Do Crafty Entrepreneurs Need Administrative Support to Grow Their Business?
Many of you run your own businesses and e-commerce site marketing your designs, creations and crafts. Do you find it more beneficial to do all the business work yourself, or would your business grow if you had some help?
What are your thoughts on this?
What are your thoughts on this?
Tags: business, e-commerce, expansion, exposure, help, hobby, income, marketing, media, social
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by SassmowthDesigns on -
lol, I'd love it if I had some help! But I can't afford it!
While I thought I was pretty tech-savvy when I started this venture, I quickly found out I wasn't. I also didn't realize how time consuming it would be with the 'marketing' aspect!
Having to deal with not only etsy, I have FB, twitter, a blog, and here of course! And I've had to sign up with blog sites to get mine listed, twitter sites to get myself listed, joined tons of crafting sites for more exposure. Somedays I find myself on the computer more then actually getting crafts done!
I now have a healthy balance between the 2 that I'm happy with. I'm now able to get computer work done AND crafting done. Although in order to do that I work on average 13 hour days. I start at 5am, take a break from 1:30 - 2:30, work again until 5:30, take a break to spend time with my hubby after dinner, and start up again around 7:30 and sometimes go until midnight.
I do enjoy doing all this marketing, but ya.. I'd be much better rested and have a lot more crafts done if I had some help in this aspect LOL
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Permalink Reply by Funnyface on -
A straight Admin...no it really wouldn't help. I was an admin for almost 12 years before I started staying at home with dd ft but I could use marketing help big time..of course, just can't afford it though. I could also use someone to edit pictures, which I have looked into however, still just too expensive for my product. I have a very hard time with advertising/marketing. I just don't get it...nor do I really have the gumptions to get it, but I have get it if I want this little business to a success.
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Permalink Reply by Jane Hazell` on -
I think all business could grow with additional help. Myself, I feel overwhelmed at times with making the product, listing it on the internet, marketing, packaging, shipping.......the list goes on. But I live way out in the country without a lot of neighbors that I could employ and I really cannot afford to employ any help at this time. So, I am a one woman band! Like most crafters I have met on the net. But we work hard, stay focused, and hope for the best,
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Permalink Reply by Spirit Reflections on -
Some days I think I need an assistant for everything, but the one I could really use would be a good photographer. Of course, I can't afford that. Hope I can someday though.
Kathie
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Permalink Reply by craftytortoise on -
Oh Yeah! I could use lots of help! I made a list of things I needed to work on a while back. I don't need someone to help me create... but I do need someone to do all the rest. Marketing, Scheduling, Website Design and maintenance... just to name a few. There are so many things that I could use an expert on, but I have to jump in and just figure it out. Lots of google searches. lol
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Permalink Reply by womanfrommycountry on -
Wow, I guess I'm not the only one! So what you're saying the concerns are primarily:
-marketing/administrative support
-someone to be the legs and feet
-time
-budget
Are there any other things you find challenging like blog administration, engaging customers, visibility or something else that if different would boost your sales?
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Permalink Reply by womanfrommycountry on
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I actually researched a camera instead. I'm thinking of purchasing the Nikon D50. That camera is amazing! Additionally, I plan on investing in a high-quality used dress form. Together with a little corner in my office that I'll decorate, I think I could pull off some nice images of my product.
Spirit Reflections said:Some days I think I need an assistant for everything, but the one I could really use would be a good photographer. Of course, I can't afford that. Hope I can someday though.
Kathie
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Permalink Reply by womanfrommycountry on
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I tell ya! It's a lot of work. It's good you've identified where your challenges are. Let's connect because I know an excellent web designer. If you're on Twitter look for @oustcat. She rocks!
As for scheduling try Google Calendar (works great if you have an Android phone but syncs with a gmail account too), or GenBook which is like an online appointment management system. Marketing, phew, endless possiblities!
craftytortoise said:Oh Yeah! I could use lots of help! I made a list of things I needed to work on a while back. I don't need someone to help me create... but I do need someone to do all the rest. Marketing, Scheduling, Website Design and maintenance... just to name a few. There are so many things that I could use an expert on, but I have to jump in and just figure it out. Lots of google searches. lol
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Permalink Reply by womanfrommycountry on
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Yeah, I wish my little nephews and host of cousins could stay the weekend with me because I'd put them to work and have a factory running out of my house!
Jane Hazell` said:I think all business could grow with additional help. Myself, I feel overwhelmed at times with making the product, listing it on the internet, marketing, packaging, shipping.......the list goes on. But I live way out in the country without a lot of neighbors that I could employ and I really cannot afford to employ any help at this time. So, I am a one woman band! Like most crafters I have met on the net. But we work hard, stay focused, and hope for the best,
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Permalink Reply by janaes jewels on -
Here I am once again.
Been doing this for years now with good to moderate success and I've always felt that it would be so much easier if I had at least one (if not two) of me.
1. Craft design time
2. Labor for creation
3. Pictures & Editing
4. Facts & Descriptions
5. Listing
6. Answering questions
7. Invoicing
8. Packing
9. Shipping
10. Followup/Feedback
And that's just for your product...A fulltime job!
1. Web design
2. Adding product
3. Adding additional pictures, creating new pages
4. Following new Twitter folks
5. Writing new blog posts
6. Hitting other blogs you follow
7. Updating your FB with blurbs so your not just listing "stuff"
8. Shopping for supplies
9. Maintaining Inventory
10. Updating supply software for pricing
11. Touch base with B&M's
12. Update onsite Inventory
Oh, this is just 2 more full time jobs.
And yes, I do it all myself because I cannot afford to hire anyone. So, I become a jack of all trades...I think that's why we all have trouble mastering our trades. Maybe we should find like shops and combine energies and be "great" and successful instead of mediocre and struggling.....
Thoughts?????
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Permalink Reply by womanfrommycountry on
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I agree. I think we all do this. There are likely barters that can be worked out, children or mates that can help, or maybe partnering with someone so that you can split responsibilities. However, I think what happens is that we do take care of everything ourselves, and sometime burn the candle at both ends. I know personally since my day job involves marketing, I would like to develop a solution for my craft business that allows for me to do it all WELL. Other than maximizing time through multitasking and efficiently managing other daily mom/wife/full-time job stuff, I think the only option is to outsource. The results may prove to be so profitable that it's worth the investment.
janaes jewels said:Here I am once again.
Been doing this for years now with good to moderate success and I've always felt that it would be so much easier if I had at least one (if not two) of me.
1. Craft design time
2. Labor for creation
3. Pictures & Editing
4. Facts & Descriptions
5. Listing
6. Answering questions
7. Invoicing
8. Packing
9. Shipping
10. Followup/Feedback
And that's just for your product...A fulltime job!
1. Web design
2. Adding product
3. Adding additional pictures, creating new pages
4. Following new Twitter folks
5. Writing new blog posts
6. Hitting other blogs you follow
7. Updating your FB with blurbs so your not just listing "stuff"
8. Shopping for supplies
9. Maintaining Inventory
10. Updating supply software for pricing
11. Touch base with B&M's
12. Update onsite Inventory
Oh, this is just 2 more full time jobs.
And yes, I do it all myself because I cannot afford to hire anyone. So, I become a jack of all trades...I think that's why we all have trouble mastering our trades. Maybe we should find like shops and combine energies and be "great" and successful instead of mediocre and struggling.....
Thoughts?????
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Permalink Reply by Spirit Reflections on
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So is the answer some kind of bartering with each other for specific tasks we're good at?
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