Arts and Crafts FocusIn the arts and crafts business I discovered that you have to keep your crafts focus all the time! In other words, keeping up with the changing times.. just like fashion, some crafts are in one year and out the next.. Keep your arts and crafts focus on what will sell for you this year! You will notice at craft shows and fairs, that there will be a load of wooden folk art one year, selling out the door, then the next few years, they keep making the same pieces ... only to be stuck with them. You have to keep coming up with new ideas, something fresh, there is nothing wrong with keeping some of the profitable crafts from last year and add them to this year, but be fresh! Traditional crafts, such as hand knitted sweaters, baby items, fudge and goodies, always seem to do well at craft shows, but if this is not your craft focus, then just watch the trends in decorating..
If the decorating trend is ultra modern that year, maybe make a few things that would fit in, or if the trend is chabby chic, then do more of your recycled country style crafts using the materials "in" at the time, whether its denim, retro patterns or whatever you notice in magazine and stores. You need to keep your arts and crafts focus. If you just make one craft, and figure thats it now, I will just sit back and sell them, you will be sorry, as your sales begin to dwindle, unless you are those few in the traditional crafts.. keep fresh, use your crafts diary, look on the internet, scan magazines and try and get some ideas.. do not copy!.. just get inspired!.. I always liked researching new ideas.. gets the creativity going.. Inspire the crafter in you!!
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