CraftSanity #113 3.14.10

I made you all wait way too long for this episode, but I think it’s going to be worth it. My guest is a fabulous storyteller who shares a wealth of info that I hope will serve as an audio springboard for all of you dear listeners out there dreaming of launching your own handmade business. You can do it! You can do it! You CAN do it! Now that I’ve got you pumped up a little bit, grab a project and settle in for a nice long chat with Kari Chapin, author of “Handmade Marketplace: How to Sell Your Crafts Locally, Globally and Online.” I interviewed Kari for my craft column right before the book launch and then I interviewed her again for the podcast because I wanted you to get to hear the full story. With experience as a maker, marketer, stylist and retail manager (among many other things), Chapin has done a fine job of rounding up helpful information for creative people dreaming of making a handmade living. And I’m not just saying that because she interviewed me for her book. (Some of my comments about podcasting are one on page 206, but you’ll be way more impressed with the famous crafters she interviewed to fill the other pages.) Kari covers everything from pricing and taxes to social media and starting your own craft fair, so this book is pretty cool and includes a lot of info that I wish I would have known before I decided to launch my own crafty biz. Speaking of which… ENTER TO WIN a copy of Kari’s book by posting a craft business tip below. What do you wish you would have know before you got started? If you haven’t launched a handmade business yet, please post a question. What do you want to know before you get started? The deadline to enter the random drawing is March 21. Good luck!