Ahoy Matey!
Ahoy Matey!!
The first interview on WahmToronto.com is with Joanne of Krafty Kids. her pirate kits looks like a lot of fun and that theme is big with the little one’s.
Why did you start your business?
I started Krafty Kidz Creations after Mom’s of my children’s friends, commented on how great my children’s Birthday parties were and that “I should do this” as a business. I approached my sister-in-law to be and we brainstormed and came up with Krafty Kidz Creations, where we provide in-home craft Birthday Parties, and sell hand-packaged children’s craft kits. My children are a huge inspiration and they love inventing crafts with us.
If you designed and invented a product how did your idea come about?
In addition to Birthday Parties, we also sell, children’s craft kits. We get our ideas from a variety of places. We scout out great deals on craft supplies. Then, from what we have on hand, we design a craft. We test it on my children to determine the age group it is appropriate for and tweak it accordingly. The craft kits are then hand packaged, and my children love to help with this.
I want to know your marketing methods for product/business and how long did it take before people started buying?
We first began promoting our business by setting up a table in the local mall at Easter, and just telling everyone I knew what we were doing. Then we went to country fairs in the spring and summer, and craft fairs in the fall and hosted an Open House in November. We were “open” April 1st 2007, and the Maple Ridge Home show/Mountain Festival in May was our first big break. It was so exciting. We didnt’ know what to expect but we ended selling out of a few craft kits, and I remember Karla and I racing to the store and staying up until midnight to make more for the next day and doing that again for the 3rd day of the fair.
Do you market online or in a store? Do you encourage your client to
tell others about your business/products.
We market on-line www.krafty-kidz.ca and I have a small “store” set up in a room in my home. Local Clients can come in with an appointment and shop, and I have sold our crafts across Canada and the US from my on-line store. Much of our business is from word-of-mouth referrals, but obviously our Birthday Parties are for local clients.