Category: Tips for Crafters

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!

When running a handmade goods business, it makes sense to have a close watch on the seasons. Structuring goods, in regard to their release and production that is centred around the four seasons including the events they bring, is something that owners can capitalise on. With these changing seasons come new challenges as well. In all circumstances you should always consider insurance for selling at craft fairs, to be covered for any of the eventualities that can occur.

You will probably have already planned out the year in terms of what products you are going to launch. For example, your main Christmas range ideas should ideally be completed by September time and then Spring lines, incorporating Valentines and Easter, can then be completed over the late Autumn/Winter months. Amongst all of this there is the need to attend the various craft fairs to sell your handmade items.

As we head into winter, here are some of the challenges you might face with the changing season that we can help you to avoid…

The weather

Living in the UK means getting used to weather that is notoriously unpredictable. As we live on an island our climate is regulated by the sea, with the Atlantic Ocean and North Sea determining rainfall and the Gulf Stream warming us in the summer months. Even though our temperate climate means moderate rainfall, spread over the year, and generally mild conditions, we are always susceptible to sudden and extreme changes. Many people remember particularly harsh winters and scorching summers with news and weather reporters using the word ‘unprecedented’ an unprecedented number of times! This lack of predictability means that you need to have some form of protection in place. If a show is cancelled at the last minute or you are unable to get to a planned event you may face a charge for a “no show”. You might also need to consider where equipment that you take with you to events such as gazebos, could become dangerous in high winds. Therefore, insurance for selling at craft fairs should be something that you can look into to cover yourself.

Floods

While it is unlikely that you’ll have to miss a show due to snow it is more likely that floods will cause an issue. Despite the recent drought we have experienced, we are told that milder, wetter winters are going to be a more common occurrence. It is a good idea to consider how you will replace lost stock and equipment in the event of a flooding. This also applies to how you store your stock and the materials that you use. Think about whether the structure is sound and regularly check for signs of damp or weaknesses in the roof and walls.

Accidents on the road

Ice is still an issue on our roads. Gritting salt has a shelf life and with the milder winters we are experiencing, its no wonder that local councils are loath to spend too much on buying huge amounts. This means that we can get caught out when the temperature really drops. Ice can be fatal to cars and their ability to grip roads’ surfaces. The same is true when it comes to vans. Therefore, you should make sure that you have insurance cover in place which means that if what you’re taking to sell has been damaged the finance can be provided to cover it. Also, be sure to plan extra time to get to your venues during the colder months and keep a blanket in the back of the car just in case!

Equipment seizing up

Depending on where you work, your equipment is vital to your success. You need to have decent materials and equipment to create the sellable masterpieces that your business produces. However, if you suddenly find that one seizes up in the colder months, what can you do to get back on track? It might be that you should look to getting some insurance for selling at craft fairs to cover yourself in case of sudden breakdown. It will work as a good contingency plan to provide you with the means to rebuild and repair the equipment and tide you over during the period of inactivity. Regularly checking your equipment for wear and tear is also a good idea so you can identify any issues quickly and resolve them. If your equipment or the items you produce require the use of water, make sure that the pipes are insulated to prevent them from freezing.

Becoming more sustainable

The changing seasons do bring challenges and worries but with them come opportunities as well. One such opportunity could be to look at how we can make our businesses become greener and more sustainable. For many businesses this has meant looking at the items that they use in their businesses and finding ways in which they can be more sustainable. Creative arts and crafts has always been ahead of the curve with this and there are many ways that homemade crafts are created from sustainable products or even from old disused items. With more and more people becoming eco-conscious they are looking for alternatives to their everyday items. This is where you can have an impact and, in doing so, even increase your sales. Think about whether there are any items that you make that could be made from more sustainable options. You should also consider your own packaging and whether this can be recycled easily. In some cases there aren’t any obvious changes that can be made and in these instances it’s nice to look at ways you can offset the carbon that is used. There are many organisations that will allow you to plant a tree for every sale you make or every profit milestone that you reach. This information can then be used in your marketing and help to show people that you care and that spending their money on your products is making the right kind of impact.

Consideration for the environment and protecting the future of our planet for future generations is a bit like preparing for seasonal change to protect our businesses and everything we work hard for. Both make a whole lot of sense.

The concept of a wreath is generally credited right back to the Greco Roman era, where wreaths were made out of leaves, twigs, flowers and even small fruit. They adorned the heads of those who wore them and their make up signified rank, status, occupation etc. Probably the best known is the laurel wreath which was worn by victorious contestants of the Olympic Games.

Many centuries later the wreath was recast in northern parts of Europe and became integrated into Christian folk lore. The story goes that when evergreen trees were first hauled from the outdoors into homes to deck them up at Christmas time, they would have been trimmed to ensure a good shape; maybe triangular as this represented the Trinity. The left over sprigs were then woven together and made into something similar to the wreaths we know today. Other symbolism was added to this tradition as time passed; evergreens were said to represent strength of life, as they could survive the harsh conditions of a long winter and the circle was said to illustrate eternity.

Onwards a few centuries again, and Advent wreaths were developed. Decorated with five candles, one for each of the four Sundays leading up to Christmas and one for Christmas Day itself, these evergreen wreaths sat within churches and were lit one candle per week during Advent. Now they are found in many Christian homes too, as a good way of introducing the themes of hope, joy, peace and love as each candle is lit during the Advent season.

Maypole wreaths are another twist on the theme. While closely linked in with Greek traditions, they are also enjoyed here in the UK on May Day, where they bedeck the maypoles and the heads of the May Day celebrants. In this instance they are made from spring flowers or herbs and add a colourful accent after a long grey winter.

In our times, the humble wreath has been given a multitude of makeovers and can be a wonderfully creative invention using buttons, yarn, pottery, felt, and many other mediums. The one essential tool for wreath making is a hot glue gun!

So how could you adapt the wreath around your own particular craft business? Here are a few suggestions.

One of the joys of living in a temperate climate is the changing seasons. As human beings we generally thrive best on stability and reliably, but also need a certain amount change to pep up our lives. The gentle rhythms of the seasons provides just this; we know that winter will gradually give way to the warmer, greener days of spring, and this will in turn lead to the longer days of summer until the solstice when the days shorten and we head towards the mellow abundance of autumn before entering the darker winter days again. This cycle provides just the right amount of change within a predictable pattern. So, why not create a wreath which picks up on this and reflects all four seasons in turn? This would be ideal to sell at craft fairs and could be sold at any time of year. Just remember to get your craft market insurance in place before you head out.

Firstly you will need a base. A quick scroll through Pinterest will reveal there are a number of materials you can use for this. Your choice will depend slightly on the medium you will be using to decorate it. For example, if you are crocheting flowers, why not try a willow one?

Secondly, how can your unique craft skill be adapted to adorn a wreath, and how can your basic idea be modified to reflect the four different seasons? You may choose to make four unique seasonal wreaths yourself and sell them as spring, summer, autumn and winter wreaths individually or with a discount for all four. Or, you could put together a package: four sets of decorations and one wreath base for the customer to festoon as the seasons change. Either can be sold at any time of year at craft fairs and are sure to be show stoppers as they will be both unique and eye catching. You will almost always need craft market insurance in place, so remember to give us a call alongside booking your market stall.

Each set of decorations will need to capture all the good things of that season with a splash of nostalgia intertwined. You will give your customers a sense of excitement and hope each time they decorate or hang up a new wreath. Whatever has happened in the previous season, a new one is beginning with all the beauty of the natural world and the fun of the celebrations we observe within it.

Spring will probably involve bright colours, yellows, blues and fresh greens to reflect the new leaves and spring bulbs. Summer could involve a warmer version of these colours, or could have a specific summery theme; beach huts, camping, boats etc. Autumn, as a season of abundance and harvest, oozes rich oranges, yellows, golds and reds with autumn leaves, an array of hedgerow foraging finds, pumpkins, harvest or a lavish mix of them all. Winter, as a more barren season offers less to visually process, so would be better represented by a plainer, predominantly white themed wreath. Or, it could be a colourful and celebratory Christmas themed wreath with loads going on!

If you’re working in yarn, your decorations could be a profusion of actual flowers, knitted or crocheted. Flowers or birds could also be crafted out of felt or ceramics, as could beach huts, shells, autumn leaves etc.   Or, you could use the colours associated with each season and create an ‘off piste’ freestyle work of art.

Finally, candles are a beautiful centre piece for any table, so if you own a candle making business, could you craft four different types of candle to adorn a seasonal table wreath? Maybe you could team up with a potter and design a seasonal wreath into which your candles could be placed.

I hope this blog has left you inspired! The months before Christmas are a perfect time for creative wreath making; so ensure your craft market insurance is in place, book some craft fairs and amaze your customers with your beautiful, seasonal wreaths.

Autumn is a time of beautiful sights, sounds and smells. With leaves turning every colour from golden brown through to crimson reds. There is an abundance of stunning colours that can be used to inspire any number of craft items for the autumn and harvest season. Crocheted and knitted items are particularly popular at this time of year as they help to create a feeling of cosiness and homeliness that we all crave as the darker nights start to draw in.

If you run a handcrafting business, there are a number of items that you might want to consider creating for this time of year. It is important that you also think about your insurance cover and Ian Wallace Craft insurance can help you to get the right cover for your business type. In the darker months there are many other things that you may need to consider and ensuring that you have adequate cover is the best place to start.

If you are looking for some harvest time inspiration, take a look at some of these crafting delights.

Scarves

Nothing says autumn cosiness like a nice scarf. These can be knitted or crocheted, and you can bring some of the colours of harvest time through in your design. Rich, earthy and warm colours such as oranges, browns, and deep reds are reminiscent of everything that is best about autumn. If you are feeling particularly adventurous you could even create a pattern inspired by the season. Sales of items such as this increase dramatically from September onwards and it is a good time to increase your sales towards the winter time.

High street fashion can often reduce the ways in which people individualise their look and as a result of this more and more people are looking for ways to add some of their own personality to their outfits. Handcrafters such as those that create knitted and crocheted items can provide a more personalised look for people.

Pumpkins

Pumpkins are synonymous with autumn and harvest time and although it might feel that Halloween has highjacked the vegetable somewhat, there are lots of ways that they can be used in creative products.

Not only can you create a harvest time display in your home with pumpkins and other squashes, but you can also create these from wool. These woolly pumpkins can be popular items to sell at craft fairs this time of year as people look for ways to bring some autumn colour into their homes. Crocheted and knitted pumpkins can be created as stand alone items or they could be incorporated into other designs such as the wreaths mentioned below.

Wreaths

We often think of wreaths as a Christmas decoration but they can look beautiful at any time of year and are a great way to change up the feel of a room with the seasons. These wreaths can be made of real or artificial flowers, or even from wool and other yarns. The creation of crocheted and knitted wreaths has increased dramatically over the last few years and the love for the trend doesn’t seem to be decreasing.

The beauty of a knitted wreath is that there is an almost endless supply of colours that can be used in the creation of the final design and the huge variety of stitched both in knitting and crocheting, mean that the design can be unique. Using these methods to create a wreath also allow you to use a number of different products to create the circular shape. These could be foam rings or even toy makers stuffing. In some cases you may also like to use off cuts of material that would other wise be thrown away. It is important that you adhere to any safety regulations linked to your products and also look at and Ian Wallace Craft insurance to ensure you are covered should an issue occur as a result of your product.

When it comes to adding some decoration to your wreath for harvest time you can create everything from leaves in all shade of red, brown and orange and you could even use amigurumi to create small woodland creations that can adorn your wreath.

Bunting

Once seen as the decoration of the wedding or birthday party, bunting has started to become a staple in home décor. Whilst this may traditionally be made from cotton and other materials, it is possible to also make bunting from wool. This is particular popular in the autumn as wool gives a texture to the bunting that gives a feeling of warmth. When it comes to thinking of designs for autumn and harvest time bunting it is best to take colour inspiration from nature. This will mean using colours such as brown, red, orange and yellow. These can be used individually or in a combination in your design.

Other design options also allow you to include patterns and autumn inspired décor such as pumpkins and leaves to make your bunting come to life.

Autumn and harvest are important times in the crafting calendar as it marks the start of a business season running up to Christmas. If you have only just started to think about what products you are going to make and promote, choose items that will be quick and easy for you to make and that you know will sell well. Don’t forget that if you are heading out to craft and Christmas fairs that you need to ensure you have adequate insurance to protect both yourself and members of the public. Take a look at Ian Wallace Craft insurance to find out what cover options are best for you and your business.

Selling crafts and other items that you have created yourself can be incredibly rewarding. But it is important to ensure that you have a way in which you can plan your projects so that you have enough time to market and sell them, without burning yourself out.

One way that you can achieve this is by setting yourself up with a crafting calendar. You can utilise the calendar to plan your crafting time and to ensure that your projects run as smoothly as possible. This calendar can be created using a paper calendar or you might want to look at setting up a digital calendar in outlook or even on a spreadsheet. The choice that you make will depend on how many items you create and whether you prefer to have things in a digital or paper format. There is no right or wrong way to create a crafting calendar, so why not get creative with it?

Here are our top ten tops for planning a crafting calendar.

1. Plan in your existing commitments

Before you start planning your crafting projects and entering in the key dates surrounding them, you should first plan in your personal commitments. It is important to think about any holidays that you have planned or childcare or other family commitments and have these set as non-negotiable slots in your calendar. This then gives you a realistic view of the times you have available to create your products.

2. Create you crafting time slots

Being creative uses a very different mindset to being more analytical and it is important that you plan in time where you will be creating your products. You can then plan in other time to manage and promote your business. This might be allocating time to your accounts or looking for answers to questions such as “How much does craft insurance cost?” When it comes to each dedicated time slot, try and be strict with yourself and carry out the activities that you have planned

3. Plan for seasonal holidays

Holiday seasons can be very busy for crafters. Not only will you want to ensure that you spend time with your friends and family during these periods but you will also need to create stock to sell. Forward planning is definitely needed for these key times of the year. Christmas in particular is a time that is filled with opportunities to sell you products at craft fayres and craft markets as well as online. You should make sure you have researched How much does craft insurance cost? This is particularly important when it come to protecting yourself and your customers from any issues that might arise.

4. Making sure you have enough materials

Keeping on top of your stock is one thing, but you also need to keep an eye on the materials that you use to create your products. If you know that you need to regularly order certain items for your projects, make sure that you allocate time in your calendar to do this.

5. Project manage your creations

Each of your products will need to be carefully managed and the best way to achieve this is through project management. You should allocate dedicated time to create the items for each project and ensure that you are being realistic about the time frames needed. You can add in any deadlines that might apply if you are making items for a particular time of year or for a specific individual. Make a note of the materials that you need and ensure that you plan in some contingency time in case something goes wrong in the design or creation phase.

6. Book in Fairs and Craft markets

Craft fairs and markets can book up very quickly, especially around Christmas. Try and book in advance and note these in your calendar. You can then project manage all the products that you plan to make for the event. You should also have a look at how much craft insurance costs for craft fairs which will then give you time to research the options available and get your policy in place.

7. Work out your production time

As a part of your project management you should time how long it takes to create each of your products. This way you are able to allocate the time that is needed and you can focus on one product at a time. It can also be useful to know how long it takes to create your products for when it comes to looking at your pricing.

8. Plan in your sales opportunities

If you work with retailers or other stockists you will need to have a note of when you need to replenish the stock that you provide them with. It can be useful to have these dates worked out in advance so you can ensure that you factor this into your production timeline.

9. Don’t forget your own marketing

Marketing is incredibly important for any business and you should ensure that you allocate time at least each month to plan your own strategy. This could be creating posts to share on your social media channels or it could be producing leaflets or flyers to hand out at a craft fair that you are due to attend. By giving yourself a regular time slot to look at your marketing you are more likely to ensure that you get your products in front of new prospective customers.

10. Make time to relax

Running a business can be hard work and there are times where you might feel that you are lacking creativity. One of the best ways to achieve this is to ensure that you make time to relax and to refill your own creativity. This could be taking a day off each month to take part in an activity that you enjoy or planning time into your day to enjoy a short walk out in nature.