BIZ TIPS - so we can all succeed!

[work2gather]

I am new to the team, but love the recycling movement. My focus is sharing the details of running a business and making it succeed... so I look for lots of business information all the time. I have been creating a thread like this in all the teams I belong to that don't already have one, but I can't always post every tip at every team. We all need to post whatever we discover so other team members can benefit from it, too.

To help me keep track of all these threads, I rely on the Etsy TEAM DIGESTS. I am able to see what others are posting because they all go to my email! :-) It saves time, especially in teams!!

I hope that all of us together will be able to find the best business-building tips to share with other team members. We need to promote this reuse/recycling philosophy!!!

[NatureProvidesBeauty]

Great idea, Deborah!

I'd like to share a site that can help connect crafters to free materials. It's called trashnothing.com and has groups by location. The group for my area gets regular traffic, with folks offering all sorts of items for free. You can also post requests for items.

Another good resource is SCRAP USA. They don't have as many local chapters, but you could help start one in your area. Instead of individuals, SCRAP collects materials from bigger sources, like schools and local businesses. They then sort it and place it for sale (on the cheap) in their shop. The one in my area, SCRAP Humboldt, has been great at connecting our local artists with the "trash" they need to create their treasures.

We can also share our skills with each other. I have another team, Sharing. https://www.etsy.com/teams/27211/sharing
The purpose of the Sharing team is to provide a place where Etsy shops can support each other, whether it's helping someone with hiring their first employee or creating a banner ad in exchange for items or skills. Few of us can do everything, but all of us can do anything. I'm hoping the Sharing team can help us help each other in a mutually beneficial way.

[work2gather]

Hi, Christie... just got here to check on the post, but don't recall receiving a digest in my emails... You do send them out, right? I signed up for them... Wait, I did get the first one, just don't remember getting the one with your entry... maybe that is because you are the captain?

--- I printed a copy of your entry so I can try to check on the sites you shared. They have a SCRAP here in Portland OR, so I am familiar with that one... love the option, not always their prices, but each one is different I believe.

--- I am lobbying/advocating for places like SCRAP to create class craft boxes for the public schools - for Earth Day and/or Recyle Day... lots of potential for income and for sharing the inspiration. I was trying to think of a good crafting class to give there as my contribution to the cause, but now I am thinking I will create some of those craft projects / ideas and share them with the people in charge of SCRAP here and other recycling groups I know of in the area.

--- I bet we can all come up with great small crafts that can be scaled up for schools and events. If they are ready to do, with craft supplies, instructions, and packaged (maybe in a Ziploc bag), they can use them for fundraising at recycling events. What do you think?

--- Funds to support places like SCRAP are so important, and I want to see the materials they gather made into things that are truly beautiful and useful... and that movement is growing (ReScape, etc.) ... otherwise it is all seen as just plain garbage... and it isn't.

--- Hope this catches on... do you send out emails to your members? That might help! :-)

--- Deborah Martin
work2gather.etsy.com