Welcome to National Bakers Crafters Maker's Day and a very special
episode number 406 of Gift Biz Unwrapped Attention Gifters Bakers crafters
and Bakers.
Pursuing your dream can be fun.
Whether you have an established business or looking to start one
now you are in the right place.
This is Gift Biz Unwrapped,
helping you turn your skill into a flourishing business.
Join us for an episode packed full of invaluable guidance,
resources, and the support you need to grow your gift biz.
Here is your host Gift Biz gal Sue Moon height.
Today's the day January 21st,
national Bakers Crafters,
maker's Day a time to recognize,
uplift and celebrate you.
It's been three years since I established this official National Day.
Each year we do something a little bit different to celebrate.
Perhaps you've been part of our prior celebrations or this is
your first one.
Either way,
I'm thrilled you're joining us and I wanna tell you about
everything that's available to you in relation to the special day
of Honoring You.
My last tips and talk episode,
which was number 98,
gives you seven ways you can acknowledge and shine the light
on yourself and other makers.
Paying it forward in doing something nice for others always makes
me feel so good.
You too.
If you're in the spirit today,
listen to that show and do one of the things that
I mentioned there.
I'll make sure to add a link in the show notes,
but it's also just one show back on your podcast app.
Ps. These are things you can do year round,
but it's particularly nice today to celebrate this year 2023,
I have a number of non-business resources available to you.
Also, a free gift and a wonderful look into the minds
of other makers,
those who are just like you.
More on that later.
First, let's talk about these resources.
You can find them over@giftbizunwrapped.com
slash handmade heals the world.
Why Handmade Heals the world?
Because this is what you provide through your handmade products and
why I love you so much.
Your creations bring beauty,
evoke positive emotions,
present, individuality,
and overall make our world a better place.
Each of you in your own way,
you also have courage because you put yourself out there in
a very vulnerable way.
You're not just gifting or selling something you purchased elsewhere.
Your creations come from your heart.
You created a tangible item with intention and care and passion.
I'll go so far as to say that this is infused
spiritually into your creations and can't be reproduced by anybody else.
Only you can make as you do that's powerful.
National Baker's Crafters Maker's Day recognizes all crafters of the world,
whether it's a hobby or you've turned it into a business.
I see and appreciate you.
If you jump over to the page I mentioned a second
ago, gift biz unwrapped.com/handmade
heals the world.
Here's what you'll find first,
because this day is meant to rejuvenate you and refresh your
mind, body and soul.
There are six mini classes you can watch that address the
idea of personal fulfillment.
These are feel good classes that are free.
Don't require an email login or anything from me and my
amazing class leaders to you See a class on crafting kindness
through yoga.
Get a beginner lesson on salsa moves.
It's okay.
Nobody else can see you,
and I promise it's a lot of fun.
Jump into some meditation and breathwork.
See a perfect pie crust demonstration along with access to a
great pie recipe.
Learn some new wrapping techniques to make your gifts stand out
and discover a very creative and empowering journaling technique.
This one is really something.
All of these classes were done live last National Baker's Crafters
Maker's Day and are ready and waiting for your learning and
enjoyment right now.
If you scroll down below the classes,
you'll see a section called Handmade Product Memories.
This is an area intended for you to reflect back on
your own life and remember a special time where a handmade
product touched you in a deep way.
Maybe it's a childhood doll you cherished and you can recall
every stitch on her dress and the rosy shade of her
cheeks. You know her so well and love her even today.
Maybe you still even have her tucked away somewhere,
or perhaps your heart fills with warmth as you reminisce about
making cookies with your grandmother conjuring up these memories brings you
right back to that wonderful place in time,
sitting quietly and remembering tender moments like these.
Does your soul so much good?
You can read what others recall from their past,
and if you like,
send me yours and I'll include it on the page as
well. There are directions on how you can do that right
in that section.
You also have an opportunity to join our community of makers
in our Facebook group called Gift Biz Breeze.
Maybe you're already a member there so you know the goodness
that we provide each other.
If not,
here's your invitation to join in with thousands of other makers
in a supportive,
energizing and safe space of makers.
And don't forget to grab your free gift from me to
you. I'm gonna leave you in suspense as to what it
is, but you'll find it right at the bottom of the
page, all again@giftbizunwrapped.com
slash handmade heals the world.
So this was the first part of what's available for National
Baker's Crafters Maker's Day.
Now I have something extra special for you that's an added
element for this year.
It's the cherry on top of your imaginary cupcake.
My cupcake,
by the way,
is Yellowcake with vanilla buttercream frosting,
a few sprinkles and instead of a cherry,
I'll take a sparkler candle glowing and crackling bright.
Since we can't all be together,
imagine what your favorite cupcake would be and settle in.
As I share what comes next.
I came up with the idea of putting to words what's
in the hearts and minds of your fellow makers.
Towards that end,
I reached out to 25 makers with two questions Since Gift
Biz Unwraps overall purpose is to assist you in starting and
growing a business.
The questions fall in line with that.
I chose a variety of people who make all sorts of
handmade products.
They consist of coaching clients and members of Gift Biz Breeze,
and some from my list of past podcast guests.
I asked for a 24 hour turnaround.
I already know Makers are generous and helpful,
but I wasn't expecting so many people to respond,
so thank you to my crew who answered these questions.
Just one more reason.
I love Gifters Bakers Crafters and Makers.
You can see the details of all the people who responded
along with links to their businesses.
Over on the show notes page to this podcast,
here are the questions I asked.
Number one,
what is it about your business that you love so much?
And number two,
what value does your product provide to your customers?
How does it impact their life?
The responses easily fit into categories that I'll share with you.
Now, I think you'll find yourself in these responses too,
but let's see.
I'm gonna be silent for a quick minute and let you
think about how you'd answer these questions.
Here they are again.
Question number one.
What is it about your business that you love so much?
And number two,
what value does your product provide to your customers?
How does it impact their life?
As I share with you the answers I received,
I bet they'll blend in or directly match yours.
I want you to see through this demonstration,
what an amazing group you're part of.
When you call yourself a maker,
I think we often minimize our value because we are the
one making our products.
When in truth,
you should do the opposite.
Stand proud and confident when talking about your hobby or handmade
small business and the items you make.
What I know to be true and what clearly comes through
in the answers I received is the huge heart of Maker
has you'll hear a continual thread of caring,
wanting to help others.
And as the theme of this day summarizes how handmade makers
heal the world,
let's get to the answers of what you love about your
business. As I reviewed them,
they broke down easily into four categories that I've titled,
positive Feedback,
quality of Life,
social Interactions,
and Personal Dedications.
The word joy came up over and over again,
how through your business activities,
you feel rewarded with joy.
Knowing a piece that you made will be used and cherished
forever by its recipient.
And seeing spontaneous reactions of excitement and joy when someone sees
or receives your products.
Joy, joy,
joy, and other versions of the same theme,
like Rosemary saying that seeing the reactions on customer's faces makes
her so happy.
And Sue referencing the smiles and the pleasure she feels When
a customer's pleased with the whole experience of selecting and now
owning their very special new items.
Some of you also get great personal reward in teaching the
skills behind your handmade products,
sharing your knowledge forward for others' benefit,
either they can make as a hobby and get the satisfaction
of creation,
or take it even a step further,
like starting a business.
I love hearing how rewarding your business is on a personal
level. It's about so much more than money,
isn't it?
I also pulled from these responses how your quality of life
is so much better because of your handmade business.
Cindy says that what she does never feels like work.
Sherry talks about the freedom of choice that her business provides,
and there are multiple comments about the pleasure you receive,
being able to tap into your creativity on a regular basis,
and how wonderful it is that it's your job.
Nawa expands on this referencing the flexibility it offers her so
she can bring her son to basketball practice or other important
midday activities she might have missed otherwise.
Another wonderful thing mentioned about a handmade product business is the
personal social side.
And no,
I'm not talking about social media.
Sharon loves interacting with customers at craft shows.
Sharita finds personal reward in the connection she makes,
and Cassie says that many of her customers become friends.
These relationships may even turn into so much more beyond business
and their connections you would never have had the opportunity to
make otherwise.
Finally, I love hearing about businesses that are inspired and honor
family. Arlene's business was created in remembrance of a loved one,
and Sarita's company was inspired by a long ago relative she
never met,
but whose legacy drifted down the generations.
These are rich links that bring such meaning to all who
know about them.
I don't know if any of us recognize when we start
our business what's in store for us.
All these indirect benefits that come to us over and above
the financial rewards richness,
through the bursts of happiness I just described,
and connections that go on to form meaningful relationships that enrich
our lives possibly forever.
Now, when it comes to the second question,
what does your product provide?
I can also break this down into categories three to be
exact, those being,
providing a feeling or emotion,
quality of life,
just like with the first question and the significance of unique,
one of a kind creations in terms of providing something that
brings positivity.
Kim talks about the peace of mind and pride her customers
have when ordering wedding cakes,
and that continues all the way through when the cake is
presented to the guests on a very significant day in their
lives. Sharon talks about how her pieces provide a sense of
peace to help her customers resolve a problem or heal a
physical, mental,
spiritual, or emotional challenge.
And Wendy loves that.
Our soaps give people a daily feel-good moment.
This idea of providing a positive moment in the life of
the recipient of your items is also mentioned by Cindy when
she says her crocheted items provide warmth and comfort to our
customers and those they love if it's a gift and it
can get even deeper.
Like the story behind Stephanie's art when she says,
my artwork is the language I use to remind people that
hope is real.
Often I hear from clients that my paintings continue to encourage
them throughout the years,
so I say to you,
please don't diminish the enhancement your products make to your customer's
quality of life in all sorts of areas.
Cassie provides mixes so busy.
Parents can easily put healthy meals on the table without losing
their sanity.
Sophie's dramatic but lightweight.
Quilled earrings allow women to make a fashion statement in comfort
and style.
The purchasing of your handmade products intended for someone else brings
with it an ease of allowing the giver to show others
that they're being thought of and appreciated through a gift.
Sheila brings this up and I know she's an expert at
it, providing an avenue for others to touch someone in a
meaningful way through a special gift,
which brings us to the final category of how your products
affect customers.
That category is the uniqueness and the value your items have
by nature of being handmade.
I love Molly's choice of words with her leather goods.
She says her customers appreciate being a tick different from the
rest of the herd.
And Sue explains how her essential and functional accessories that are
individually created with upcycled materials mind you appeal on a very
personal level as the owner of several of her pieces.
I can attest to that.
And when you provide a consumable product like Annette does,
she's rewarded by knowing her delicious candy brings people together and
provides a little happiness.
Whether it's a celebration of a special moment to cheer someone
up or even a treat for themselves,
Annette's right.
These moments of happiness are what handmade is all about.
Now, you've heard from many of your fellow handmade product makers,
people like you are passionate about their craft and pour their
hearts into creating.
You are amazing for sharing your skills with us through what
you make.
They bring us beauty,
our signs of love and caring,
provide enrichment to you and those who use your products,
and they bring us all so much joy.
I'll end with Anita's input into my questions.
She says,
life is so much better,
all because of a simple spark of creativity that fuels a
fire of happiness.
I couldn't have said it any better.
I lift my glass in recognition and honor review Happy National
Baker's Crafters Maker's Day.
I wanna make sure you're familiar with my free Facebook group
called Gift Miss Breeze.
It's a place where we all gather and are our community
to support each other.
I got a really fun post in there that's my favorite
of the week,
I have to say,
where I invite all of you to share what you're doing
to show pictures of your product,
to show what you're working on for the week,
to get reaction from other people.
And just for fun,
because we all get to see the wonderful products that everybody
in the community is making.
My favorite post every single week without doubt.
Wait, what?
Aren't you part of the group already?
If not,
make sure to jump over to Facebook and search for the
group Gift Biz breeze.
Don't delay.
Come join us in Gift Biz Breeze Today.