Make It Profitable! How to Make Your Art, Craft, Design, Writing or Publishing Business More Efficient, More Satisfying, and MORE PROFITABLE

by Brabec, Barbara

• ISBN13: 9780871319036
• ISBN10: 0871319039
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2000-04-03
• Publisher: M. Evans & Company

Summary

Make It Profitable is a down-home presentation of the best ideas and information from 80 professionals in various fields of the craft industry.

Table of Contents

Technology to the Rescue	11	(11)
How This Book Was Written
Tips for Beginners in Business
Directory of Book Contributors
Getting a Handle on Profit	22	(17)
It's All About Choice
A Closer Look at Profit
Home Business Hours
Warning: Business Can Be Addictive
A Profit-Oriented Checklist
Is It Time to Make a Change?	39	(18)
Stepping into the Unknown
How Mistakes Prompt Change
Changes Forced by New Technology
Change Is Hard, But Worth the Effort
A ``Making Changes'' Checklist
Building Business With Computer Technology	57	(22)
Techno-Stress
How Creative People Design on Computer
Writing and Publishing Businesses
What a Scanner Can Do for You
A ``Building Your Business'' Checklist
Business Planning and Goal Setting	79	(21)
Why You Need a Written Plan
Different Ways to Plan
How to Use Calendars
The Benefits of Written Goals
Borrowing Money to Advance Your Business
A Business Planning/Goal Setting Checklist
Business Management Tips and Strategies	100	(21)
Business Management/Accounting/Record-keeping Software
Software Buying Tips
Mail List Management
Designing Printed Materials
Buying Office and Computer Supplies
Setting Up a Bill-Paying System
A Few Words about Filing
More Money-Saving Tips
Communicating Efficiently and Cost Effectively	121	(28)
Your Business Telephone
Telephone Communications
How to Save Money on Long-Distance Calls
Cordless and Cellular Phones
What a Fax Machine Can Do for You
The Pleasures, Benefits, and Problems of E-Mail
A Communications Checklist
Time Management, Organization, and Work Places	149	(26)
How Time Flies
A Typical Day in the Life of . . .
Keeping Track of Time
Doing Two Things at Once
Home as Workplace
How to Find More Space
A Time Management/Organization Checklist
Product Design and Packaging	175	(31)
Brainstorming for New Ideas
Brainstorming
Designing for Niche Markets
Other Design Considerations
Redesigning Existing Products
Why You Need a Widget
A Few Words about Packaging
Donate What You Can't Sell
Production Methods and Strategies	206	(29)
Working Smarter Strategies
Production Schedules
Production-Boosting Strategies
Clever Tools, Equipment, and Production Aids
Employees and Other Workers
Finding Good Employees
A Production Reminder Checklist
The Problem of Pricing	235	(25)
Pricing Is Everybody's Problem
Figuring Labor Costs
Trimming Overhead Costs
Two Insider Pricing Tips
Things Are Changing
Supplies and Shipping	260	(21)
How to Save Money on Craft Supplies and Equipment
How to Get Free Supplies and Equipment
Monitoring Supply Costs
Should You Ship UPS or USPS?
Figuring Shipping and Handling Costs
Sharpening Your Marketing Skills	281	(26)
How to Do Market Research
Identifying and Marketing Product Benefits
How to Compete with Imports
Selling in Hard Times
Three Ways to Generate More Interest in Your Products
How to Get Repeat Business
Ten Tips for Financial Success
Keeping Everything in Perspective	307	(16)
The Personal Cost of a Home-based Business
Oh, the Stress of It All!
How to ``Gear Down'' and Lower Your Stress Level
Ten Great Stress-Busting Activities
Take Time to Laugh
Keep Learning---Keep Growing
Index	323