About James Dillehay

Struggling with where to start selling your handmade products? Not sure about your next steps to growing your creative enterprise?

Like you, I love making things by hand. I also enjoy the freedom and joy that comes from creative control of my time and income.

My name is James Dillehay. My books, articles and classes have showed tens of thousands of people how to start and scale multiple income streams from their handmade products.

Finding success in this business has allowed me to make that journey smoother for others, show them the most reliable income streams, and help them achieve transformational results.

I didn’t start out knowing any shortcuts or how to avoid the pitfalls. In fact, when I decided to learn my first craft and make a business out of selling my finished products, I had zero (or felt like it anyway) creativity and no experience in marketing handmade work.

Worse, I was broke and in debt. I had to make something happen or go back to my former employer and beg for my lousy job back.

But my first few sales came faster than I imagined and gave me hope and confidence to keep producing. By my third craft show, I brought in around $3,000 and I knew I was on the right track.

Craft shows led to selling to stores. Eventually, I opened my own fine crafts gift shop. By then, it was clear I needed to bring Etsy and Amazon Handmade into the mix. I’ve been both a seller and wholesale buyer of handmade work for more than twenty years.

If you are looking for mastery over your time, a creative business on your own terms, maybe I can help.

If you learn best through books, check out my catalog of craft business books. Soon, I’ll be offering free and paid in-depth courses.

For now, sign up for my newsletter with actionable tips for improving your handmade product sales.

ABOUT JAMES

James helps people looking for creative control of their time and income. He is a handmaker/artisan, former gallery owner and author of twelve books. He has sold his handmade products at some of the top juried shows in the USA, in galleries and boutiques from Manhattan to the Grand Canyon, and online at Etsy, Ebay and Amazon Handmade.

James has been interviewed in The Wall Street Journal, Yahoo Finance, Family Circle, Working Mothers, Entrepreneur Radio and HGTV’s The Carol Duvall Show.

James developed and presented handmade products marketing programs for the University of Alaska, New Mexico Community College, The Bootcamp for Artists and Craftspeople, The Learning Annex and National Association of Independent Artists.

He stays busy writing, teaching and making beautiful things from a studio he built by hand (and it doesn’t leak) next to a national forest in New Mexico.

Will James Dillehay’s advice help you grow your small business? Read what others say:

“Quite an expert….Very informative. I wish we could keep you for the next three days.”
Carol Duvall, HGTV

“Should be viewed as the blueprint for success in the crafts industry.”
The Crafts Report

“One of the most user-friendly yet practical books of its kind.”
Fiberarts Magazine

“Everything you need to know is here, and it’s applicable to any craft.”
Whole Earth Catalog

“A useful compilation of ‘insider information.’”
Woodshop News

“James Dillehay knows of what he writes because he’s done it. A very handy and practical book.”
Crafts ‘N Things

“Helpful to anyone contemplating any crafts business.”
Countryside Magazine

“An excellent book. The appendices guarantee that the book will long remain as a valued resource.”
Charles Jermy,
Dean, Cornell University

Writing about James Dillehay’s Weaving Profits book: “The first bit of sanity I’ve encountered since I began my business. It teaches me everything I need to know, over and over!”
Carole Baylus,  Maryland

“James Dillehay takes readers by the hand, gently encouraging them to grow into wholesale when they are ready. His practical guidance makes taking these giant steps less scary, less threatening.”
The Crafts Report

“Ideas and sound business advice on every page.”
Arts & Crafts Show Guide

“For artists just starting out as well as those who are more experienced.”
Ceramics Monthly

“Comprehensive, well researched publication filled with useful tips for marketing crafts. The book gives craftspeople sound advice for selling their wares.”
Ornament Magazine

“The Basic Guide to Selling Arts & Crafts by James Dillehay is like eating beef stew after the hors d’oeuvres — more meat, more filling, more down-to-earth . . . . This book will help you plan your business for maximum profits.”
Stained Glass

“James Dillehay knows the field — I can’t think of a more rewarding retirement pursuit.”
Jack Smith, Syndicated Columnist SENIOR SENSE

“He knows the art side and the business side of making money with craftwork — an informed guide indeed.”
Southern California Senior Life

“All the perplexing questions are answered and more . . . It’s well worth it.”
Prime Time for New Mexico Seniors

“Pleasant to read, easy to understand, chock-full of really useful information. Covers the whole subject of producing and marketing what you make.”
Vantage Magazine

Read what more real people say about James Dillehay