small business resources

15 Things to Know When Starting a Small Business

November 25, 2017

Over the past (almost!) 10 years, the Spoonflower community has grown into a family of designers, crafters and makers. You could consider Spoonflower a melting pot of talent where one artist’s strength in design supports another artist’s strength in making. We love seeing these collaborations grow and we’ve even gotten to know some of the small business owners on a personal level through the Meet the Maker series on the blog. If you’ve ever considered taking the steps to owning your own business, you won’t want to miss these words of wisdom our maker community is sharing today!

"If you try to please everyone, you won’t please anyone. Be authentic and create a style, let it evolve as needed and then shout it out from the rooftops! Your people will find you.” - Elisabeth Wing of Wingmade | Spoonflower Blog

Meet the Maker: Elisabeth Wing of Wingmade

This DIY Photography Hack is Off the Wall!

October 27, 2017

It’s no secret the Spoonflower team is comprised of talented makers pursuing their personal passions outside of the office. During the day they might be busy shipping orders, helping customers or dreaming up the newest fabric to include in our lineup, but by night, they’re hard at work in their studios passionately producing new products for the small businesses they’ve built from the ground up. Today we’re excited to welcome one of these makers and small business owners, operations team member and creator of Pink Moon Ceramics, Jenna Leitner. The first time we saw how Jenna incorporated Spoonflower’s Smooth Wallpaper in her product photography, we knew we had to learn more. If you’re a maker looking for an easy (and affordable) way to highlight your work, Jenna’s photography hack could be the answer you’re looking for!

Featured designs: line_mandala_dark by holli_zollinger & Scaterred triangles by sunny_afternoon

Planning Your Creative Business

March 13, 2015

Whether you’re entertaining the idea of creating a business from the hobby you love or you’re well into a creative business venture, taking the time to take stock of your goals, ideas, and business plans is always a worthwhile exercise. We’ve rounded up 5 creative business planning guides to help you get focused. Take this weekend to curl up with this expert advice and start planning the future of your creative enterprise!

Designing a Business Plan for Your Creative Business | Amanda Genther

How to Write a Creative Business Plan in Under an Hour | The Etsy Blog

How to Make a Creative Business Plan for Your Blog | Something Winnderful

You Are Your Business: The Business Plan. | Julie Harris Design

“This is How We Do Things Here”: Developing Guiding Principles for Your Business | While She Naps

Fabric shoppers unite–shop independents!

July 15, 2009

Spoonflower folks may be surprised to learn that having ready access to my own fabrics printed by my own fabric printing company has by no means curtailed my patronage of excellent local fabric shops. (Thimble Pleasures and Mulberry Silks, if you want to take a peek.) Great fabric is great fabric, after all, and I go out of my way to support small businesses. I bet you do, too.

So perhaps you’ll be as excited as I am to learn about Project 95, a new database of independently-owned fabric and quilt shops in beta testing mode. I emailed Sarah Moon this morning to add one of my local fabric shops to the map. I also inquired as to whether they also want to add those of you who sell your own fabric designs in your Etsy shops and websites, but who don’t have brick-and-mortar stores. I’ll let you know what I hear, but it wouldn’t hurt to email Sarah Moon yourself if you want to make a case for inclusion–or add an independently-owned shop in your town, of course! (Emails should use “Add a Project 95 Shop” as the subject line.) Thanks to Craft Magazine for the heads-up!