GodFamilyCrafts

Dear Moms,

Would you take a moment out of your busy day to click the email  link here stouts@nhvt.net and answer the following question(s).  It would really help me, as a Catholic mom, to know if I should continue to post projects, how many people are interested and if I promise to post everyday, will you check more frequently?

I get paid by the number of “hits” my page gets, and by looking into the “seach terms” that brought you here, I see that Catholic Crafts for Kids is a popular search.  Here are the questions:

1. If I updated daily would you visit daily or at least several times a week?
2.  Will you write to me with certain topic suggestions or requests?
3. Do you want to see more helpful links on my page?
4. Do you want seasonal items? things to go with the liturgical calendar? Book Projects?
5. I would love any input you can give — requests, plans for projects you would like suggestions for, … etc
6. Catholic Moms, and teachers, lets stick together and teach our kids through art, craft and always in the love of God!

Thank you for helping me out — I welcome the opportunity to help you out too . And YES! your response does make a difference.

Thanks again,

Peace, Ann

A season is finishing here in New England. The Summer season with its tourists visiting the lake, mountains and the beautiful countryside.

This year an energetic person in the area set up meeting of area crafters wanting to join in a co-op  store, each selling his or her crafts.  In general, the venture has been a success, but next year it should be even smoother with all the kinks worked out.

Here is how we did it some of what we learned:

• Once the  expenses were determined, the interested crafters made a commitment to each cover an equal portion of the expenses for the 4 month period we would be open. This amounted to $40 per month.
• Crafters were able to sell and display any of their handmade items and there was no consignment fee, as expenses had already been covered.
• Each crafter was asked to take a share of the hours which the store would be open.  this is the area that cause the most difficulty.  No one assigned hours, we just signed up for them on the “google” calendar. Some people signed up for an adequate amount, others were somewhat slackers….
• The organizer handled the state paperwork to make the group a corporation; she opened a simple checking account; she wrote out checks once a month to the crafters for the income they earned.
• Sales were recorded on a triplicate sales pad, with one copy for customer, other 2 copies for bookkeeping.

And those were the basics.  Advertising took up a good part of our budget, in addition to rent, insurance, etc.

It is a do-able venture, with kinks that are worked out as the group goes along.  The way the expenses were handled, everyone knew up front what thier costs would be — no surprises.

If you have the idea to start a co-op, this is a good model to consider.