What happens to your handmade products business when your sales fall flat or you physically can’t make stuff?
My craft business was my sole source of income when both types of disasters fell on me at the same time. I loved making and selling my craft items. Suddenly and unforeseeably, I couldn’t do either.
It was one of the worst times of my life. Debt was piling up from borrowing on credit cards. I had to get cash advances just to pay the next month’s bill. The interest rates were crushing.
But as my wonderful, creative, handmade life collapsed around me, a crazy idea arose out of all the crap.
I should write a book. I knew I couldn’t be the only craft artisan who faced problems growing their business. Why don’t I write a guide that would spare others from the difficulties I found myself in?
I knew nothing about self-publishing, but quickly learned that when you know the system, anyone can produce their own books. And I did just that.
My first book with it’s DIY cover design sold around 2,000 copies by marketing it direct to readers who sent checks in by mail (this was a couple of years before Amazon.com). The book did well enough it inspired me to do a related series.
The new income stream from book sales got me back on my feet, which was great. But then came the echo effect. Being an author opened doors I could not have imagined.
Invitations started coming in.
- The SBDC at the University of Alaska college hired me to teach an online course.
- The Association of Independent Artists paid me to speak at their conference.
- A producer from HGTV called and asked if I could fill in as a guest on The Carol Duvall Show, their most popular crafting TV show with millions of viewers.
My crazy idea to write a book wasn’t so crazy after all.
These days, my book income surpasses my handmade product sales. I don’t have to worry about money if my craft sales take a dive, like they did early in 2022 when I paid for an expensive booth at a top-attended crafts show and then bad weather discouraged attendees.
How about you? Could you use another income stream in case of unexpected hardship or maybe even to have things in your life you’ve been putting off because you can’t afford them?