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Custom Orders by Carey Sevier

Custom Work - Can It Really Benefit My Craft Business?

How many times have we been involved in this discussion with other artisans or crafters? Sometimes we get stuck in the rut.  "If it's not broken, why fix it?" Depending on your craft or art., creating new products is not always a simple or easy thing to do. Like any other business decision we have to look at the benefits along with the hurdles.

Benefits of Custom Work

What are some of the benefits of offering custom work? First, it can be an excellent opportunity to grow your business, providing growth for both your customer base as well as the business finances.   

Next, let's consider the creative side.  How many times have we attended craft shows, as vendors, and really listened to what customers are saying?   "Geez, It's the same ole' thing, nothing new!"   We have to remember that our customers are individuals with different needs.  Tune in, listen, to what shoppers are saying; it could be the most valuable tool you have for growing your business.

Custom work opens the door of opportunity to learn what designs, colors or alternate products are most appealing to customers.  Opening the mind to new and more innovative ideas can lead to a gradual rebirth of your business, providing positive changes in your display for your current products and the addition of new ones. Changes are difficult to make at any stage in life.  Offering custom work helps you incorporate change in small doses allowing for a smoother transition into new territories.  Whether it's your website, booth at shows, or your studio, customers do notice change. Customers are invariably looking for something new.

Challenges to Overcome

Before we begin to discuss the challenges,  consider this great concept first:  STAR - Situation, Task, Action and Result.  Try to use this approach with each challenge. You will find this concept will help you make the best decision. Will creating custom work be a good fit for you and your  business?  

What are some of the challenges you will have to overcome?  First and foremost, decide what type of custom work you are willing and able to accept. Consider simple revisions to current products working your way up to new products.  Next, create the  "Golden Rule", the deposit and payment policy, for each and every custom order.  The rule of thumb is to charge the customer a percentage of their custom order to cover all your costs, then upon completion you charge the remainder. Goals to focus on for your end result should be: enhancing cash flow and a smooth transition into custom designing.  This will ultimately lead you and your business into the creation of new products based on customers' needs and demands.

"What price do I charge?" Whether you are a website crafter, show crafter, or a studio crafter an important tool to create is a pricing structure for your materials and time. First, create a list of product costs - fabric, wood, leather, or clay. Next are the incidentals, paint, thread, grommets, zippers, and buttons, etc. Your time cost can be based on what you have established for your regular product line, or it may be increased by a percentage for custom orders.  Keep these tools near the phone, by your computer, and always take a copy to shows. Using this tool with a custom work sheet will save you time, build customer confidence and keep you organized.

The next challenge is scheduling. Look for ways to simplify and prioritize your work schedule.  This will allow you more ease to fit in custom orders. Use a clip board or, bulletin board to post your website orders, or items needed to fill your next vendor booth. Keep a running total of all your booth stock, so that you have a better sense of what is needed for the next show. Knowing  your schedule demands, will allow you to give customers an honest time frame for their custom order fulfillment. Your end result will be on-time orders and better inventory control for shows, website or studio needs.

"I know what you said, but did I really hear what you were saying?" Here's where you polish your customer service skills! Improving your listening skills is very important for accepting custom work. Custom work requires more time for both the product and discussions with customers. Use a dedicated large notebook or pad for discussions about custom work.  Give yourself room to make drawings and notes based on "what your customer is saying". You may want to consider creating a special custom order work sheet which includes customer information, phone number, billing information, along with your notes. These can be kept on a clip board for handy reference and ease to tote to the phone or computer for further discussions. Now you have solid, clear information to use when creating and completing custom orders.

In the beginning the thought of accepting custom work sent me into panic mode.  Now, I absolutely love it. Custom work has been very rewarding, both in fulfilling a creative need and growing my business. My best advice is this:  The decision to create custom items has to be based on your own abilities as an artisan or crafter.  You must consider the demands of your existing craft business and schedule before expanding into the custom order or designing field. 

This article was contributed by Carey Sevier.
Carey is a fabric artist and is located in Central NY.
Her web site Sticks and Stitches features made to order
curtains, valances and other home decor items.