Beadecked.NET

How to turn your hobby into a business without spending money

2007-08-10T03:23:00.000-07:00

I enjoyed making jewellery so much that the upkeep of my hobby was making a dent in my bank balance. I decided I would begin a small business to sell what I made – more to feed my bead habit than to make my millions! Because I was unsure of how this would all take off I did not want to spend money on a website and advertising etc so I tried to do it all without spending a bean! Below are some of my top tips if you are thinking of doing the same thing:

- Get a free website: watch here because there are some very good [and conversely very bad] hosts you can get free websites from. I chose Microsoft Office Live Basics package and chose a .NET domain address which was also free. I have found this package to be more than adequate and would give Microsoft full marks!

- Free Advertising: Try to get reciprocal links going. This can take some time but is worth it. Be choosy as to who you link with – you don’t want to be linked to a site that is disreputable or else it will taint yours. Don’t worry if you are linking to people of a similar trade – crafting is a community and I don’t think you will drive away business. You can also try PLUGBOARDS though it depends whether you personally like them.

- Get family and friends on board: sending out e-mails just letting people know that you have started your business can really help to spread the word. Don’t be embarrassed, people like to look and see what you have done.

- Be prepared to play the long game: don’t expect sales for a while – concentrate on getting you site up and running before you expect the traffic to really come in their droves.

- Use contacts! Do you have a friend or relation that owns a shop/hotel/B&B/cafe? Why not approach them and see if they would mind selling some of your pieces?

- When taking pictures of your crafts don’t worry if you don’t have all the right equipment. My husband took pictures of my jewellery in my daughter’s wardrobe with a desk light and some paper!!! [BE INVENTIVE!]

- Paypal will offer you a free basket checkout – though they will charge commission for the sales. It is easy to use and there is no upfront money which I liked!

These points are all really important but you must make sure that you really take time to perfect your website. It must look and feel professional or there is no point in really taking this further. People will link with a quality website so you need to make yours desirable [if you don’t think this is possible check out www.beadecked.net to see what can be done with NO money spent on the design!].

Good luck! Please e-mail if you have any questions or comments charlotte@beadecked.net

The Friday Feeling

2007-06-22T03:06:00.000-07:00

whoop whoop got that friday feeling! Everything looks better on a Friday, the washing pile seems smaller, my bathroom looks more sparkly and the fact that my daughter covers herself in humuus makes me laugh rather than tear my hair out at the state of her outfit!!!

Been making some jewellery for a friends collegue - have actually felt like Iv been running a business this week rather than faffing around which has been so nice.

Happy Days

2007-06-20T07:10:00.000-07:00

Been fairly busy of late.....I feel I am always saying that..........anyway where was I........yes Iv been busy with jewellery, actually making some money [I know I know dont faint].

Got an article published and that seems to be pushing my traffic up, hooorah. Need to start replenshing stock.

Just about to wake my darling up from her afternoon nap and bundle her out for a walk, theres nothing like a bit of fresh air and all that!

Monday Monday

2007-06-18T02:26:00.000-07:00

Yo dudes out there, had a good weekend? Iv had a lovely weekend - been at a hen night which was great. Been making some jewellery sets which Iv actually really been enjoying. I keep striving for jewellery that can be worn together and yet does not just look exactly the same. I hope its working!

Met Mum and Dad yesterday and had a lovely lunch, managed to buy Dad a book for fathers day that he had already read which was very me!

Been LOVING Prison Break, watch some of it behind my hands but Marc and I get fairly addicted to these things so we can watch hours every night!

Settled on an invitation design for Marc so am now just needing to make about 70 [hence the reason Im spending many an hour faffing around the internet].

Burst Water Pipe - Eeek

2007-06-14T07:14:00.000-07:00

Ok so picture this..........Im sitting having coffee with a friend and I hear a funny noise, sort-of whooshing waterfally type noise. I go and look and feel its coming from the bath though I cant see anything. Just as I begin to wonder if something is going to explode the doorbell rings and the people downstairs say there's water coming from the ceiling. Yup you guessed it my friends a pipe burst. Called hubby home early from work and cos this is a family show Ill not divulge the words coming from his mouth but rest assured they werent pretty. Long story pretty short...........I cant flush the toilet, cant wash my hands in the bathrooom AND this morning I boiled up water on a stove so we could get two inches of water in which to try to resemble clean people! And you wonder why there hasnt been posts for the past couple of days!??!?!

Apart from the water situation everything is pretty dandy - darling bubs is learning to clap her hands [cute cute cute] and I am trying to understand google adwords.

Will show photos soon of what Iv been working on.

Busy Busy Busy

2007-06-11T14:26:00.000-07:00

Wheeeeesh been as busy as a little bee........family and friends round and a darling bubs who has learnt the joys of crawling!

Tried to tidy up but the more I tidy the more I notice mess..........anyone think it better just not to tidy!?!?

Been making some jewellery for a friend at church to give his sister which Iv really been enjoying, hopefully Ill show you a pic in the next few days!

Making invitations

2007-06-08T02:47:00.000-07:00

I have been up to my elbows in glue and paper trying to sort out a template for Marcs invitation - he's 21 this year [my toyboy ;-).....]. Anyway we havent even decided on a final idea and already Im sick of the numbers 2 and 1 and the word INVITATION! If you have any ingenious ideas out there let me know [Iv tried making them in the shape of a key and a 21!].

So........got bussiness cards yesterday, whoop whoop, feeling rather professional and a bit of a fraud [still not actually MADE money with my jewellery].

Darling daughter is moving and shaking her way to all things dangerous in the flat, its like there is a magnet attracting her to the fire, sissors, wires of any description, phone, computer..........we need a playpen me thinks!

LATE night

2007-06-06T02:01:00.000-07:00

Feeling very bleary this morning, my bro was staying with us last night and were up watching a film. Darling bubs decided she needed three feeds in the night so eyes currently open with matchsticks!

Bought a soldering iron yesterday, for my jewellery. Its gonna need a bit of practice but I'm really looking forward to using it for different designs! oh think i can hear a noisey baby wanting a cuddle........

A little bit of P&Q.......................

2007-06-05T02:23:00.002-07:00

Enjoying a rather nice cup of tea and one [ok two] choccie biscuits while my daughter has a snooze - very blissful. Have just knocked said cup of tea onto the floor - cue carpet cleaner and quite a lot of muttering! I am now reinstated on the couch with another cup of tea..................just very glad hubby doesn't read my blog [whistling innocently].

I thought I would show you some jewellery Iv been making:

Iv just started trying to sell through etsy so Ill let you know how it goes!!

2007-06-05T02:23:00.001-07:00

Nice Weekend

2007-06-03T13:19:00.001-07:00

Been home to my parents for the weekend which was really nice, very relaxed and chilled out. Marc has decided he'd like a motorbike for his birthday - eek!

Jewellery is going SLOWLY, I managed to get jewellery off to the shop thats selling some of my stuff which is pretty exciting, I am looking forward to seeing what happens there.

Thursday

2007-05-31T02:46:00.001-07:00

Ok ok its been a while, sorry about that. Fairly quiet in the old household, Elodie has been cute as custard learning to wave!! We are weaning her using the method of baby led weaning and she is loving the old cheerios at the moment - what a pincer grip.

In terms of jewellery, loving the wire wrapping, I think I would wrap anything in wire if it stood still long enough!

DIY mania

2007-05-29T02:34:00.000-07:00

And so the DIY continues! the flooring in the bathroom is being put down today, just sent Marc up the back of the garden to do some sawing as bubs has just go down for a sleep! STILL WAITING FOR THE POST! Feel a bit of an obsession forming.

Have had a few days off from making jewellery and need to get myself together [what was I saying yesterday about being lazy!?]. I really want to get some more stuff on my site and have a pile of jewellery that needs to be checked and then sent off to a shop so really must get my head into gear!

Monday Monday

2007-05-28T02:45:00.000-07:00

Hey ho hey ho! yesterday was very relaxed - went to church and did the weekly shop. I usually do the weekly shop on my own but cos Marc has now finished his exams :-) we went together..................and spent a third more than we normally would! He always see's things that he really likes and are trolley gets filled rather quickly.

Am still waiting for post from ebay heralding some jewellery bits and so have no motivation at the moment to be making jewellery which is just LAZY!

Saturday

2007-05-26T12:18:00.000-07:00

Woo hoo got some ebay stuff so been playing around with it! I have made a really nice bracelet that Ill try to get a picture of to show you.

Had a really nice day - going for coffee with family and generally chilling in the nice weather. Watched brokeback mountain last night - REALLY enjoyed it. Had heard bad reports but was really worth the watch, although not the happiest movie Iv ever seen.

Just finished some DIY with hubby......you know the saying that bad workmen blame their tools? Well I reckon bad DIY husbands blame their wives ;-). I was brought through to the bathroom on the premise of a chat while hubby resealed the bath only to be commanded to stand here, hold that and does that look like its 6mm!?!?!?!?! ANYWAY after an hour, harmony is restored and a bath looks very much sealed. LOL Marcs just read this and is now giving me his rendition.....ahh if only he had a blog!

Ok of to get some dinner, a well earned beer and a movie.

2007-05-25T02:56:00.000-07:00

Still waiting for mr posty to come with my ebay stuff! lol never mind I have so much computer business to catch up on it gives me time to do that without itching with impatience to make jewellery!

I thought I would show you some of my more recent stuff! I really like this necklace Imade the colours are pretty awesome and it is pretty without being too fine. Tell me what you think......its not actually going on the website as its being sent to a shop but I think I mite have to make a similar one for my site as I really like it!

Waiting for ebay

2007-05-24T06:07:00.000-07:00

Im just waiting for some jewellery findings to arrive from ebay. I find ebay so much cheaper for these things than a bead shop. I think the only thing I dont like about buying beads and findings from ebay is that you cant tell the quality until it has been sent and paid for. I like being able to think about beads and feel there shape etc. Ah well ................until my packages arrive Im not sure I'll be doing much jewellery making which gives me a great excuse to work on my site!

Beginning a Blog

2007-05-24T01:56:00.000-07:00

I have never been very good at keeping up a blog but here goes.........I am a stay at home mum and have a wonderful daughter who is 9 months! My husband is a student who is just finishing some exams on friday :-).

I am going to be studying Theology in the autumn [long distance] which im really excited about. I am a Christian which shapes and defines my whole life - and I love my life!

My hobby is jewellery and have started a website selling some pieces. I like making different pieces and using loads of different beads and materials. The result of this is a sort of love it or hate it effect - people can love some of my stuff and hate other pieces Iv made.

I feel like Im just beginning in the land of beads -there is so much out there I want to try! I am taking a course in september which will hopefully turn my hobby into a skill and from there who knows where it will go!!!