Sometimes I am a little skeptical with all of the books out there on business and jewelry making in general, so I am pretty picky about recommending something.  I would definitely recommend Marketing and Selling Your Handmade Jewelry by Viki Lareau.

I actually read it a while back and gained some great business ideas. I need to make it a “must read” again soon to recharge my thinking in promoting my jewelry business.  I may be re-reading it along with you!!

It’s a short read (95 pages in all), and Viki has wonderful step by step advice and ideas on tricky issues like pricing, selling and marketing. This book takes a lot of the guesswork out for those who are starting a home based jewelry business (along with those like me who have been at it for a while … I love it when a book can excite me and change my thinking on things!).

The appendix in the book also includes wonderful resources for finding craft fairs in your area along with listing resources and websites for small businesses, so definitely check it out on your favorite book website.

Well, last week was Spring Break, and I decided that I would take a book along that would potentially help me along with my small business(s).

I currently have The Bauble Market, which is my jewelry business (I almost hate to call it a “business” because it is a lot of fun for me!!), and I promote it by taking special orders, selling on etsy, having my jewelry in galleries and promoting my website.  I also have a new little side venture arising in the near future, so I have been dwelling on and thinking about that.

I took along the book Handmade Marketplace by Kari Chapin, and I settled in aside of the pool to see what awaited me inside. Honestly, I felt like I was reading a “can’t put it down novel” because what she said was of such great interest and value to me. If any of you have a small business (she focuses on crafting, yet I feel that a lot of what she says applies to any small business owner … especially if you are just getting started), I would HIGHLY recommend her book.

She talks about getting started (even legal jargon put in a “womanly” way … my husband bores me to tears when he talks about an LLC business, but Kari did not), what to focus on, getting the word out, having a great website/blog, utilizing social media, keeping track of your things (money, inventory … etc.) and a WHOLE lot more.

I kept a pen and pad with me the entire time to jot down her words of wisdom. I truly felt as though I was being let in on some trade secrets by eavesdropping in on a conversation between experts. If any of you are thinking about starting a small business or even have one in the works, I would really recommend her book (local friends, feel free to borrow it from me!!).

It is not often that I would feel that my blog and a book review would go hand in hand, but this time it’s a win-win for all! I hope that you will check out her book and learn from it as I have … I am so excited to implement some of her ideas! Thanks, Kari!! Check out her book here.