Resources that helped my handmade business

I often get asked for advice on all topics of starting and growing a handmade business. I’m always learning and rarely feel like an expert on the topic, but I thought I’d share with you the resources that have had a big impact on me and how I operate Cat Snapp Studio. I’m not paid to promote any of these resources.

SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTER
Small Business Development Center offers free and confidential advising on all aspects of developing your business from writing your business plan, to learning about business accounting, to hiring your first employee and beyond. It’s funded in part by federal tax dollars and local municipalities, so it exists to help small businesses grow! I worked with Washington’s SBDC to write my business plan and it increased my confidence in running my business. 

Previous to working with SBDC, I was more or less guessing at how to run a business. In working with an adviser, I not only learned broad business terms and principles, but the principles became real as I saw how they applied to my studio. I make decisions differently now based on actual data from my business and it isn’t icky or tedious. It’s clarifying.

I’ve since stopped the unhelpful comparisons between my biz and similar ones because now I have goals that are specific to Cat Snapp Studio that eliminate using what others are doing as a measuring stick.

P.S. Working with SBDC also led to a visit by a U.S. Congressman to the studio!

PAPER CAMP
Paper Camp, a course offered by Proof to Product, is where I learned everything there is to know about setting up my greeting card line to fit industry standards, selling wholesale and exhibiting at trade shows.  At the end of the course you gain access to the Paper Camp vendor directory and Paper Camp alumni Facebook group, both of which are major resources in their own rights.

Katie Hunt, the founder, also hosts the Proof to Product podcast that is full of valuable information and is a great way to gauge if Paper Camp is right for you. Watch this IGTV video of her explaining how to build a cash cushion in your business.

HELPFUL BOOKS
The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron: Many people swear by the morning pages exercise, but I found the weekly solo artist dates to be what sparked my creativity the most.

Making Your Life as an Artist by Andrew Simonet: The book and workbook are available as free PDFs. His writing about creativity is straightforward and encouraging.

Profit First by Mike Michalowicz: “Transform Your Business from a Cash-Eating Monster to a Money-Making Machine” A quick read that’s easy to apply. It was engaging for someone like me without a finance background. I really enjoyed reading one of its official spin-offs, Profit First for eCommerce Sellers. It helped me understand inventory management in a relevant way.

Art Inc. by Lisa Congdon: My friend Elizabeth Person, an artist and illustrator based here in Everett, used this book as a guide when she made the jump from her day job to working as an artist full time. She recommends this book to artists just starting out in their business. It covers all the nuts & bolts for building your business and career as an artist, including topics like “Finding Time to Make Art”, “Managing Your Artist Income” and “Slowing Down and Achieving Balance”. I read it years ago and I gotta say, it’s excellent!

Block Print: Everything you need to know for printing with lino blocks, rubber blocks, foam sheets, and stamp sets by Andrea Lauren: An excellent book for DIY printing at home and without a press. I use it as a reference for my classes and workshops.

Bound: 15 beautiful bookbinding projects by Rachel Hazell: Another book I use as a reference for my classes and workshops. Features beautiful binding projects that require minimal special tools.

Joyful: The Surprising Power of Ordinary Things to Create Extraordinary Happiness by Ingrid Fetell Lee: A book that has had a huge influence on my aesthetics.

The Crossroads of Should and Must: Find and Follow Your Passion by Elle Luna: A quick read with beautiful illustrations, I love revisiting this book when I want to reset my frame of mind.

Writing Down the Bones: Freeing the Writer Within by Natalie Goldberg: Applies to visual artists and writers alike. A short read filled with bite-size essays that gently nudge you to listen to your own voice and create.

In Progress: See Inside a Lettering Artist’s Sketchbook and Process, from Pencil to Vector by Jessica Hische: Informative and inspiring for anyone passionate about lettering.

PODCAST EPISODES
NPR Life Kit: Making art is good for your health. Here’s how to start a habit. (21- minute listen)
NPR Life Kit: How to Have a Good Weekend. (25-minute listen)

VIDEO DEMO: PRINTING ON A LETTERPRESS WITHOUT TRADITIONAL TYPE
I was a member of this research group in grad school that restored and printed on four inoperable letterpresses at the University of North Texas.

ADDITIONAL USEFUL LINKS
DIY Your Own Epic Wood Card Rack by Constellation & Co.
Creative People Say No by Kevin Ashton, on Medium.com
American Frame - High quality frames, great pricing, excellent customer service. Based in Ohio.
Clear Solutions Displays - flat-pack racks and product displays for cards, books and other small items. Based in New Hampshire.
Boxcar Press - The company I used to use to make the photopolymer plates I use on my letterpress. They have helpful tutorials on file prep for your images.
Concord Engraving - The company I currently use to order photopolymer plates. They offer fewer tutorials but have great customer service and a better price point for those experienced in photopolymer file prep.
The Nap Ministry - “The Nap Ministry… reimagines why rest is a form of resistance and shines a light on the issue of sleep deprivation as a justice issue.” Need I say more? The messaging of The Nap Ministry has encouraged me to embrace rest and relaxation.


HUNGRY FOR MORE? Check out Constellation & Co.’s Resources page for a list of vendors they suggest and more.