The steps involved in starting a Craft Store are outlined in this article, along with a few important things to think about.
Steps to Starting a Craft Store
- Researching a Craft Store – See An Inside Look Into the Business You Want To Start.
- Choosing a Location for Your Craft Store For more, see Choosing The Best Location for Your Business.
- Choose a Name for Your Craft Store. See How to Choose a Business Name.
- Legalizing Your Business – See  How to Register your Business.
- Create Your Corporate ID – See A Complete Introduction to Corporate Identity Packages.
- Craft Store Equipment
- Estimating Your Start-up Cost – See Estimating Start-up Costs: Are you Missing Anything?
- Writing a Craft Store Plan – See How to Write a Business Plan.
- Set up a Business Bank Account – See, How to Open a Business Bank Account.
- Get the Funding for Your Craft Store – See Getting a Small Business Loan.
- Software Setup
- Get Your Craft Store Insured
- Craft Store Office Setup – See, Here are Considerations for The Setup of Your Office.
- Choosing Suppliers for Your Craft Store – See, How to Choose a Supplier You Can Depend on
- Create an External Support Team – See, Building a Team of Professional Advisors for Your Business
- Hiring Employees – See How and When to Hire a New Employee.
Points to Consider Before Starting
Business Overview
There are really not too many industries that can claim this feature, but a craft shop reflects the particular owner’s skills and talents.
You can sell a wide range of products and gifts, so the first order of business is to decide exactly what you want to sell. Will you supply works of art, handmade crafts, or a combination of crafts and supplies?
Most people who decide to start a craft shop know exactly what they want to sell. You can cover a lot of territory including products such as homemade gift baskets, flower arrangements, canvases and paint, sketchbooks, scrapbooking supplies, and items for home decor, etc.
When you browse the Internet you will find craft shop owners selling candles, picture frames, pottery, and a host of other products.
What makes this industry appealing to so many people is the fact unique products are being sold. The seller gets to practice his or her craft. The buyer knows he or she is purchasing an item that is not mass-produced, which adds a special quality.
There are several ways to start. You can work out of your home and sell your craft locally. You can also choose to build a home-based business that relies primarily on web-based selling. Naturally, you can decide to sell both ways if you desire. You could also operate a storefront, though this is the most expensive way to go, which is worth it if you have a large customer base.
If you’re making your own crafts you should dedicate a specific working space. Craft making requires room for creating and storing the final products.
Skill Set:
- Retail sales skills
- Great communication skills
- Knowledge of a variety of crafts and how to get started in each area
- Common Business Skills
Employee Considerations:
Hours of Operation:
Retail store hours, generally operate Monday through Friday.
Monthly Expenses:
Licenses:
See Our Page on Licenses and Permits
Tips And Considerations:
- Before you begin selling products, you will need to establish your method of delivery. If you are selling products locally, you can make deliveries yourself. If you are planning on selling products online, it will be necessary to establish an account with a delivery service such as the post office, UPS, FedEx, or a private delivery carrier. It will be important to keep plenty of shipping supplies on hand.
- Hand out flyers with a description of your products
- Purchase online ads such as banner ads or pay-per-click ads to find customers is a top priority once you have your business up and running.
- For many people, this is a way to earn money while also providing a creative outlet. This unique blend of business and art is probably a major reason why the craft industry continues to grow.
Pros and Cons:
The Pros:
- Simple to create your own specialties and niches
- Be your own boss
- Profit can be high if you make your own crafts
The Cons:
- Crafting interest can decline with a slow economy
- It can be difficult to price items
Type of Customers:
You are looking for people who enjoy hobbies and crafting of all kinds such as needle arts, woodworking, oil painting, clay sculpting, pottery, etc. You will find many of your customers locally and online through various hobby clubs, senior centers, and schools.