Why Owning a Craft Studio Might Be My Dream Job
The Job Hunt Goes On and On…
I’m six months into unemployment, and unfortunately, a job still isn’t in sight. And sometimes, you just let the daydreams in…
Probably the craziest thing about this stretch of unemployment would be how much time I have in my own head. That isn’t always great. It has given me a lot of time to reflect on my career, choices, and direction in life. I have spent a lot of time thinking about my next role and what that might look like. And there’s a lot of staring at my job application spreadsheet. It is interesting to look at, I think. I’m applying to a variety (it is also crazy the number of jobs I just never heard anything about). I really just want to go back to work. Money and benefits aside (although a significant component), I need to be back at work. I need to be doing. And while some might think that having all this free time would be great to work on creative writing projects. It really hasn’t been. Most likely because I’m so stressed about being unemployed. It’s counterproductive. I do seize upon those creative moments, however.
Also, weirdly, but I really miss editing and proofreading. I’ve always enjoyed the editing and proofreading aspects of my work, but that’s still not a sentence I ever thought I’d say.
When you’re thinking so much about careers and the future, you’re going to end up in daydream territory (And sometimes just need the daydream for a mental break!). Beyond the writing dream jobs I’ve thought of (magazine writer, speechwriter, author, etc.), I’ve thought, what if I opened and ran a brick-and-mortar business? Do I have experience in this? Absolutely not.
Unsurprising to anyone who knows me, here are a couple of my ideas:
Ice cream shop
Bookstore (I just watched “You’ve Got Mail” for the first time, and that, along with BookTok, definitely influenced me)
A nerd/Star Wars-themed bar (there’s no way in hell I’d actually own a bar).
A flower shop (no reason)
But I had a lightbulb moment: a craft studio.
A Space to Craft
Now, right off the bat, I want to say that I know this isn’t a viable/realistic idea for me. If I won the lotto, absolutely. And probably the ice cream shop and bookstore as well. Ice cream shop/bookstore hybrid? That might have promise. Legit. But we’re dreaming right now.
I love crafting. I’ve written about it before, if you’d like to check it:
I’ve also written about supporting small businesses before (which we should do year-round and not just during the holidays), which can often mean supporting craft creators. .
You’ve probably wanted to try something before, but didn’t want to put a ton of money into it. Or you did put a ton of money into it, and it wasn’t worth it at all (that would be Cricut for me!). This would be a place to try those things. It could be a mix of classes and open studio times. Rent out the space for birthday parties and events. Somewhere to go on a girl’s night to try out a new craft that doesn’t require finding space to clear off your dining room table so people have room to work. Literally just a space for people to explore their creativity. A Space to Craft. Not a terrible name. Could go with an outer space theme for branding. You can take the woman out of the marketing…
I wouldn’t be doing anything like woodwork or metalsmithing, but there are plenty of crafts to explore:
Textile and fiber crafts (think sewing, quilting, embroidery, knitting, crochet, macramé, felting, and weaving)
Paper crafts
Pottery and glass
Jewelry making
Paint/drawing
Candle making
Upcycling
…And many more.
Creativity, Crafting, Community
I think community would be a huge component of this; not just the local community supporting the business, but supporting other small businesses, specifically other crafters. I know I could teach things like jewelry making, very basic knitting, ornament and wreath making, etc., but I’d still need teachers for other mediums. That’s where community comes in. I sell at craft shows, and I plan a yearly one, which has helped me build a network. It could be a cool opportunity to work together. I would love for it to be a place where creators, crafters, and learners could come together and just be.
(Also, disclaimer, but I do know that craft studios like this do exist.)
There are other ways to partner, too. Depending on the location, maybe I can coordinate with food trucks on the weekend. If I’m going to rent out for parties, I can partner with pizza places and bakeries. Work with nonprofits and host fundraisers, which would definitely be something I’m interested in. Plenty of opportunities would be available to coordinate with other businesses and groups and amplify that community connection.
Another opportunity would be with the crafters. Have you ever tried a project and then ended up with an excess of some kind of supply? I’d wager yes. Because what do you mean that now that I made my gnomes from Crown Royal bags, I have an excess of furry felt, extra-large wood beads, and stuffing that I don’t know what to do with?
Please ignore the glue stain. This guy was the first attempt. He did spend Christmas on top of the tree this year.
(I’ve donated beads to a Girl Scout troop before, and if you’re in Pittsburgh, check out Creative Reuse if you’re looking to donate items.)
Skills to Build a Business (or Career)
Now, if I had a business like this, I would absolutely need someone for the money side of things because I am not a numbers person. I like to joke that God knew if I could understand math as well as I can write, I would be too powerful. The daydreaming is kind of like j a career development exercise because I’m here thinking of what I am good at, what I am absolutely not good at, what I can learn, and how to fill the gaps. So anything with financial management - we are hiring someone for that. I also think I would need to work on my negotiation skills and sales tactics. It wouldn’t hurt to find some type of refresher class/book/webinar about business administration and management to review. My business classes in college were a minute ago. For the physical upkeep of the space and literal heavy lifting, I would need someone else to do that because my leg and CRPS aren’t allowing me to.
But I do have skills that would be very valuable for running a business. Communication and marketing skills would have top billing. I’m sitting here thinking of how I’d develop a business plan and how I’d create a brand. Social media would be a huge component in order to connect with customers and to network;I’ve had success in social media management. I also think blog posts would be a good advertising strategy to widen your audience, establish your brand, and more. As a craft studio, I could write about what we offer, specific tutorials, promote events, and recaps. (Honestly, don’t be surprised if there’s an uptick in blog posts covering crafting or jewelry making, because I’m feeling inspired) I’d tie it into social media management and would also make accompanying videos (I know a lot of the time I prefer reading, but I think I’m in the minority). Creating video content isn’t something that I currently have much experience with, but it is something that I know I need to start doing! TikTok reigns supreme (but don’t discount Pinterest and Reddit).
My experience as a proposal writer would also be useful when owning a business because it is both project management- and timeline-focused. And with that, you have to be flexible and able to adapt to changing needs. You never know when the client might give you an amendment that requires changes, or when your team makes last-minute changes to strategy.
Throughout my career, I have often worked with cross-functional teams, and that has helped me with understanding the bigger picture, which would be pretty vital to running my own business. When I sit down and think about my experience and skills, maybe owning my own business like a craft studio, bookstore, or ice cream shop isn’t such a crazy idea, but unfortunately, right now, it is. But it also isn’t a terrible thing to reflect on the skills I do have and how those skills can be valuable for a career or to a business. It helps you think outside the box a little bit. So here’s to hoping that I find that job soon. In the meantime, I’ll let myself dream about my craft studio on occasion.
