The Development Alchemists

Make It!

Business Skills for Artists & Artisans

Making a living from what you love takes more than talent — it takes know-how. This programme is built for creative people who want to turn their craft into a sustainable livelihood.

Who is this for?

Whether you weave, paint, sculpt, design, craft, illustrate, or create in any other way — Make It! helps you build the business skills to earn from your art, find your audience, and run your creative practice with confidence.

Get Started

Tell us a little about yourself

Complete the short form below to begin your self-assessment. Your responses will be sent directly to our team and kept confidential.

Your Name * Please enter your name.

Email Address * Please enter a valid email address.

Country * Please enter your country.

Interest in Make It! * Please select your interest.

Anything else you would like to tell us? (optional)

Your Creative Business Self-Assessment

This assessment has six themes. For each question, choose the response that feels most true for you right now — there are no right or wrong answers. It is here to help you reflect and to help us understand what matters most to you.

0 of 24 questions answered

My Perfect Business What does your ideal creative business look like?

1 When you imagine your creative business at its best, what does a typical working day look like?

I work mostly alone in my own studio or workspace, creating at my own pace I collaborate with other makers and creatives on shared projects I split my time between making and selling — connecting directly with customers I teach, train, or lead workshops to share my skills alongside my own practice

2 How do you most want your creative business to grow over the next few years?

Keeping it small and personal, focused on quality and personal expression Expanding to supply larger retailers, galleries, or export markets Building a team or cooperative with other local artisans Developing a strong online presence and selling internationally

3 What would make you feel that your creative business was truly successful?

Earning enough to support myself and my family comfortably Receiving recognition — awards, exhibitions, press coverage, or commissions Making work I am genuinely proud of, regardless of commercial success Having loyal customers who keep coming back and recommend me to others

4 Which of the following best describes the kind of business you want to run?

A lifestyle business that fits around family, community, and personal wellbeing A purpose-driven enterprise that also contributes to my local community A professional studio or workshop with a clear brand and business identity A scalable enterprise that could eventually employ others or licence my designs

Artist or Artisan? How do you see yourself and your creative practice?

1 When you describe what you do to a stranger, which comes most naturally?

I am an artist — I express ideas, emotions, or a personal vision through my work I am an artisan — I make skilled, functional things with craft and precision Both — my work crosses between artistic expression and skilled making I am still working this out and do not feel settled on a label yet

2 How would you describe the relationship between your creativity and your income?

My creativity is my primary source of income — or I want it to be My creative work supplements other income — it is part-time or occasional I create for pleasure and community, income is welcome but not the main goal I am at an early stage — I have not yet earned from my creative work

3 How do you feel about the idea of making your creative work more commercial?

Excited — commercial success will allow me to do more of what I love Open to it, but I want to protect my creative integrity A little uncertain — I am still finding the right balance I find the business side challenging and would like a lot of support with it

4 What role does your cultural background or community play in your creative work?

It is central — my work draws directly from local traditions, materials, or heritage It influences my work, but I also draw from wider global inspirations My work is quite personal and independent of cultural background This is something I am actively exploring and thinking about

Marketing and Self-Promotion How do you share your work with the world?

1 How would you currently describe your approach to promoting your creative work?

Word of mouth — people find me through personal recommendations Social media — I share my work regularly and build an online following Markets and events — I show up in person and let my work speak for itself I do very little promotion at the moment and want to improve this

2 What do you find most challenging about putting yourself and your work out there?

Knowing what to say about my work — describing it in a compelling way Knowing where to promote — which platforms or channels to focus on Finding the confidence to put myself forward — self-promotion feels uncomfortable Finding the time — I am too busy making to focus on marketing

3 How clearly can you describe the people who most want or need your work?

Very clearly — I know who my customers are and what they value Fairly well — I have a sense of my audience but could be more specific Not very clearly — I sell to whoever is interested at the time I have not thought much about this — it feels quite new to me

4 Which area of marketing would be most useful to explore in Make It!?

Telling my story — developing a clear and compelling creative identity Social media and digital marketing — reaching people online effectively Photography and presentation — making my work look its very best Pricing and positioning — knowing how to value and talk about my work confidently

Managing Business Finances How confident are you with the money side of your practice?

1 How do you currently keep track of the money coming in and going out of your creative work?

I have a clear record-keeping system and review it regularly I keep some records but it is not very systematic I manage mostly in my head or through bank statements I do not keep records at the moment but I want to start

2 How do you decide what to charge for your work?

I calculate my costs carefully and add a fair profit margin I look at what others charge and set a similar price I charge what feels fair or what customers seem willing to pay I often undercharge because I lack confidence in the value of my work

3 How comfortable are you planning ahead for the financial side of your business?

Comfortable — I think ahead, plan for quieter periods, and set income goals Moderately confident — I manage the present but planning ahead feels difficult Not very confident — finances feel stressful and I tend to avoid thinking about them A complete beginner at financial planning — this is new territory for me

4 Which financial skill would have the most immediate impact on your business?

Calculating accurate prices that cover my costs and generate profit Simple bookkeeping — tracking income, expenses, and profit clearly Understanding cash flow — knowing when money will come in and planning for gaps Exploring funding, grants, or credit options for growing my creative business

My Products What do you make, and how do you think about your range?

1 How would you best describe the products or creative output you offer?

One-of-a-kind pieces — each work is unique and not repeated Small batch or limited-edition items — made in controlled quantities A repeatable range of products with consistent designs or styles Custom or commission-based work — I make what clients ask for

2 How much attention have you given to developing your product range as a business strategy?

A lot — I think carefully about what to offer, at what price, and for whom Some — I have a rough range but have not planned it systematically Not much — I make what inspires me and see what sells I am only just starting to think about this

3 How do you balance creative exploration with making products people will actually buy?

I prioritise creativity and trust the right buyers will find my work I balance both — keeping a commercial line alongside my more experimental work I tend to follow what sells, even if it is not always my most inspired work This is one of my main ongoing tensions — I would love to explore it more

4 Are you interested in diversifying your income beyond selling physical products?

Yes — I am keen to offer workshops, courses, or digital products alongside my craft Possibly — I am open to it but not sure where to start Not for now — I want to focus entirely on my physical products and craftsmanship I already do this and would welcome support in developing it further

Where I Sell The places and environments where your work reaches its buyers

1 Where do you currently sell or show your work most often?

Directly to people I know — friends, family, and community contacts Local markets, fairs, festivals, or community events Shops, boutiques, galleries, or stockists in my area Online — via my own website, social media, or platforms such as Etsy or Instagram

2 Which selling environment would you most like to develop or explore?

Export or international markets — selling to customers overseas Online marketplaces and e-commerce — building a stronger digital presence Wholesale and retail partnerships — supplying shops or galleries at scale High-end or niche markets — reaching buyers who value and pay for premium quality

3 How comfortable are you with the practical side of getting your work to buyers?

Confident — I understand packaging, delivery, and logistics well Fairly comfortable for local sales, but less so for distance or online orders This is an area I find quite challenging and would like help with I have not yet sold much and this is all new to me

4 What is your biggest aspiration for where your work will be sold in the future?

To have my own dedicated studio, shop, or gallery space To sell internationally and be known beyond my local area To sell consistently through trusted local channels and build a loyal local following To be featured in well-known outlets, publications, or curated collections

Your Personal Summary

Based on your responses, here is a snapshot of where you are right now across each theme — and what Make It! can do for you.

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My Perfect Business Theme 1

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Artist or Artisan? Theme 2

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Marketing & Self-Promotion Theme 3

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Managing Finances Theme 4

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My Products Theme 5

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Where I Sell Theme 6

You are almost there!

Review your responses and when you are ready, submit your self-assessment. Our team will be in touch with next steps for Make It!

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Thank you — your assessment has been submitted!

We have received your self-assessment for Make It! A member of the Development Alchemists team will be in touch with you shortly about next steps.

Make It! Business Skills for Artists & Artisans · A The Development Alchemists Programme

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Creative Businesses