s helpers who heads to New York to look for his father?

17) Movies one, two and three have this one word as their title. It’s also the original reason Christmas is celebrated, and includes Mary, Joseph and the baby Jesus.

18) You might have a Christmas kiss _ _ _ _ _ the mistletoe.

Answers

1. Frankfurt
2. Bath
3. Albrecht
4. Two
5. Ice
6. Stollen
7. Saffron
8. Rice pudding
9. Cranberry
10. Raisins
11. Advent
12. Epiphany
13. Cratchit
14. Nutcracker
15. T’was
16. Elf
17. Nativity
18. Under

Hidden phrase: best craft insurance