The Most Refugees Since WWII, Drone Memo, Selling Your Crafts

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There are more than 50 million refugees globally for the first time since the Second World War. Veronica Rueckert and Rob Ferrett speak with a refugee advocate about what the world can do to confront the crisis. Then they discuss the drone memo that was recently made public, and get a lesson in selling crafts as an independent artist.

Featured in this Show

  • 5 Expert Tips On How To Sell Crafts Online

    The arts and crafts movement is booming, leaving some passionate DIY-ers thinking about expanding their hobby into a business.

    Here are five tips offered by Kari Chapin, author of “The Handmade Marketplace” and avid crafts enthusiast, on how crafters can break into the online marketplace — a convenient and potentially lucrative way to sell handiwork.

    1. Set goals.

    Chapin advises people to pick a point where they’d like to be in the future and work backwards from there.

    The crafter who wants enough money to finance a vacation will have different business needs than someone who wants to quit their day job and make craft sales their main objective.

    2. Have a brand.

    Crafters make their products by hand, but that doesn’t mean they can be old-fashioned about their marketing.

    According to Chapin, having a brand builds trust, increases perceived value, and makes more money.

    3. Use Etsy and other online resources.

    Even technophobes can find a route into the digital world by using an established marketplace like Etsy. There are also plenty of online tutorials on how to begin selling.

    4. Provide detailed information for customers.

    For maximum sales, Chapin recommends using the best photos possible: “A lot of people make purchases based on what they can see.”

    Product descriptions, measurements, material details, and shipping arrangements are also important information to include.

    5. Don’t price too low.

    The lingering question remains: How much to charge for a craft?

    “My best advice? Make sure you’re a little uncomfortable with the price,” said Chapin. “If you’re not making a profit off what you make you’re not really in business.”

  • Dealing With Growing Global Refugee Crisis

    There are more refugees around the world than at any time since World War II, according to a new report from the United Nations. A refugee advocate explains why there are so many refugees, and what the United States and the international community could do to help them.

  • Drone Memo Goes Public After Years Of Secrecy

    A memo laying out the Obama Administration’s justification for targeting and killing an American citizen and terror suspect with a drone was released yesterday. A law expert discusses what we learned from the memo.

  • Teach Me What You Know: How To Sell Your Handmade Crafts

    In this week’s Teach Me What You Know segment, a creative entrepreneur explains how to sell your handmade crafts in local flea markets, in brick-and-mortar stores, or online. She also shares tips for how to market your crafts.

Episode Credits

  • Rob Ferrett Host
  • Veronica Rueckert Host
  • Kari Chapin Guest
  • Jeff Crisp Guest
  • David Cole Guest
  • Chris Malina Producer
  • Amanda Magnus Producer

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