Running a handmade business is a LOT of work.
Not only do you have to be the photographer, the copywriter, the shipper, and the re-stocker, but you also have to be the marketer, the bookkeeper, and the customer service rep!
With so much to do and keep track of, it can feel overwhelming and stressful, especially if you don’t have any systems or organization in place.
In fact, when I had my Etsy business, I was disorganized and had zero structure in place.
It wasn’t until I shifted into my product photography coaching business that I realized I needed to get organized ASAP and manage my time better.
Now, I don’t always have it all together, but I’ve picked up a few tips along the way that have made a big difference in how I stay more or less organized in my business.
So if you’re looking to make your workflow better in your handmade business, especially during the busy holiday season, here are some tips to get you started.
1. Get organized
Unless you’re a naturally organized person (if you are, please leave a comment below and leave us your best tips), most of us need help in creating systems that make it easier to find things and get things done.
Declutter your space
So the first step is getting organized is decluttering. Now if you have time to do a full decluttering of your workspace (including digitally), that’s awesome.
But if you don’t, the minimum you can do is to trash or recycle any items you know need to go.
If you have items you know you want to donate or sell, try your local art community or any local teachers to see if they can take your items off your hands.
And don’t forget to declutter your smartphone and computer. While you may not visually see the clutter as you do with physical clutter, deleting files and photos you no longer need can save you valuable digital space and of course, money.
Make sure everything has a home
One of the things we often forget when we bring things into our space or why our space gets messy is because it doesn’t have a home.
When you don’t have a dedicated spot to store things like your art supplies or business paperwork, they end up buried under stuff or thrown in a box or closet.
Instead, designate an area, box, shelf, or folder to store things. You can find great storage solutions online, at stores like Target, or even second-hand at local thrift stores or Facebook Marketplace.
This tip also applies to your digital space. Create a dedicated folder just for your craft business. If possible, centralize where everything lives so you don’t have to go to 10 different spots to find things.
Then spend 5-10 minutes at the end of the day to tidy up and put things away so your workspace is clean and ready for you the next day.
Don’t forget to label things
Whether it’s bins, drawers, file folders, or baskets, this will help you find what you need and where things go when you put things away.
For digital files, be descriptive in your file names so you know exactly what it is. This can definitely help to locate files quickly when searching your phone or computer.
2. Batch your tasks
Do you find yourself trying to do too many different things in a day and by the end of the day, you feel like you got nothing done?
When we’re multitasking and switching our focus a lot throughout the day, it takes time for us to refocus when we start a new task. Multi-tasking constantly throughout the day can mean not making much progress on your to-do list.
Instead, batching similar tasks together can make focusing a lot easier.
Dedicate part of a day or even a week to certain tasks such as:
- Creating products
- Writing product descriptions
- Researching keywords
- Photographing products
- Packaging and shipping orders
- Social media
- Updating your business finances
One thing that’s helpful for me is to write out all the different tasks I do in my business. Then I batched things according to brainstorming and researching, creating and writing, editing, scheduling, and so on.
This way, I can focus on doing a certain activity or project for a longer period which will allow me to be more productive.
Curious how you can use cycle-syncing to better organize tasks for your handmade craft business? Check out this blog post!
3. Start planning
Now that you know what tasks and things you need to do in your business, it’s time to start planning things out.
Prioritize deadlines
Do you have a consignment or wholesale order that needs to be completed by a certain date? Do you have a slew of upcoming craft shows you need to make inventory for?
Whatever you have in the books that has a deadline tied to it, make those projects or tasks your main priority to complete.
Get out your calendar
Start thinking about how much time you need to get tasks done. Do you need a few hours? A day? Maybe a few days each month?
If you get orders fairly consistently, dedicate a day of the week to package and drop packages off at the post office. Schedule a day to photograph new products to be listed.
And if you’re going to utilize social media to get the word out about your handmade business and you’re inconsistent with postings, commit to posting 2-3x a week.
Or daily. Do what feels doable for you and not overwhelming. If you need some inspiration about what type of content to post, here are some do’s and don’ts for social media for handmade businesses and non-sales social media post ideas for craft sellers.
By taking the time to plan out what you need to get done, you give yourself the space to breathe, focus, and be more productive with your work time.
And don’t forget to utilize the Pomodoro Timer too if you need a tool to manage your time and stay focused.
4. Reducing your to-do list
Writing to-do lists can be fun, but it can also feel overwhelming. And if your to-do list is as long as a CVS receipt, it’s time to get honest about what you REALLY need to get done.
One of the best ways to help narrow down your to-do list into something that’s actually manageable is filtering each item through a set of questions Ryder Carroll, the founder and creator of The Bullet Journal method uses.
I came across an Instagram Reel where he was answering a question someone submitted about when you should migrate a task vs. cross it off your to-do list.
So he shared the 4 questions he asks himself as to whether or not to keep a task that’s incomplete on his to-do list:
- Is it vital?
- Does it matter? (To you or to someone else)
- Will there be any consequences if I don’t do this?
If you answer no to all these questions, he then says to ask yourself, “Then why are you doing it?”
He says that going through these 4 questions for tasks that are incomplete is a good way to weed out distractions and focus on what really needs to get done.
Time is precious so make sure you’re spending time doing things that do matter, heaven impact, and will make a difference in your business.
5. What time of day is best for the task
Have you ever found yourself struggling to make progress on a task only to realize you’ve wasted the entire day because your brain has already checked out?
If you find it easier to work on tasks that require more focus in the mornings, why not adjust your schedule so you do heads-down work in the morning and less taxing stuff in the afternoon?
Some people find it easier to focus in the morning while others focus better in the afternoon or at night.
Find what works for you and move specific tasks or projects to the time of day that makes the most sense for you.
There’s no sense in packaging up orders in the morning when you feel like playing and being creative instead.
6. Limit or block social media or other time wasters
Social media can be a great place to learn about new things and engage and connect with new people.
But on the flip side, it can be a total time waster and frankly, a negative space at times.
So when I find myself feeling like I’m too distracted or overwhelmed by social media, I’ll put restrictions on when I can log on.
I’ve used features like the Digital Wellbeing App (on Android) where I can set time limits on how long I can use an app daily. You can do similar things on your computer with a feature called Screen Time for Mac or PC.
And if your social media feed is just too distracting, you can install News Feed Eradicator on your browser which will help limit you from doom-scrolling when you do log on.
Other options can be putting your phone in airplane mode as you work, shutting off your wifi or even downloading the Freedom app to block certain websites to help reduce tech distractions.
When I’ve limited and scaled back my social media and screen time, I get more done and honestly, I feel less stressed.
We all have the same 24 hours in a day and if social media or being on screens is a big distraction for you, try this tip out and see what happens!
A few other tips ...
Things like procrastination, saying yes too much, lack of structure (or too much structure), and comparing yourself to others can create roadblocks to getting things done.
It may be helpful to dig a little deeper and think about what's really going on internally.
The more you can get to the root of the problem, the more likely you’ll be able to better understand what's motivating certain habits or behaviors.
You and your business will change over time so if a method used to work and now it's not, try something new. Don't be afraid to change things up and adjust as needed.
Lastly, don’t forget to schedule time to take care of yourself. Running your own business can be a stressful yet rewarding experience. So make sure you’re taking care of yourself so you can show up and share your crafts with the world.
How do you stay organized and on top of things during the holidays when running your handmade business? Leave a comment below!