Crafting BOOM in a Weak Economy!
My first line of products was Baby Relic Boxes, small memento keepers made from recycled baby food jars. The line has been expanded to include the multitude of handmade gifts and accessories seen on my website www.modernsurrealist.com.
I was intent on keeping Modern Surrealist alive when the economic crisis hit. That meant finding alternative ways to generate income with minimal expenditures and preparing for the possibility of a slowdown in orders. I’d had luck in an on-line photo contest and thought to search for a design contest. I discovered and entered a contest presented by the Craft & Hobby Association (www.craftandhobby.org) Winning the CHA Indie Craft Contest serendipitously caused me to stumble right into a perfect niche of people who share a common passion for creative crafting. I became a member of the association, attended the show, and learned valuable lessons about how to take Modern Surrealist LLC in a new direction.
I recall seeing extra long lines at the craft stores when the downturn began to pick up speed around the holidays. Nobody had the cartloads of decorations like in years past. These clever people were all standing with just a few sparse supplies in their baskets, probably for making last minute gifts. There are many logical reasons that the crafting industry is blossoming in spite of the economic crisis, including:
• Nostalgia About Life leads to a wide variety of scrap booking styles and themes. Celebrating and honoring precious things such as family, love and meaningful life experiences helps comfort and uplift the soul. Celebrating relationships and reliving magical memories of happy experiences is a way to cope with the crisis. Mindful gratitude for life and family helps put it all into perspective.
• An On-line Crafting Revolution has begun through interactive social media on the web. Websites like Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, YouTube, Craftster.org, Handmade Nation, and Etsy allow crafters to easily share ideas and instructions for simple, meaningful, affordable, eco-conscious projects and techniques. You can learn to create unique handmade gifts from the heart at home by joining the many on-line craft communities for free!
• Save Your Money by making your own gifts, favors, furniture and accessories at home. Time is money! There are many people struggling financially who still wish to give gifts to their family and loved ones! Recipients place less emphasis on the monetary value of material things, and more on the thought, time and caring that went into making the gift!
• Made in the USA, Fairly Traded & Eco-Friendly gifts are all about turning trash to treasure by reusing, refreshing and “upcycling” ordinary objects and materials that would otherwise be donated or discarded. Thinking twice before you part with anything is good advice for crafters and for those riding out the recession. You can even help the environment by cutting down on emissions from driving around looking for gifts. As long as you keep a small stock of supplies on hand, you’ll have all you need to create quick gifts, in less time than it would take you to find a suitable gift in the marketplace! People are beginning to see the intrinsic value of hand making, after this national overdose of goods and credit left many of them feeling empty inside, and even emptier in their wallets!
There is a silver lining to the cloud of the economic crisis. We are now forced to consume less, waste less, and think more creatively about ways to express our feelings and celebrate events. The result is an explosion of creative expression and gratitude for life. It’s also about the process, not just the product. Crafts are an affordable and fun bonding activity that families can enjoy together.
Marisa Pawelko
Founder of Modern Surrealist
Craft & Hobby Association
2009 Indie Craft Contest Winner
www.modernsurrealist.com
marisa@modernsurrealist.co
Comments