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Required Reading for Etsy Sellers: Craft Inc.
Story by paperstories
Published on January 18, 2008 in Reviews 		Photo by ‘Jackson Calder plans his future’ photo by WAHM Paperstories

Reviews of Meg Mateo Ilasco's book Craft Inc: Turn Your Creative Hobby Into a Business had been swirling around the blogosphere since the book came out this summer.  I hadn’t had a chance to pick up a copy and was thrilled to see that Santa had put one in my stocking.  Finally I could read what all the buzz was about.

While I am already past hobby-mode and have been running my little letterpress business Paperstories for a few years now, I still found this book to be very helpful.  Craft Inc. starts you at the beginning, giving advice on all the necessary stuff like getting a business license, setting up your product line, and even choosing an appropriate name.  Once you get through the basics, the book gives lots of helpful tips on everything from setting up wholesale accounts, creating a marketing plan, and how to grow the business.  With chapters like “Your Creative Mind,” “Production and Pricing Plans,” and “Ups, Downs, and Next Steps,” there is a wealth of useful information not only for the newest crafter but for the seasoned veteran as well.  Also, as a new mom, there were some wonderful words of wisdom for about running your business during major life changes such as having a baby.  

In my opinion, one of the best aspects of the book is its integration of fourteen interviews with some current craft and design heavyweights.  Here's just a sampling: home-goods designer Lotta Anderson (aka Lotta Jansdotter, who did a Open Studio Tour video with the Storque) to design-blog heartthrob Grace Bonney of Design*Sponge (see Grace's Trends piece on the Storque) to shopkeeper Rena Tom of the Brooklyn based Rare Device (see the Storque's Featured Buyer piece with Rena's partner Lisa Congdon and another video piece on an American Craft Council event with Rena). Each interview is thoughtfully interjected into the chapter that best fits the tone of the interview.  For me, these interviews were pure inspiration.

A quick read and beautifully laid out, Craft Inc. also covers topics that have been the source of many lengthy forum threads on Etsy, such as the copyright issues involved using commercially purchased fabrics or patterns.  This book answers a variety of questions related to good business practices and is full of appropriate resources.  In the back there is a handy internet resource guide that even gives a nod to Etsy.  I wholeheartedly recommend this book to every shop owner on Etsy.  In fact, I think it should be required reading prior to opening a shop.  You will learn a lot and hopefully be inspired along the way.


Further Resources:
Meg Mateo Ilasco's website
www.mateoilasco.com

U.S. Small Business Administration
www.sba.gov

American Craft Council
www.craftcouncil.org
Tags book review, books, business, Craft Inc, designsponge, entrepreneurship, Lotta Jansdotter, Paperstories, rare device, selling, WAHMs
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19 comments     Login to add your own!

Jan. 18, 2008 at 1:35 p.m. GuerillaEmbroidery

sounds interesting but is quite americanised? I would like to invest, but I am in the UK.

Jan. 18, 2008 at 1:40 p.m. Vanessa

GuerillaEmbroidery, do you know of any good books geared towards UK indie artists and businesspeople? We would love it if you'd like to write a review for the Storque!!

Jan. 18, 2008 at 1:45 p.m. lpdesigns

I got this book for Christmas. Read it in about 3 days, but I can see myself going back to it.

Jan. 18, 2008 at 4:14 p.m. claudiasburningink

OK does it come as a book on tape. I don't like to read. LOL

Jan. 18, 2008 at 5:48 p.m. panoptica

are we going to be tested???

Jan. 19, 2008 at 9:09 a.m. babastudioPrague

Oh! I was going to ask exactly the same thing. Does anyone know of anything that's more European in outlook? Or do you think that this book is sufficiently global to still be useful for us Euros?

Jan. 19, 2008 at 1:26 p.m. sewbettie

I really found this book helpful and fun to read too! In my opinion, I think that most of it (besides the legal stuff, which is US specific) would be very useful for businesses anywhere in the world.

Jan. 19, 2008 at 1:48 p.m. paperstories

I'm glad my review has piqued your interest. While the sources listed in the back are more U.S. based, I think the interviews as well as the general information are very helpful regardless of geography.

As for not liking to read, I am also guilty of that but this book was really quick to read. Not because of the lack of content, but simply because of the nature of the writing. It wasn't too dense or boring. Just perfect.

Jan. 19, 2008 at 6:17 p.m. InspiredbySchmooley

I purchased this book back in September and read it cover to cover in just a few days. Since then I've pulled it back out for reference numerous times. Definitely one of the most valuable resources any crafter could own. I'm glad to see a Storque article on it...this book should be required reading for all Etsy sellers!

Jan. 20, 2008 at 2:09 a.m. rawfish

i got this book for myself on amazon (when i was buying text books for the semester it somehow snuck its way into my cart :)) anyway, i think its an excellent read and as an artsy person i really enjoyed the graphic design and how it gave small show interviews deliciously interspersed within the chapters. i get bored really quickly so reading those interviews helped me get exciting about conquering the section and helped me remember where i was in the book!
anyway, ive now graduated to an even more nuts n' bolts type book. the name escapes me right now (and its all packed up in my suitcase) but it has brightly colored thread on the cover and i highly recommend that book as well. if you want to know what im rambling about send me a convo and ill look it up for you!

Jan. 20, 2008 at 9:47 a.m. amuse

Thanks for the review. Someone else had suggested this book for me when I was asking about taking business classes.
I'm definately sold on it now.

Jan. 20, 2008 at 12:26 p.m. paperstories

super!

Jan. 20, 2008 at 6:27 p.m. GumballGrenade

ooh need to add to my reading list. Thanks for taking the time to review and share!

Jan. 20, 2008 at 7:37 p.m. projectfelt

This book literally transformed my whole way of thinking about a craft business. I truly was touched by this book. So much that I closed my old etsy shop from over a year and opened a new one a few months ago.

I took the advice in the book and put into good use. Now, I have a great etsy shop, my sales are growing and my blog is awesome. I will recommend this book to anyone.

I carry it in my bag everyday and reference it all the time for advice or tips. Must go buy !

Jan. 20, 2008 at 7:39 p.m. photoglassworks

Just ordered it and I'm excited to get reading! Thank you for find and review!

Jan. 21, 2008 at 11:13 a.m. queenBlingerie

Well, thanks to all this positive feedback I just ordered the book on Amazon. Can't wait to receive it.
Even though I'm not in the US I'm hoping to get some useful tips for my shop.

Jan. 21, 2008 at 11:49 a.m. MonkeyTravelClub

I've yet to review the book on my blog but I definitely agree. It's a great resource and I highly recommend it.

Jan. 21, 2008 at 3:51 p.m. kristincrane

santa brought me the same book! very helpful and inspiring, and beautifully designed ;)

Jan. 21, 2008 at 7:10 p.m. AmandaKLockrowJewels

I bought this book through Amazon in November and loved it. I found it easy to understand and easy to start implementing in my business.

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