295 – How to Start a Craft Business with Dasha Kosovan of Wellness by Ari

Looking for tips on how to start a craft business or grow your existing one? Today's guest shares tips learned along her journey from stay at home mom with two kids to a successful small business owner in just two years. In early 2018, Ari Candles began from a desire to create not just a candle but something that will purify and benefit the atmosphere and air quality of your home. The idea was ignited after burning a candle received as a gift and seeing black residue in her kids' noses after burning the candle. That’s when Dasha said, “Never Again!” and began work on creating a candle that would not only be pleasant to burn but also beneficial. Dasha is now the owner and founder of Wellness by Ari. They hand-pour 100% pure beeswax candles combined with aromatherapy essential oils. BUSINESS BUILDING INSIGHTS Check that your business name is unique and available to register before you start creating social accounts, etc., even if you don't actually do the paperwork and legal stuff until later. If possible, invest with your own money as you grow rather than taking out loans to avoid building up debt. Remember that a No from one person doesn't mean you'll get No from others. Don't be afraid to get help when you need it. Find the courage to reach out to potential sellers, customers, and promo opportunities. When you do, you're taking action that 90% of your competition isn't! If you're not willing to push yourself, you’re not going anywhere. Give yourself time to grow. Growing slow but steady is the best way to build a stable business. Listen in to get all the biz-building insights! Dasha's Best Tips For Starting A Craft Business When developing your product, focus on what *you're doing,* not what others do, so you develop a unique product. Get feedback from others to help you improve your products. Find a platform that makes accepting payments easy and then build the website around it. If you start with the website first, it can be much harder. Pop-up sales are an easy way to start making sales and get feedback from real customers. Start slowly and evolve your display table over time - add backdrops, signs, etc. - as you grow. Offer product samples to introduce your product to people. Don't be afraid to reach out to potential sellers of your product - local shops, etc. - and keep following up over time. How to motivate yourself to approach people when you don't like selling? Remember your goals and your why. &lt;-- Tune in for the full conversation on this crucial skill! Make sure your products are selling well before investing in more inventory. Encourage customers to share their photos of your products with you on social media and tag you. It's a great way to build relationships, get testimonials, AND get good pictures you can use on your website! Listen to the full episode for all the tips on how to start a craft business! Resources Mentioned Wave Apps for accounting Dasha's Contact Links <a...