When thinking about a career change, we are always advised above all else to look at things we are good at. Things we enjoy. This obviously works out well if you happen to be a genius at stock trading on the side, but for the rest of us, it can be a trickier thing to do.
For one thing, many of us look at our hobbies as something we do outside of work and/or school. It often doesn’t cross our minds to turn them into a money-making proposition. You may enjoy making candles and feel comfortable lighting them in the house. Selling them for a profit is a bigger step.
Similarly, you may be an excellent cook when making dinner for four people – but if someone tells you to try it for a living, it’s another matter. Cooking in your kitchen and then sitting to eat it is fine. Cooking in a packed, noisy kitchen with a lot of people shouting and an angry manager telling you to do it faster? Nobody’s idea of a dream job.
But if you enjoy crafts in your spare time, it is worth looking down that road if you are trying to make money without being a wage slave. Sure, there is an argument that making it a job takes the fun out of it. The only answer to that is that it’s not, if you do it correctly.
Starting Small: Keep Your Freedom For Longer
There are many people who point out that to make money, you need to spend money first. The thing about turning a hobby into a business is that this may not be the case. At least, it may be a much easier process. Say, for example, that you like to make your own clothes. You wear them yourself and have even made a few things for friends and family.
In that case, you clearly have most of what you need. To begin with, you don’t need to spend hundreds on a dedicated sewing machine. A home machine like the Brother PE770 will work more than fine. You may need to up the amount of fabric and thread you buy, along with elastic and other little helpers. But the truth is you’ve got more of a start than a lot of people.
Going From Hobby To Business: How Do You Get Attention?
When it comes to turning a crafty hobby into a business, there is always the question of how you start making money. The big designers whose pieces you see in stores have sales departments and associations with outlets. To begin with, you can’t expect to have the same.
You need to get more creative and be prepared to make a nuisance of yourself if you want to make sales. You need to be ready for people to say “no” to you, for reasons that may not be clear. If a buyer for a boutique tells you they won’t carry your designs, it may not be a reflection on their quality. It could have a lot more to do with them not having much budget to play with, or existing deals with designers.
Sometimes, visibility is going to be your best friend. Charity fashion shows are set up with the intent of raising awareness and funds rather than a designer. Speak to people who are organizing these shows and see if they’d accept a donation of a few items. It’s a way of getting your name out there. The same applies, incidentally, to makeup artists and set dressers.
A More Conventional Route: How Much Time Do You Have?
For many people who make their living in the clothing or beauty industries, it’s about paying their dues to begin with. This could mean taking on an apprenticeship or intern post. You may well find yourself opening mail, sweeping the atelier or sorting hundreds of buttons initially. It might seem like glorified hazing, but this is how the industry works.
The upside is in getting your name heard and your work seen by people who are already successful in the industry. After some time, they may choose to use your design and give you credit as well as a cut of profits. They may instead just help get your name heard by people who will buy your designs, which doesn’t sound as good as money but can be invaluable.
However you go about it, it is important to realize that people who get to do what they love for a living are rarer than those who don’t. It takes hard work, patience and a tolerance for disappointment. On the other hand, people do it all the time. So why not you?