• The National Craft Association is an information & resource center for artists and crafters from beginner to seasoned professional. To receive free information on how to turn your arts or crafts into CASH...Call 1-800-715-9594 or Fax 1-800-318-9410
  E-mail Your mailing address to NCA.

• Start with the Small Business Administration at 800-827-5722 or on the Web at http://www.sbaonline.sba.gov to get numbers for your local SBA office or Small Business Development Center. They provide information on starting, financing, or growing your business. Some agencies offer free individual counseling. There are also special programs for women, minorities, and veterans. At the web site you can download useful publications or order them from your local office.

• Need to develop a thorough business plan cheap, many local colleges or universities offer this service as student MBA programs. The Small Business Advancement Center is a clearing house for schools that offer this program call 501-450-5300 or on the Web http://www.sbanet.uca.edu.

• For on-line business information, use Yahoo's Business Resources Search (http://www.yahoo.com) . Go to the Business and Economy section for a list to link to many other business resources.

  Sales and Marketing:

• If you don't get your message out, who will know you have a product to sell. No matter what size your business is you need to create a marketing plan. Here are some ways to get results with spending very little money.

• To obtain market demographics for your area request media kits from all the local newspapers, TV and radio stations in your area. Knowing more about the population size, income levels, professional, non-professional work force, single, married etc. helps you to build a product mix that fits with your selling area. Also, check with your local Chamber of Commerce to see if they publish figures or offer a free brochure.

• If you have an area where your products sell extremely well, consider passing out leaflets or sales flyers in that area. A leaflet can be produced for pennies. You can distribute them yourself on bulletin boards, cars or at private homes. For a free brochure on how to use bulletin boards for advertising Call the Thumbtack Bugle at 510-653-8063.

• Interested in magazine advertising but think it is far to expensive for you. Call 3M Media Magazine Network at 800-225-3457 for a free brochure on buying remnant ad space.

• Make sure your phone message says something promotional, even when you are not there you could be telling a customer about a new product or the next craft show you will be at.

• Try network marketing by teaming up with another related, but non-competing business to do joint marketing. You can each provide information to your customers for each other in outgoing orders, or display brochures at your show booth or store counter.

• Read Jay Conrad Levinson's latest book Guerrilla Marketing for the Home-Based Business (Houghton Mifflin). You can visit his Web site at http://www.gmarketing.com. Here you will find his guerrilla marketing strategies and a free weekly newsletter on low-cost marketing strategies.

• Need some consulting? For a small fee based on the amount of time you are on the phone the National Marketing Federation (800-2-SOLVE-IT) is the place to call. You can mail or fax your questions and information about your company, in advance, which they review for free.

• Designing good sales material is important. The Corporate Design Foundation, offers a free quarterly newsletter called @ issue that is written specifically for business owners to raise awareness of good design techniques. Fax a subscription request to 617-451-6355.

• Don't forget to do your own public relations like offer to write an article for a local newspaper or teach a class.

  Business Finances and Cost Cutting:

• Check out the economic development programs in your state, which may offer grants to start-up businesses. Your nearest Small Business Development Center should know about these programs and can help you prepare an application. Call the Association of Small Business Development Centers at 703-448-6124 for the office nearest you.

• Don't overlook credit cards as quick cash option for your business. Many entrepreneurs suggest applying for several new cards, all at once, when starting a business to maximize your available credit line. Bartering is another way to obtain things you need for your business. Call 212-289-2900 to request a brochure on how to barter from Barter Advantage in New York City.

• Get the 800 ordering number for all your suppliers. Make sure you ask if they have one, because they won't always publicize it. Calling before 8 a.m. or after 5 p.m. your time for business calls to areas in different time zones will save you money on your regular long distance calls. Send your faxes after 5 p.m., by saving them until the end of the day.

• If you are doing business mailing to your customers call your nearest Postal Business Center and they will send you a free book on third-class mail preparation. Send your mail early in the day. You can often ensure one or two-day delivery with a first class stamp, as three-quarters of all mail arrives at the post office after 3 p.m.

• Consider buying alliances with other business people. Group your orders together to buy a larger quantity and everyone benefits from the lower bulk price. This technique also works when buying from a wholesaler who has great prices but the minimum order amount or the minimum quantity is more than you can handle.

• Need more staff? Try student interns. Many schools and colleges offer a program where they place the student with you and provide credit in lieu of payment. It is a good idea to interview a few before choosing one, as interns' skills vary widely. You will want one compatible with the job you have.
  
  

• The National Craft Association is an information & resource center for artists and crafters from beginner to seasoned professional. To receive free information on how to turn your arts or crafts into CASH...Call 1-800-715-9594 or Fax 1-800-318-9410
  E-mail Your mailing address to NCA.

© 1995-1998 National Craft Association. All rights reserved. Individual Artisans, Crafters and Business Owners retain full copyright to the images and products displayed in this web site.

National Craft Association, 1945 E. Ridge Rd., Suite 5178, Rochester, NY 14622-2467, 1-800-715-9594 or (716) 266-5472, Fax (716) 785-3231. Send Comments & Questions to the National Craft Association nca@craftassoc.com