Craftseller - November 2014

MY TOP

TEN TIPS

92 Craftseller

Q&A

JESSICA CATHERINE

creates ceramic

gifts and

homeware,

which can be

found at http://www.

jessica-catherine.

com and are also

available on Folksy.

1

Play with creative

projects outside of

your usual craft.

2

Remember,

politeness goes a

long way with buyers.

3

When pricing up,

include all the bits

and pieces that go into

your creations.

4

Create a cosy place

to get making.

5

Label your work so

everyone will know

who made it.

6

Build a tribe of

creative chums.

7

Celebrate every

little achievement!

8

Squash your

gremlins and

believe in yourself!

9

Be open to selling

in different ways.

10

Embrace social

media to make

creative connections.

Do it right

Q

I have only just started selling my baby

clothing range but I’m not making any money

yet. Do I really have to fill in a tax return?

ANDREA BURNS, LONDON

A

EMILY SAYS: If you’re running a business, then

yes, you do! You’ll have to register your

business with HM Revenue & Customs (hmrc.gov.

uk/ and click the “Register” link towards the top left

of the page) and file a tax return each year. You will

also have to pay income tax and class four National

Insurance on your profits once they go above a

certain level depending on any additional income.

This level changes yearly. You’re also required to pay

class two National Insurance, which is a flat weekly

rate of £2.75. If your profits for the year are under

£5,885 then you can apply to be exempt from class

two National Insurance. However, be careful, as this

can affect your entitlement to State Pension later.

Building blocks

Q

Sewing has always been my hobby but I have

been daydreaming about turning it into a

business. What should I start thinking about?

PAULA FORSYTHE, NUNEATON

A

MARILYN SAYS:Building a business is like

building anything else - you need firm

foundations. Firstly, ensure your products are as

good as you can get them. Following this, brand

them so your business immediately has a clear

identity. You then need to spread the word to as

many potential customers as possible. Finally,

track money in and out to clearly see if you’re

making profits or mistakes. Don’t hang about – if

you wait too long you may just miss the boat!

FAQ

This month our

top Facebook

question is...

Q

Is it possible

to get a good

sewing machine

for under £150?

FRANCIS ROONEY

A

LOUISE SAYS:

I would suggest

looking at John Lewis

for a nice starter

machine for around

£100 - £150. You don’t

need anything fancy

• just something solid
  and reliable. Brother
  have some nice entry
  level machines or look
  on ebay for second-
  hand appliances that
  may be cheaper.

Tax returns are just

part of the self-

employed paper work

Build the

foundations of a

successful business