Starting a Fiber Arts Business - Should you take the plunge?

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The most asked question I receive is about starting a dyeing/fiber arts business. Here I want to answer that question in a (long winded) but thorough manner. All the information in this video is my opinion on what it takes to successfully build a business in the fiber arts. I hope you find this informative, and inspirational!

Timestamps:

1:45 - Yes, start a business, but first look at yourself!

2:08 - BE GENUINE TO YOURSELF! First, and most important thing - find where you fit in and incorporate your values into your business. Start with realistic expectations.

5:36 - Take your business seriously. If you want to see it grow, you need to invest time, money and efforts to do so.

8:36 - Look INWARD for inspiration and goal-setting. Do not copy other’s work, or try to “be like so-and-so.” You are your own person, and should value that in your own business. Discover your own mission - your own “why” and don’t try to emulate everyone else.

12:31 - Do not internalize other people’s success, and see yourself as a failure by comparison. Your success is NOT TIED to anyone else.

13:19 - I say this is the last thing, but it’s not. VALUE YOURSELF. It’s so important to value your time, as well as the costs of your goods. Don’t underprice yourself just because you’re new or critical of your skill. If you’re doing things well, the way things should be done - you should be pricing yourself into the market. Period. You should price yourself so your business can grow to your business plan.

18:27 - I say this is the last thing AGAIN, but still. Not the last thing. REMEMBER YOUR MISSION, YOUR WHY. What are your general business goals? You don’t want to lose sight of those during building your business. Don’t cheapen yourself because you think that other people won’t pay for it. Create to inspire, value yourself - and others will value you.

20:19 - CREATE TO INSPIRE, don’t create just to compete. You can’t meet the needs of ALL fiber artists who consume your goods. LIFT OTHERS UP. LIFT YOURSELF UP AND SHOW RESPECT TO YOURSELF AND OTHERS.

21:35 - Value your time, your colleagues time - your knowledge - your skill. Do not be afraid to share knowledge or ask for help, but do so respectfully. Don’t undermine your business by undercutting or cheapening your own skill or time (or your colleague's skill or time). VALUE THE SKILLS YOU WANT TO LEARN, and BUILD YOURSELF UP - don’t try to shortcut or undercut. It pays off more for yourself and your business in the long run, if you have a high level of respect for those things, and respect for those who have come before you.

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Equipment Used:
Camera - G7X Mark ii
Microphone - Samson C01UPro
Computer - MacBook Pro (2015), 8gb RAM, 2.7gHz Intel Core i5
External Hard Drive - Seagate 3T Seagate
Software - Final Cut ProX