Top Tip Tuesday Facebook and Social Media

Make sure your PERSONAL Facebook Profile is filled out correctly.

In your "ABOUT" section don't forget to add your workplace as your Facebook Business page.
And add links to ALL your Social Media.

Add your Website
Add your Pinterest Link
Add Instagram
Add Twitter

and anywhere else your work can be found.
REMEMBER: If you have an Etsy or Folksy shop add that too!

Bonus Tip: Post a link to your business page onto your Personal Page often, to get more page likes and potential customers.

The 5 wrongs of believing you are charging too much!

I know that these will resonate with some of you.

I'm about to write a blog post on how to price your work for sale, but before that I wanted to clamp down on a few myths that your 'worry monkey' will try and put into your head.

The biggest  issue among designer makers is.... 

(Drum roll please......)

Not charging enough!

Steve and I attend lots of craft fairs and shows, as visitors, buyers and sellers and see this all the time.  

Designer Makers at Craft Fairs and Shows often worry that charging a realistic price is somehow wrong.

 

1.“I can’t charge any more, people won’t pay it.”

2.“Oh God …. Someone’s turned up selling the same type of stuff to me! I’ll have to undercut her or I won’t sell anything!”

3. “Well, it’s only a hobby… I don’t need to make any money from this”

4. “People who come to craft fairs want a bargain”

5. “I don’t have a workshop/shop and work from home, so can’t charge as much as someone who does”

WRONG!  WRONG! WRONG! WRONG! WRONG!

I’ll take these one at a time:

 

WRONG  1 “I can’t charge any more, people won’t pay it.”

Ummmm and you’ve come to that conclusion how?

Makers and collectors and people who love and appreciate hand made produced items WILL pay a realistic price in return for something UNIQUE, HAND CRAFTED and MADE WITH LOVE!

 

WRONG  2 “Oh God …. Someone’s turned up selling the same type of stuff to me! I’ll have to undercut her or I won’t sell anything!”

Deliberately undercutting someone in the hope you will sell more will actually work against you. Why? Because people will look at you cheaper stuff and come to the conclusion you’ve made it out of inferior materials and have less skill that someone who is charging more FACT! If yours it cheaper, there’s clearly something wrong with it!… or rather that’s the way people will think.

 

WRONG  3 “Well, it’s only a hobby… I don’t need to make any money from this”

That may be so, but charging too little makes it difficult for those designer makers who DO live off their work to charge a realistic price and it will also devalue your work too and most probably lead to less sales not more.

Even if it’s a hobby you still have running costs and have to replace materials.

Making and selling crafts and not wanting or needing to take a wage out is fine, but at least do everyone a favour: charge a realistic price and donate the profits to a worthwhile cause.

If your work is too cheap, it will be judged at that. Peoples perception is 

Cheap = tat. 

If I offered you a mobile phone for £40 and one for £400.... would you really consider the one for £40? It's all about the value of what you are offering NOT the price!

 

WRONG  4. “People who come to craft fairs want a bargain”

Absolutely not! Of course there’s always the 20% that do (The 80/20 rule), but the majority are coming to see something hand made, hand crafted, value your time and workmanship and are willing to pay for it. FACT

I’ve never heard anyone come out of a craft fair and saying “Yeah, I bought this…. Cos it was cheap!”

Those who value hand made appreciate that very fact, they love what you do, it's hand made and as such is of quality. 

 

WRONG  5 “I don’t have a workshop/shop and work from home, so can’t charge as much as someone who does”

Well, possibly not….. and not charging enough for your work, you are never likely to either. You must add to your costs as if you HAVE already got a workshop. Why? Because if in the future you do, you cannot suddenly ramp up your prices and expect your existing clients not to notice, you will lose your repeat customers quick that you gained them  and word will get round that you've doubled your prices, so in their eyes are suddenly ripping people off.

Your affirmations for the day (Repeat often)

I value myself.

I value my worth.

I charge a realistic price for the work and effort I put in.

I am worth it!

Any of these ring a bell? 

What does your worry monkey say to you? 

Leave a comment below. 

Find this useful or does this sound like someone you know?

Please share the link, you could save someone's sanity! 

What happens in the Hand Made Yorkshire Collective members group?

There's lots going on behind the scenes. 

Christmas is fast approaching but we are doing our very best to make 2017 count for all you Hand Made Yorkshire folk.

It's all hands on deck but we need the help and interaction with our Hand Made Collective Members.

If you Hand Make goods and crafty stuff, then you really need to come and join in the fun on out HAND MADE YORKSHIRE COLLECTIVE FACEBOOK PAGE

Membership is open to anyone who owns a Small Hand Crafted Business as long as the items are Hand Made by yourself and not bought in. 

Together we'll chat about all sorts of things and you can keep up to date with the latest news and upcoming events. 

Coming soon....... 

Meet the Maker Monday

We love promoting Small Crafting Businesses! Here we'll profile and share the wonderful work of one of our collective members. 

Top Tip Tuesday

Helping small crafting businesses is most important and, the highest aim of this website and collective. Whether it's marketing, product or simply confidence issues we'll share tips and advice to help you and your small crafting business. 

What's on Wednesday -

 Whether it's workshops, Craft fairs, country fairs or Hand Made Yorkshire events, Wednesdays the day to check out what's coming up in the near future. 

Q&A Thursday

Everyone has questions from

Where do I buy some time?

to Anyone know someone who can help with book work?

Whether it's product, personal or business related... Thursday is the day to get answers to your most burning questions. 

Follow me Friday.

Share your social media posts, blog posts, twitter or pinterest, Instagram or website. 

Share Saturday:
You'll be invited to share your thoughts, your achievements, share something good, something you have in the pipeline or simply share a motivational quote.

MEMBERSHIP IS FREE FOR A LIMITED TIME ONLY!

We're planning lots of exciting events in the New Year. Make sure you join us to keep up to date and get the help, support and friendship of like minded people

Questions? Leave a comment below 

Are you or do you know someone who owns a small business

making and selling hand crafted items? Use the share buttons below

So.... what is the Hand Made Yorkshire Collective?

So.... what is the Hand Made Yorkshire Collective? 

Hand Made Yorkshire Collective is a newly formed group, started with a handful of motivated people, to provide support, advice, share knowledge and experience with local hand crafters, makers and shakers living in and around the Yorkshire area. 

If you are a maker or artist living in or around the Yorkshire area, feel free to join us on our Collectives page... a warm welcome awaits!