When was the last time you hit a craft fair? If you're not an aficionado of things made painstakingly by hand, it may have been a while. But I'd wager that most of us are aware, in one way or another, of the huge renaissance in the world of craft; its influence can be seen even in the most mainstream marketing of global corporate brands, from the hand-lettering and faux-DIY styling of the latest Starbucks campaign to, well, just about everything sold at Urban Outfitters or its up-market sister, Anthropologie.
But the craft world has more than one-of-a-kind gifts and funky aesthetics to offer – it's also a hotbed of do-it-yourself, bootstrapping entrepreneurial spirit. And it's full of people who take a share-and-share-alike attitude to their hard-won business wisdom, which makes it a goldmine for new entrepreneurs and creative types who are learning the ropes of earning a living from their hobby.
I'm much more of a consumer of crafty goods than a producer – the last time I picked up my knitting needles was years ago, before repetitve strain injuries made me choose between the computer keyboard (AKA my livelihood) and stitching uneven (but charming – or so I tell myself) scarves and wrist warmers. But I've found a deep camaraderie with crafty business people like Jenny Hart from Sublime Stitching, an Austin, Texas-based company that sells the coolest embroidery kits I've ever laid eyes on, and Kristen Rask from Schmancy, a shop in Seattle that sells quirky plush toys and collectibles. Jenny and Kristen aren't just artists who also know how to run a lean, mean small business; they're also community hubs who have gone the extra mile to share what they've learned with others. (Kristen's latest endeavour was the Conference of Creative Entrepreneurs, which took place in Seattle mid-August.)
It stands to reason that crafters – for whom do-it-yourself is a way of life, and who have a long tradition of joining forces to sell their work together – are among the most generous purveyors of advice, support and encouragement I've come across in my ten years as a business owner. There's an ethic of supporting the underdog, encouraging first-timers, and creative experimentation that makes the craft world one of the least intimidating places for a new entrepreneur to learn the ropes from more experienced professionals. The mainstream business community could learn a lot from observing the way newbies are welcomed in online craft-biz communities like Glitter, The Switchboards and Craftster.
Pricing, marketing, selling to wholesalers, protecting your intellectual copyright – some of the best business advice I've ever received came from small-scale, creative entrepreneurs who approach business the way they approach the crafty side of their work, with humility, creativity and the heart of a born teacher. I'd love to see more of that co-operative ethic & mutual support in the business world writ large.
