Crafty Superstar: Make Crafts on the Side, Earn Extra Cash, and Basically Have It All

by Grace Dobush

Be a Crafty Sell Out!
If the church-basement sale isn't quite your scene, Crafty Superstar is your go-to resource for selling your crafty goods part-time. Packed with ideas for setting up and selling out, the book includes loads of advice from experts like Faythe Levine, Jenny Harada and Jenny Hart.
Want to make some dough but don't know where to start? Inside find out how to:
Plus, get business forms, lists of resources and a directory of indie craft shows so you can be on your way to becoming a Crafty Superstar!

Genres: Nonfiction, Crafts, Business, Reference, How To, Entrepreneurship

160 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2009

Reviews

[Holly Embry]

I actually would have loved this book to pieces if it weren't for the fact that the author was caught up in a constant attempt to sound hip and indie. Judging by the appearance of this book and a quick flip-through, I was expecting a craft guide geared toward a younger crowd. But one can only read words like "hella" and "chillax" so many times before the fact that the author is obviously trying to come off as a super cool chick becomes distracting to the overall theme of the book. If you're looking for an informative read about the ins and outs of having a modern-day craft business and you're able to ignore the overload of cutesy language, I would recommend this book. But if you have no interest in the world of crafting and you're easily irritated by writers who try too hard to be trendy, it's probably not for you.

[Confuzzled Shannon]

Crafty Superstar is an introduction to creating, working, and promoting your own craft store.

I have had an Etsy store for 10+ years but my sales are low. I had bought this years ago and hoped it would help me get more traffic. The book is pretty general. I had pretty much-done everything it had said.

It took me a while to get to this book so it is a little outdated. In fact, there is a newly updated book I would like to look at. I am not sure what would have made it better. I feel I need more info on how to sell on stores like Zazzle and CafePress or how to promote them and how to sell those products at craft fairs. The book had little about that but not enough.

The book was written well but is really for the person who is really starting out. So not for me now

[Sharon]

This handy book is packed with information from deciding if selling your crafts is something you want to do to pricing your crafts, to finding venues to sell your waqres. This is a most excellent reference book.

[Paulyna C]

Focused 100% on the on the price that you must set for your hand craft, how to sell on internet and promote them

[Laurie Schillinger]

Kindle read, hopefully helpful to Hannah

[Miss Featherhead]

This is the perfect book to read if you are thinking of entering the Indie Craft world either as a hobby or a small business and the main themes taken away from Crafty Superstar are..."Be Informed. Be Confident. Be Yourself." It's written in a very casual voice...almost as if you and the author have been friends for years and already have a comfortable back and forth banter established that's heavy on slang and sarcasm. If that's not your cup of tea, then it might become annoying, but honestly, I didn't think she went over the top and found her humor quite charming at times. All of the above makes Crafty Superstar a quick and easy read...that and the font is huge with doodles all over and the pages are super thick. Grace Dobush touches upon pretty much every aspect of starting a small craft business, giving a good compare and contrast with specific options and things to think about, but without going into intense detail, making Crafty Superstar a fantastic introductory book. Because she doesn't go into great detail, you'll need to look elsewhere for all the nitty gritty deets, but she does a great job providing very helpful resources. I am quite positive that I will be pulling this book from my bookshelf many times over the next year because of it's tremendous resource value. I mean the Epilogue alone has 20+ pages of forms, templates, great recommendations for crafty communities, blogs and publications as well as small business resources, suggested reading, supplies, and to top all of that helpfulness off, a list of all the major North American craft shows.

[Ashleigh]

Well let me start by making a comment on the way this book is written. It won't be for everyone and I can understand why it has irked some people so much. The author tries extremely hard to sound cool in the way she writes, now this might be the genuine way she writes and it may be second nature to her but she uses a lot of words like rad, and shortens business to biz a LOT! so if you aren't a fan of silly hip language then I would steer clear of this book and try out a different one with the same kind of content... There are more out there as I have already come across them. Personally I thought her style of writing was easy to understand and read and felt quite personal and less clinical than most "start your own business" guides tend to be. A lot of the things I already knew and a lot weren't applicable with me working in the UK and the author being from the U.S. However the collection of interviews and snippets from other crafters and the list of blogs/businesses and other handy things at the back were really helpful and super inspirational. I feel pepped up and ready to take the world on now! I would still like to read a couple of the other similar books like creative inc. But this feels like a nice beginning to my online craft journey. I am excited about getting started and have even given thought to starting a craft fair of my own at some point. Thats all thanks to this book. Its definitely worth a read.

[Traci]

I thought Crafty Superstar was a very practical guide to starting your own crafty business. I thought the book was a bit short. I guess I expected it to be a bit more in depth than it was. Don't get me wrong, it did cover all of the practical business topics that one must consider before opening their own business, even if it's a part time business, but I feel as if something was missing from this book, even though I can't quite put my finger on what it was.

I think it's great that the book included a lot of blank templates at the end for business purposes. There are spreadsheets for supply costs, inventory stock and much more.

The book also boasts a lot of information from crafters that have been there, started their own business and learned how to make it work along the way. I think that helps show us that it can be done if you put your mind to it.

[Katelyn]

For me, someone who is only thinking about starting to sell crafts part-time, it was a great introduction. It opened my eyes to a lot of things I will need to consider in planning an online shop. If I were already established selling items either online or via craft shows, this book probably would not be a good read. It's very basic and just provides an overview. There are some great resources and worksheets listed, but again, I think it's geared more toward someone just starting out with only an idea in their head.
I found it motivating and plan to start working this weekend on how I might turn a few dreams into reality.

[Christine]

An easy to read resource for those thinking of, or in the throes of crafting "for profit." Very straight forward and realistic about the realities of this sort of endeavor. Basically do it because you love it not to get rich. Lots of helpful tips and great ideas to point you in new directions and markets. The leg work is all up to the crafter however. But this book will keep you grounded and motivated!

[W.B. Abdullah]

I like the layout of the book and its quick read nature. It read like a conversation--I read it in two and a half hours. A lot of it was stuff I already knew. There's a lot of good tips and I appreciate the sample forms in the back, but I wish the author went more in depth on what it takes to legalize small businesses. For instance, how big or small do you have to be before you get in trouble with the IRS? I'm off to read Craft, Inc. now and hope that it has the answers for me!

[Cat {Pemberley and Beyond}]

Even though the business I'm thinking about starting is not a crafting one, there is a fair amount of very sound advice in there that is applicable to anyone who wants to start earning money from their passion. The language used is a little 'hip' but comes across more as a big sister trying to be supportive and reassuring than someone trying to be cool. This book is a brilliant read for the budding business person.

[Jessica]

Chock full of tips on how to turn a hobby into a successful side business - while keeping the rest of your life in perspective. Down-to-earth, encouraging tone, cute illustrations, and insight from some big names in the indie-craft scene. A must have for anyone trying to make a profit off their handmade goods.

[Sarah]

Very helpful in starting my crafty business. There were a couple of things that weren't covered and more resources could've been added (of course I can't think of them now!), but over all a good book for the beginner. I keep going back to it for advice and answers.

[Alexis]

Pros: good advice all around; I'm happy I waited to design my website because I think the tips provided will be put into consideration. Cons: use of the word "hella" and repetition of the text. Glad I borrowed this book from the library instead of buying it.

[Alice]

Good guide for beginning crafty entrepreneurs, focusing on the indie craft scene. Filled with many good resources. I got this from the library, and I'm happy to see there is a new, expanded edition, because I want to own my own copy so I can highlight and bookmark sections.

[Just - The romance reader]

Well laid out, with some very useful advise. I haven't put any of it to use yet, but I'm optimistic!

[Heidi Boyd]

Must read for anyone considering turning their passion for crafting into a business.

[Sandy]

Great information! Easy read. Whether you want to sell your crafts and artwork to family and friends or want to go big-time, Ms Dobush tells you how.

[Audra]

I love almost all books that deal with women entrepreneurship and the arts and crafts business. This book gives a lot of great information on having a crafts business.

[Yvette Romero]

I received some good information,however, I really didn't care for the author trying to sound hip. It was kind of annoying.

[Josh]

It was alright.

Not much of a review, but it's all I have....

[Diana Myers]

A pretty good guide, loved all the premade forms at the end and the in depth discussion of working fees and taxes into your pricing structure.

[Robin]

Great resource for where I am at right now working on starting selling my sewn items. Will be looking for her other titles.

[Cristen]

Just began...

[Kym]

Good tips. Easy read.

[Lesia Williams]

Good simple advice.

[Wendy]

I got this book when I was into the idea of having a cool Etsy shop. There were some good suggestions in here but I didn't get very far with either it or my shop and eventually I abandoned both. This marks the first place where I ever read the word "deets" and I was seriously thrown by that. Was the book trying too hard to be cool and cutesy or was I just not hip enough for it? The world may never know.