Your Year in Review

December is over.  Christmas planning, prepping, partying and all the Boxing Day shopping madness has now brought us to the leaner month of January.  Gasps are heard 'round the country as credit card bills arrive and consumer spending decreases.  January is a time for shoppers to reasses their budgets and for crafters to look over the last year.  Take some time to review what worked for you and what didn't in 2010. 

Did you meet last year's goals?  Whether it was sales, increasing your contact directory, developing a website, or learning new techniques for your craft, you probably had some idea of what you hoped to accomplish this year.  Did you do it?  Here are a few ways to assess your year.  Have a seat, get out a pencil and spend some time reviewing your year and planning for this one!

  • What worked best for you? Online, local stores, craft sales, etc. There are so many places to sell, so now is a good time to decide what worked for you and what didn't. Were there events that you had good sales at, but the table price was way too much? You may want to opt out of those sales this year, but at the same time you may have generated some great contacts and repeat customers.  Try some different sales this year.  Try to make sure that they type of people you have in mind when you are making your craft are actually the ones who attend the sales that you were selling at.

  • Do you have a particular style of inventory that just did not sell? What may have been fashionable or trendy 10 years ago could very well be totally out of style now. Can you alter an exsisting craft into something that is more up-to-date? Take a look at some style magazines that relate to your particular field for some inspiration. Or maybe it's just time to have a sale to get rid of the items that move too slowly.

  • Have you been doing the same type or craft for years and are tired of it? Do you feel like an assembly line? Try mixing in some sort of new medium; add stones to stained glass, try a linen or cotton yarn instead of wool, take a class in silver clay, fimo or fused glass to add to your jewellery creations. If you're stuck in a rut then it's time to mix it up!

If this was a great year for you, then keep it up!! If you found that your sales were down, or that you are frustrated with your craft then maybe it's time to try something new. After all, "Insanity is doing the same thing in the same way and expecting a different outcome." (Chinese proverb)   Have fun this winter, exploring new ways to growing as a crafter and make money doing it!

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