Wednesday, March 14, 2012

Managing Your Business with Children

I just read a good article in Handmadeology about working moms with children and how to manage it all.  The link to the article is http://www.handmadeology.com/work-at-home-moms-here-are-25-ways-to-invest-in-your-handmade-business-and-your-kids/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+handmadeology%2Ffeed+%28Handmadeology+Today%29.

When my son was little, I wasn't very active with my business, but as he got older and I carved out more time for my crafts, I did start incorporating some of these suggestions (although I didn't know it at the time!).  And now that he's a teenager and unemployed, I've made him my assistant (although very part-time).  I think the suggestions of using your babies and toddlers as models is great. They're great to use for sizing while you're making items too.  I have my son helping me with photographing my creations and then actually listing items on my Artfire and Etsy shops.  He was pretty excited when some of those listings sold!  He's also very good at creating the key words and tags for my listings.  He also can edit my photographs.  Because the photographing, photo editing and listing processes take up a lot of time, he's been a great help.

I also put my son to work when I go to craft shows by helping with loading up the car, unloading at the show and setting up my booth.  He's even gone above and beyond the call of duty when I've forgotten something and he's run home to get it.  Then I enlist him as my sales person so I can have lunch and do a little shopping of my own.  And then at the end of the day, he helps me load up everything and take it home and put it away. 

He'll be earning his money this coming weekend because I'm having a booth at the Rosemount High School craft fair on Saturday, March 17 from 9:00 am - 4:00 pm.  If you're in the Twin Cities area, stop by!  There will be around 90 crafters and concessions.  Then it will be time to list some new items in my Artfire and Etsy shops.

All of this helps to give him some work skills and a chance to earn a little extra money.  Now if I could only interest him in learning to crochet!