“The artist has only one ambition: to master his material in such a way that his work is independent of the value of the raw material.” -Adolph Loos, ‘Building Materials’ In my current Marketing for Makers course, someone brought up her typical pricing strategy: cost of materials x 3 +20% = wholesale price As someone [...]
On last week’s post on creating niche products, I got several comments from people who felt they just could not limit themselves to one material or idea. “I’m creative, I just have too many ideas to focus on one thing!” There is nothing wrong with being creative and having a lot of ideas. In fact, [...]
A weekly roundup of craft, design, and business related news and links. 5 Ways to Effectively Promote Blog Posts – Are you blogging but it seems like no one is reading? Here are some ways to help people find your posts. 10 Ways for Artists to Use Mind Mapping – I love mindmapping. It’s kind [...]
I hear it at craft shows and trade shows all the time, “You’re so lucky you make X, because I make Y and so does everybody else.” Regardless of whether you’re a jeweler, potter, or photographer, you probably feel the same way – like you’re in a very crowded product category. {image via The Great [...]
The other day, I drove by a billboard with the words Trans-Radical Heart Catheterization in giant letters next to a picture of a doctor. There may have been a few other words on there, but I certainly didn’t catch them. Now I don’t know about you, but I have no idea what trans-radical heart catheterization means. [...]
A weekly roundup of craft, design, and business related news and links. 8 Hot Social Media Tips From Eight Industry Experts – 8 top social media experts each share one great tip for improving your SM marketing How to start building your brand on Twitter – This post is chock full of great Twitter advice. [...]
Registration is officially open for the next session of Marketing for Makers! I learned a lot the first time I taught the Marketing for Makers e-course in the fall of 2010. The biggest thing I learned is that fall is a terrible time to run a marketing e-course aimed at makers! If you’re like most [...]
A weekly roundup of craft, design, and business related news and links. Artists: Seek Connected Opportunity in This Sea of Discovery – Don’t be an online snob. Those commenters and tweeps are connected to others and can help or hurt your business. How Paula Manning Lewis Has Sold More Than 30,000 Pieces of Art – [...]
A weekly roundup of craft, design, and business related news and links. Beating Creative Burnout – This Etsy Success post helps regain the mojo you may have lost for your work over the years. Easy Steps: Add a Newsletter Sign-Up to Your Facebook Fan Page – Seriously, this is the easiest description of this that [...]
I make awesome jewelry. There, I said it. And now I want you to say it too. Repeat after me. ”I make awesome {insert your product here}” Talking about your products in positive way doesn’t make you a braggart, or boastful, or a slimy snake oil salesmen. It certainly doesn’t make you a bad person. [...]
Megan Auman is a designer, maker, educator, and entrepreneur who has built a multi-faceted business around her passion for great design and sustainable business. Her eponymous jewelry line is sold in stores across the US and online. In 2009, Megan founded Crafting an MBA to help designers and makers develop their business skills. In 2011, the site name was changed to Designing an MBA.
Learn more about Designing an MBA.
