Set up my business

try my best, work hard very day and never give up

My business was set up ages ago. It’s not thriving but it’s there in the real world and the virtual world. Soon I will have a real life website. I’m doing a website course for artists i.e folk who don’t know what the hell a website is. I also have business cards, sure anyone can have business cards, but mine are pretty with pictures on the back. I know I have a long way to go. I may never even have to register for tax (which proposes you earn at least 64k a year) Still it’s a little empire in a pocket of the world and it’s mine… Allll mine! Mowahahaha!

I suppose you can tell because I’ve completely abandoned 43t, oh bad faerie.

Well lets see, the shop is doing pretty well even though I have not promoted it at all, and the reason I haven’t promoted it is cos I keep getting private commissions which means if the shop was going well I would be well and truly snowed under.

At the mo I have a commission to put some book sculptures into two gallery shops, one huge one for some centre pieces for a corporate event, and one in the works to make some website address books in collaboration with an illustrator and a printer. I’m so busy I can’t take on any more work until April. Phew. Could do with not doing having a full time job actually.

Still have so much to do though, just got my logo designed, but need business cards, learn about VAT, accounting and want to get some stamps made for my packaging promoting recycling. I like to be green.

I have been accepted onto this, which provides me with a business mentor and the resources to have my business set up and making me money within 12 months, it all kicks off with a residential programme at Hull University…. So excited!

to help me reach this goal. I’ve been really frustrated with not being able to work on this more because I have to work full time. Part of the problem is that I work so far from where I live, therefore cutting hours into my business time, but that problem has been solved by accepting a job with flexible hours which is closer to home. Hopefully I’ll be able to get in pretty early and leave early so I can spend more time in the evenings making this goal work.

The mentoring programme I’ve applied for is specifically to help arts graduates into self employment and is mainly done online so it should be quite doable while I’m working.

at a local craft market, which is brilliant news, but it’s in two weeks and I don’t know if that’s too soon for me to make enough stock in time. Part of me really wants to jump in and be brave and see what happens, but part of me doesn’t want to go in too soon, when I’m not ready, and when things aren’t quite finished, I certainly don’t want to rush anything. I just don’t know what to do, but I have to make my mind up quickly because I need to tell them either way. I only got this opportunity because another crafter dropped out at the last minute and I will have to wait until next year before anything comes up again.

funky digital scales.

I have a blog now which y’all can read about this goal and it’s progress and even see pics of my little things. It’s very early stages though and there will no doubt be weeks in between posts but at least I can tick this one off my list.

^{network network network}

for me to do to achieve this goal. Wooh!

Buy digital scales
Set up a post office account
Source local paper supplies
Keep a notebook and write down ideas whenever they come to mind
Make the stock
Set up a spreadsheet on Works to list all the items and when they are sold and who to and date etc
Set up a myspace page and a blog on blogger
Set up a shop on etsy and list 10 items by 1st August

for my etsy shop yesterday, and I am very proud of it. However I’m not going to list it until I have at least 10 things, that is my goal. I also really think I need to put a time limit of when the shop opens, so by the 1st of August I hope to be up and running, maybe even before that. Nine things to make in one month? Should be easy enough.

So today I’m off to town to buy even more paper and some digital scales so I can weigh all my packages and work out the correct postage. The Post Office here have an online service where you can have an account and print out labels in the comfort of your own home. Ahhh the wonders of the internet.