Oakwood events offers the following with no legal obligation. Any companies named are not given as a recommendation, but as an example. When considering contracts, quotes etc it is essential you read the small print and search for the best deal that suits you.

Why considering a website for your business makes good sense
Starting out in business for the first time ?
Tips to new crafts people starting at craft shows
How all crafts people can make the best of craft events
Electrical Testing
Public Liability Insurance
Mobile Credit Card Payments
Trading Standards
Toy Safety
Turning brilliant ideas into business
Cardnet
How can I save time and money on my banking


Why considering a website for your Crafts business makes sense

The growth of Internet shopping should be used to your advantage As an artist looking to generate an income from your work you know that the more people that see your work the greater are your chances of a sale. It is predicted that in 2006 there will be an increase of 36% in online shopping. This means that 10 million people in the UK will be buying online. Having your own website to exhibit your work can be a very cost effective way to market yourself and to get new clients.
Key requirements to making your website work effectively for your business
Firstly the website needs to be optimised so that it gets a good position on a search engine. It is essential that people can find you when they search for your type of business in the area. Search engine optimisation means that you come towards the top of the list of resultsensuring that people will hit your site early in their search.
The site must look professional, be simple and easy for the customers to navigate around and it must show your business and your products and services well.
It must also be easy for you to update so that you can change pictures and text yourself as your products or services change.
Websites that are ideal for the artist, photography or craft person enabling them to exhibit their creative work to customers locally, nationally and worldwide.
It's easy to do and you can have your work being marketed on the web very quickly.
 

Starting out in business for the first time ?
So, you're thinking of seriously starting your own business?
There are a number of steps you need to go through before you start selling and recouping some of your outlay. These steps are the planning stage and are vital. A great many businesses that fail ignore these steps and jump straight into the action - the 'doing' stage and regret it. It's understandable, but it is a mistake - be patient. So, do the planning and thinking first, before things go wrong. There is a good deal of financial and legal help out there available to you. There are articles on business plans, cost benefit analyses, market strategies, cash flow matrices, etc. all freely available. These articles are written by far more qualified people than me. My advice would be to read them, if that's your style, and try to relate them to your business on the most practical level you can. If you prefer a different approach talk to as many people as you can. If there is something you really can't do - the financial or legal implications of starting a business springs to mind -get the best advice you can afford. On a personal basis you need to make sure you're totally comfortable. There should be no uncertainty, no lack of confidence well, in an ideal world. I guess you will have a fair amount of apprehension and unease at the beginning. The trick is to manage it. You need to appear confident, comfortable and relaxed with people you deal with -customers, suppliers, bank managers, etc.
Fundamentally, however, you should be confident that you have made the right decision. If you're not sure at this stage, then I guess you need to think again, carefully. There will be times in the next few months when you'll be tired, struggling for orders, quite down. These are the times when you really need to be sure of a few fundamentals, an idea and your own personal values. Your idea - you need an idea that you are totally 100% convinced will work. It's not enough to want to do `something', or make 'fantastic things'. You need an idea, an angle. Ideally you need a unique selling point, and you really need to
believe in it yourself.

Your Unique Selling Point needn't be a marvellous original, innovative method, or a design with unique materials. It should be a unique combination of factors for you. It will take into account material, design, of course, but also location, customers, markets. For instance, it may be a particular way of working you've discover abroad, but hasn't been applied to your field of expertise. This would be your u.s.p. Or you have identified a particular market that hasn't been tapped yet -jewellery for the 7-8 year olds perhaps. This will be your niche. All the research identifies successful businesses as creating, or tapping into one or two particular markets and becoming expert in that area. Paradoxically apart from this unique market successful businesses are also flexible and can move and adjust. They move as demand moves. They move into new areas ahead of their competitors.
However, the product, or idea you decide on will be a large part of your life for a long time, so if you have any serious doubts about it early on - have a rethink. Do some research on your idea. Find out about competitors, opportunities. Do a very quick brainstorm of 4 areas to look at; what are your strengths; what weaknesses can you identify; what opportunities are there for you; and what are the threats you could face. I guarantee you it will be a surprise to see what you've neglected. Get some information on a range of aspects. Talk to people. Carry out some basic research. However, it's important not to get too bogged down in the detail. One of the traits of successful business people is their ability not to overanalyse. They are frequently confident enough to go for something before all the results are in. What helps a great deal though is their ability to adapt their ideas, again stay flexible and keep constantly alert.

Your values. This is the key to setting up your business. You need a strong set of values and beliefs that you can call on when times get hard. The values are the unshakeable set of beliefs you won't compromise on. To help you work out what these are for you, sit down and start by answering completely honestly a few difficult questions

Ask yourself about your vision - what would success look like? Do you want fame? Fortune? A decent living? 100 staff? Where would you like to be in 5 years time? Trading internationally? Having a workforce of 20 that allow you to retire? In terms of your values? What won't you compromise on? Quality? At the expense of cost? At the expense of a large contract? What are you good at that you can always rely on? Making quality products? Dealing with people? What aren't you good at? Do you need training? Do you need other people? Do you need help with finance, dealing with customers, suppliers?
What are you like when things aren't going well? Are you too optimistic? Too conservative?
Have you people who can help you? Have you a notebook of excellent contacts you can go to who will give you advice on legal issues, financial issues, looking after yourself? Is there someone who will tell you that you're wrong? Spend a little while thinking about these questions and any others that occur to you. Where there are gaps spend some time working out how you'll fill them. After this you'll be ready to start.
So, you want to run your own business - no-one telling you what to do, when to do it, when to take holidays, when to go home. Still, seems a good deal to me.

Tips to new craftspeople starting at craft shows

Work out the best way to display your work and find an angle which will make your work stand out from the run of stands.
Demonstrate if you can, or at least have stage samples to show visitors.
Have plenty of those 'bread and butter' items, even though they may be boring to make.

Try to add height into your display, to lead the customer's eye in and around the stand, not straight over it to the next exhibitor. If you're new to crafts and the budget is small, begin by experimenting with things that you can afford - try painting some sturdy boxes, or covering them with the same cloth as your table cover -use containers which can be stacked to add height to your display and also double up for carrying items in, to and from the show. Side panels can be created with wooden trellis for hanging work on, even the most everyday items can be effective - upturned terracotta flower pots could be used to create height, colour and texture in a display. You're in a creative business, so bring that creativity to your presentation, with imagination you can create an impressive display at very little cost.

Try to use appropriate lighting whenever you can, it is usually possible to book an electrical supply to your stand and smart, portable lights are easily available from places such as B&Q and IKEA at very little cost.* Cast an eye over other people's stands, how they light their displays. Take a critical look at how goods are displayed and lit in shop windows - they are rarely dark and gloomy, which is how your stand could look without some lights to bring it to life.

Think about colour - for example, if your products are very bright and contrast of showing them on a rich, dark colour; feminine items may be better suited to softer, more sympathetic pastel shades for background colours - try different things and see how they affect the visual impact of your products, always keeping an eye on current trends and seasonal colour fashions.
Remember than less can be more -displaying less products can have more impact, so have an eye for space and don't cram the stand full of stock. Leave some space around each piece or group of work -people will ask about availability of different sizes, colour options etc. if they cannot see exactly what they want.

A most important point - make sure your display is safe - be certain that everything is secure, that panels are properly fixed, that boxes won't tumble, that lights are safely fitted. Be confident in your own mind that your display will withstand a certain amount of jostling, especially if you are exhibiting in a marquee where the ground is likely to be uneven.

The biggest strength that makers have in the competitive retail environment is the fact that they are offering unique, quality hand crafted products - yet still buyers do not always appreciate that, so make sure you let them know about your work. By using showcards, displays of photographs with written descriptions, it's easy to put something together which tells the story of your work, the various stages of it's design and making. It's not always appropriate for makers to demonstrate their work at a show, but customers enjoy displays like this, showing you at work and the various stages of the design and making process, and they can provide an excellent talking point for you when people stop to browse. One more thing to remember about your display - once it's all set up and perfect, take a photograph of it before the show opens. Many organisers now not only ask for photographs of your products, they also ask to see what your display looks like, so take some photographs ready to use when you apply to other organisers for the first time.

If all of this is new to you, try everything out at home or in your workshop well in advance of the show. Mark out an area the size of the stand you have booked, set everything up as you plan to at the show. Does it all work and come together as you envisaged? Have you left room to get behind the table if you are using one? Is there enough space to store your spare stock? Where will you sit (the days can be long and hard on the feet!).

If you plan to demonstrate, have you allowed space for that (or is it being offered by the organiser as space additional to your stand area?). Will everything pack into your vehicle and still leave space for your personal things? How long does it take to put the stand up? You will be able to set up at the show well in advance of it opening, often the day before, but it does help to know how much time to allow yourself for unloading and setting up.

Remember, your stand at the show is your shop front, you don't get a second chance after the show has closed, so you need to do everything you can to make sure you make the most of this selling opportunity. Your display should look as though it has been thought out and designed specially for your products, it needs to look professional, present an image in keeping with the quality of your work, giving an air of confidence -even if you do feel nervous at first!


How all crafts people can make the best of craft events
Watch, look and listen to what is ' going on around you. Read the information you are given; our shows generally run smoothly with few difficulties, but almost all the problems that do occur could have been avoided by exhibitors simply reading the information we send and, if necessary, making a quick phone call. Every organiser operates in a different way and to different standards; reading the information should tell you where the differences are.
Look at your work and display - is it the same as last year? In some cases it hasn't changed for 20 years and exhibitors wonder why their sales have dropped! Few exhibitors can be in the lucky position of not having to review what they are doing. As organisers we are doing it constantly.
Display is so important. We have seen the most beautiful work presented on a flat table covered with a sheet that looked as if it was taken off the bed that morning.

Height variation, colour
co-ordination, properly printed (or calligraphy) labels, non-creasing table coverings that reach the floor at the front and sides, are all important. Lighting should be used to enhance the display, not create enough heat to melt a candle or contribute to global warming - use low energy bulbs! Be professional - take a bit more time and trouble and look at your display from the front, as the visitors will see it.
And the cardinal sin? Reading behind the stand. Nothing is more off-putting than an exhibitor who finds their newspaper, magazine or book more interesting than a potential customer. If the show is quiet it is even more important that you are bright-eyed and alert for every visitor - it could be your best sale of the year. We had a ceramics worker with us last year for the first time - beautiful work, well displayed, but she had her head in a book all weekend; she had very poor sales and blamed the visitors! We already had a piece of her work and intended to buy more, but she couldn't even be bothered to talk to us. Such a pity. Save your reading for your lunch break - taken outside the marquee or at least out of sight of customers; if you're on your own make friends with your neighbours so they can cover short breaks for food and loo visits.
If you are having an awful show try to stay positive (we know it's hard); use the opportunity to stand back and think why, especially if everyone else seems to be selling. We know of one exhibitor who was never at her stand, even when it was busy - she was always on someone else's stand complaining she wasn't selling anything!
If visitors hear you complaining they will avoid you. And if you have a grouch with the organisers - well, if it's us, we'd rather you talked to us and we resolved the problem as quickly as possible than you moaned to your neighbour all weekend and told us as you left

ELECTRICAL TESTING
Genesys Worksafe just as many similar companies provides a growing range of services to UK based businesses to allow compliance with UK legislation related to Health & Safety at work.
Their major business in this area currently is the provision of Portable Appliance Testing services (PAT). In line with the overall Genesys philosophy, Genesys Worksafe services are provided to the highest professional standard with absolute focus on customer satisfaction and care.
Genesys Worksafe services are covered by our ISO 9001 accreditation and our membership of the Electrical Contractors Association (ECA) and Construction Line.

click on the Genesys logo to visit their website where you will find many answers to your questions

Public Liability Insurance
Public Liability Insurance in today's litigious society is more important than ever. Although not yet at America's levels, more and more people, instead of accepting that loss or damage can happen by accident, are encouraged to believe that it must have been through someone's negligence - with the result that they sue- hence the need for public liability insurance. Although the demise of some firms actively pursuing compensation claims on behalf of the public has been well documented, the arrival of 'no-win no-fee' agreements and legal expenses cover 'after the event' has meant that access to the courts has never been easier. This ease of access, together with the perception that judges will award compensation in virtually every case - almost irrespective of liability - assuming that the business will have cover so that 'no-one loses' - of course this is not the case as the insurance premiums insurers charge have to be increased to meet these claims - this means that the businesses have to charge more to meet these increases so eventually the customer pays for the awards.
Employer Liability Insurance is, of course compulsory for any firm that employs people (unlike public liability insurance). Due to the increase in duties imposed on employers and the rights given as well as ease of access to compensation, a similar increase in claims has arisen with the same result as above - premiums have increased and businesses have to increase their prices to pay for the costs. Recent changes in law, however mean that a company with only one employee, who also owns 50% of the firm need not have employers liability insurance.

Trading standards


Click on the image to visit the national Trading standards website.
Consumer Advice and information on rights when shopping for goods and services and dealing with faulty goods, on scams and rip-offs

Toy Safety



Click on icon to vist the national toy council Website
The National Toy Council is a forum which was set up by the BTHA to bring together organisations and individuals connected with children or concerned with their welfare. Its main objectives are:
To ensure that a responsible and well-informed dialogue is maintained between the toy industry and the public, particularly in regard to the safety of its products and the manner in which the toys are marketed.
To encourage the exchange of ideas on toy-related issues affecting children and their parents.
To provide a forum in which such issues can be identified and examined in a environment where both commercial and social interests are represented.

How can I save time and money on my banking?

Running a business can be stressful. Most people who manage their own business would say that they have little spare time and that they spend packed days hopping from one task to another, working long hours and constantly juggling workload issues.
Chances are, looking after customers, ensuring product and service levels remain high, dealing with queries, and managing staff are likely to be the activities you prioritise. Essential tasks like going to the bank or processing payments probably come nearer the bottom of your list.
This guide aims to show anyone running a business how they can manage their business finances effectively while making the most of their time.

'I'm running to keep up...'
Gareth Lytton, who runs his own garage in North London, has a typical story to tell:
'From first thing in the morning, my day is basically spent dealing with customers, quoting for repairs and making sure that my mechanics are doing a good job. Money issues are something I have to find time for in odd quiet periods, so it would be fair to say that I'm not very organised!
'I'm always running into the bank at the last minute to make deposits, or writing cheques in a panic when I get a final reminder. The other thing I do which drives me mad is to pay for stuff out of my own pocket and then lose the receipts, so I always feel the business owes me money...'

Finding the time
It's a common problem. You'd rather focus - in fact you need to focus - on running your core business, but managing the financial side of things is still key to achieving success. If it gets out of hand, it can cause problems, making it difficult for you to see how profitable you are, to establish your cashflow situation and to maintain the records you need for your year-end. But you simply don't have the time to devote hours to making this happen.
The good news is that nowadays there are many banking services on offer, which can help you save time and simplify the financial management of your business

Counting the cost
Poor financial management can also cost your business in hard cash.
Do you ever go overdrawn unnecessarily because you've banked cheques late?
Do you incur penalties for late payment to suppliers?
Do you ever have to pay bank charges for having to speed up an overdue payment?
Are you missing out on discounts available for
making bulk, or automatic transactions?
All these will have a direct effect on your bottom line.
Today there are automated banking systems that are simple to set up and use, and which can offer a real cost saving.
So what banking options are there and how will they benefit me?

Telephone Banking
You're in the middle of your monthly book-keeping when you realise you've misplaced your most recent bank statement. Plus, it's 9pm on a Saturday. What are your options? Well, if you've registered for telephone banking, you could simply ring up and check your account balance, recent transactions, and then order a new statement over the phone. Telephone banking also allows you to make money transfers and bill payments, out of hours, seven days a week.
You can nominate colleagues as users and decide their level of access. Each authorised user will be given a membership number and an individual password, so you can track activity accurately and ensure security.

Internet banking
You need to buy a new piece of office machinery but are concerned that you don't have sufficient funds. The Internet has made checking your balance instant and easy, with online banking. As long as you have an Internet facility, you can gain immediate access to your accounts and see exactly what's come in and gone out.
To keep control of your cashflow, Internet banking can prove invaluable. You can use it 365 days a year, 24 hours a day, to transfer funds between current and deposit accounts and view loan accounts. You can also monitor incoming payments and pay bills. Access of this kind can make managing your business finances much easier and may help you avoid overdraft or late payment charges. For the over-stretched manager, it means no time-wasting trips to your local branch.
How can I make payments more quickly and cheaply?
Most new business owners begin by writing cheques for everything and never really get out of the habit. Margaret Blythe, who runs a small beauty salon, is a typical example:
'I still write cheques for most things, even three years on,' says Margaret 'We also have a petty cash system so the receptionist can buy coffee or cotton wool when it runs out, and I buy a lot of things on my personal credit card and put them through as expenses. It's a bit of a silly system as it always takes me ages to reconcile the petty cash and if I want to order something over the phone - or even buy it from a shop - they won't usually take a business cheque. Plus if the girls need an urgent delivery of supplies and I'm not here, they have to wait for me to come in and sign a cheque. 'There are cheaper and quicker alternatives to writing cheques, such as payment cards or charge cards. You have the option to extend the use of these to appropriate members of staff.

Payment cards
These work like a personal debit card, with payments coming from the business account. They are a quick and easy way to meet everyday expenses.
There's no need to use a cheque book and it costs less than writing a cheque. It can be used in person, by phone, post or online and can also be used to withdraw cash from Cashpoint® machines.
Using the card can also help reduce the need for petty cash as businesses can select different members of staff to have a card. And as statements show details of each transaction, keeping track of business expenses is straightforward

Charge cards
Charge cards allow you or designated members of staff to pay for everyday expenses on a short-term credit basis. The balance is then paid off, in full, by direct debit each month. One of the greatest benefits of this type of card is that there is control over how much each cardholder can spend. Such cards can be particularly useful for managing business expenses, where administration is often time-consuming and cumbersome.
Automated payments
Automated payments are another way of saving money on your banking transactions. If you make a large number of credit or debit payments it can be more cost-effective for you to make automated payments by phone, fax or PC. While there may be a set up fee for
some services, the discount for making bulk payments should reduce your banking charges considerably.
'For us, using automated payments is a godsend,' explains James Marshall of Motocron Mail Order Ltd. 'I can fax a list of payments to the bank and they set it all up for me. Because they deduct the money on the exact day it's transferred, I can control my cashflow better. Plus, its much cheaper than processing a cheque - I save on transaction charges and on postage!'

I'm still short of time to spend on the finances - what else might help me?
It's lunchtime, you've been hard at it all morning but, when you get to your branch, you see there is a queue. You've got to rush back to check an important order, which means the finances will have to wait until tomorrow.
One way to avoid this scenario is to ensure that you are making best use of all the facilities your bank provides. You wouldn't hesitate to use the Cashpoint® to access your personal account - now business bank accounts offer you similar options. With a payment card-you can withdraw cash, order a mini statement or check your balance without having to queue at the counter.
Deposits can be made more quickly and cost-effectively as cheques and cash can be put in an envelope and deposited in a secure box within the branch. Staff will check and process your transaction by the end of that working day and commercial envelopes are available for bulkier transactions.

 

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