a must read...

If you're looking to start a creative business selling your own products, I highly recommend the e-book by Pamela Barsky called "How to Start a Creative Manufacturing Business". I've been reading a couple business books for a while now as I'm working on a line of my very own. But most books out there, while informative, are not geared towards products and creative ventures. Many of you know Pamela Barsky for her successful line of gift products and accessories. She is using her experience to help others start their own ventures by way of her book and her consulting service. Her book is one woman's perspective and you should not expect to get all things from one view. But if you're starting from the very beginning and really want an idea of how the process to starting something works, I think this gives a great intro.

{UPDATE: There's been some discussion in the comments about this book and those who have read it do have differing opinions. The book is definitely one woman's perspective based on her experience and opinions on how things work and what's proven successful for her. I happen to have enjoyed it and thought it was worth the time & money because it gave me a good overview and kept me in check of things I may not have thought of. Those who are further along in their businesses or have found ways to make certain areas of the business work, may find some of her opinions conflicting. To each her own..as with any book, some will find it helpful, while others won't.}

Comments

[meg]

i love that she's so open about sharing information through this e-book and on her blog. i kinda wish she spent a little more time putting it together. it's written in a very stream-of-consciousness style writing which i guess is very much in her personality. but writing paragraphs longer than 2 or 3 sentences and checking for spelling would have been nice! but overall it's full of really useful info...

[decor8 Holly]

This is so funny that you posted this. I was just in touch with Pamela yesterday, she wrote to me about an interview we're lining up. Look for it this week or next on my site. :)

[Kathleen]

I just got the book and it looks like a great resource...I kind of wish it had a table of contents though, for an e-book, I guess I expected it to be formatted like a book.

[stephanie]

While Pamela is entertaining and definitely creative, the information in her ebook and blog is really misleading and inaccurate at times. (The information she gives about copyright protection is downright wrong, ) I cringe at the idea that someone would read her book (and/or blog) and be inspired to model their business after hers. Someone who has been in business as long as her should not constantly have a zero balance in her checkbook, and should have the ability to delegate. To all of you out there, please do your research throughly and do not take one person's experience as gospel!

[Beth]

woman, you DO read!

[joy]

ha, yes. i do...just not fiction ;)

[Kathleen]

Thank you Stephanie.

[Katey]

I also have her e-book and I love it! She's so inspiring

[ava]

what are u starting? well... am looking forward to it. all the best!

[Cait]

I was thinking about buying this book, but the example on the website about where to find ideas wasn’t terribly helpful for me. I need help with the pricing, sales and marketing aspects, for those of you who have read the book, do you think it is helpful for these types of things?

[maja]

I was considering buying the book as well, but was concerned about entering my credit card info... the paymnent page was not https, although it had the geotrust symbol on it(?!) hmmm...

[flowerlover84]

I would like to make a correction to the previous post claiming 1-800-flowers is following in FTD's footsteps.
As a matter of fact, 1-800-flowers.com is the pioneer of the expert designers. Before Todd Oldham became a partner of FTD, 1-800-flowers had designers such as Preston Bailey, Jane Caroll, Julie Mulligan, Jane Packer and Nico De Swert (who started in the beginning of 2006 unlike Oldham who launched his FTD line in April 2006). Lets give 1-800-flowers credit where credit is due.

[flowerlover84]

I would like to make a correction to the previous post claiming 1-800-flowers is following in FTD's footsteps.
As a matter of fact, 1-800-flowers.com is the pioneer of the expert designers. Before Todd Oldham became a partner of FTD, 1-800-flowers had designers such as Preston Bailey, Jane Caroll, Julie Mulligan, Jane Packer and Nico De Swert (who started in the beginning of 2006 unlike Oldham who launched his FTD line in April 2006). Lets give 1-800-flowers credit where credit is due.