How do I let go of the 9-5 world to do what I love which is creating?

Question

I just recently started scrapbooking at a local store. The ladies go nuts over my ideas and buy what I buy. I make kits and they sell out but I don't have enough money to make this full time or am I just to scared to take the risk. I used to sew purses in High School and sold them like hot cakes I tried a few craft shows after that and nothing happened so I strayed away from that.

Answer 1

Start slow. Keep that 9-5, until you are comfortable to leave it. I have always tried to make my crafting hobbies an extra source of income, but attending shows, buying the materials & the time put into each project, has made me keep my mundane job to pay the bills.

Create a website to sell, use eBay, etc., and monitor the flow......a good way to see how long the interest may be. Enjoy!

Answer 2

First, just because you tried a few craft shows doesn't mean that couldn't work. Craft shows are notorious for being good today for someone, bad tomorrow... or depend on all kinds of other variables like who goes to that particular type of show. Unless you're prepared to travel a lot though, you probably can't make a living from craft shows only.

I agree that selling online (kits or components or whole items) is a great way to get started and get a following of customers while you slide into seeing if you can do this full time.
Home parties are a great idea too (and parents will always spend on kids where they might not on themselves, or they'll spend more).

You'll also have to decide whether you're a real businessperson though too because self-operated businesses generally won't succeed without a fairly disciplined self-starter for a boss, and one who has or can learn some business savvy. There is actually a lot of business in any home business, even if it's art/craft related.
Sometimes you may have to consider just whether you can do production work too, since some creative types just can't force themselves to remake the same thing over and over again (some solve that by making only higher-priced items or doing custom work, but that can be hard too).

As for letting go of the 9-5 world, one possibility (esp. if you aren't good at business, etc.) would be to work at some place where you could do something you enjoy, or even be around it. Some other small art-craft businesses may be looking for assistants too.
Some of what you do or how you do it would depend on your age, lifestyle, means, and any responsibilities you have (family, etc.) too, though there should be some way to work in at least some no matter what (for many creative types, it's hard not to have an outlet to something that's so important to them).

You might want to check out these pages at my website for all kinds of info on doing crafts as a business (...my site is mostly about polymer clay, but the principles are pretty much the same for a lot of things, and there's a lot of just general business info and links there too):
http://glassattic.com/polymer/business.htm
http://glassattic.com/polymer/start_a_business.htm
http://glassattic.com/polymer/shows.htm
http://glassattic.com/polymer/demos.htm
http://glassattic.com/polymer/teaching.htm
http://glassattic.com/polymer/photography.htm

Best of luck!!!!!

Diane B.

Answer 3

I think there's nothing harder than try to start your own business with something like this. There was a beautiful scrapbooking store near me that went out of business, so it's a tough thing, but if it's what you want to do, maybe you could start by giving classes at a local craft store--but a big one like Michael's or A.C. Moore. A long time ago I tried selling stenciled items at craft shows and didn't even make back my materials costs.
There's nothing wrong with being scared of the risks, but if you gather information, you'll have a better idea of what the risks are and how you might be able to succeed. Good luck, and good for you for thinking about changing your life and doing what you really want to do.
Another idea: maybe you could do scrapbooking birthday parties. Parents are always looking for something different, and there are girls who would love to have that kind of party.

Answer 4

The old adage of needing money to make money would apply a bit here. Leaving a job that actually pays to focus solely on doing something you enjoy that may not make money is dangerous. If you have a job that you could get another like it again somewhere without too much difficulty, such as waiting tables, or cashiering in a department/grocery store/fast food place (not that these are bad jobs, just generally easier to find employment in these areas rather than as CEO of a Fortune 500 company) and you are not already living pay check to pay check then you could try it and if it doesn't work out you haven't lost too much. The better option however would be to start slow and create things only in your spare time, if it is something you enjoy then it is not that difficult to make it as a hobby. See if you can find a market for your items, if you find a decent income this way then you will be in a good position to focus more time on it, and if not then you will have not lost more than a little bit of time doing something you like.

Answer 5

just keep on creating on your days off, see what sells, and what is consistent, and don't sell yourself short by selling your artwork for too low of price. If a lot of people are buying something and your stuff is selling out, people will most likely not mind paying a little more for custom stuff that is well made. If you have a hot item, or two try to figure out how many you can produce within a normal work week, how much you will get for them and see what your take in would be versus how much you make at your 9-5 job in one week, and see if it would be worth it to try that route. You could always go for calling in sick for maybe one week, just play the part of i'm totally sick and hopefully not lose your main job to see if anything pans out. But if too risky, just sell your crafts on the side for extra cash. Thats what I try to do myself, but I cant risk my guaranteed pay, because I dont have sell enough of side projects to make ends meet. But keep up the quality work, it sounds like you take pride in your art, and I wish you the best of luck with all that. Take care.

Answer 6

Start slow. Create all you want. But over weekends and holidays. See how it goes. If it goes well, you'll gain confidence, not to mention funds. See where it goes from there. Enjoy! :)