Banner Sponsors
For artists and collectors sponsored by Intercal...your mohair supplier and Johnna's Mohair Store
Hi, I'm trying to break into the bear business, and I don't know where to start. My mom and I have been selling my bears to people we know, but I really want to get serious about my bears (or as serious as possible between college and athletics 
). Do you have any advice about advertising and such? I would like to join Bear Artists Online, it looks like an amazing site, but it costs a lot. I know it's actually a good price, but I want to make sure it'll be worth it. I read in another post that someone recommened sending pictures and info in to magazines, what exactly would I be sending in? Anything else I should look into? I'd like to do a show sometime, but I don't know what to do for one. Basically, I don't know what I'm doing! Help! Any advice anyone can give me would be wonderful 
I've been doing this a long time and if I think way back I can remember how I got started. I didn't have any money either: I sent photos to the magazines constantly...they published them. I submitted photos to the Golden Teddy Award...I won. I wrote articles for Teddy Bear Review...they paid me. There were a lot of Teddy Bear shows back then and I did every local show (sometimes 2 or 3 shows a month). Today there aren't many shows but we do have eBay and Bid 4 Bears. When I first started listing my bears on eBay I thought of it as "advertising" and to my delight my bears were also selling. But there is no guarantee that your bear will sell on ebay so just think of you eBay auction as a few days of advertising exposure (I started with 10 day auctions for that reason). I see that you have a website, that's very good. If you list on ebay be sure to do a ME page and link your website to it. Start a mailing list for collectors who like your work because you want to keep them updated and connected to your work.
The most important thing is to network and to expose your work, which is what you are doing here on TT and on BAO. Once you get published you will really start to feel like a professional so send photos to the magazines. You can go into each magazine's website to get the information you need to submit photos. Read their Editorial Calendar and submit photos that are in that issue's theme and you may have a better chance of getting published.
Once you can afford it, join some of the great sites are available to us like BAO, join them and use them. If you want to turn professional then you have to spend a little money. To be honest, the bulk of what I make selling bears goes right back into my business.
Good Luck!
~Kathy Myers
Thank you! I'm not surprised that most of what you earn goes back into making bears, I think that's why I want to sell more bears anyway, so I can afford to make more, it's like a self-funding hobby 
Again, thank you
Katrina
Hi Katrina,
Everyone has done it a little differently I'm sure..... But when I first started... I started listing on Ebay.
As collectors won, I asked if they would like to be on my new bears mailing list.
Then, I built my website, started doing some shows... joined some web groups (NCTB, Bearpile, Bears Direct,....) and submitting to magazines... and participating on these boards.
I took it one step at a time....otherwise I'd find myself too overwhelmed.
I know everyone's story is a little different.... but that's how I got started.... Good luck!
One step at a time...good idea. I tend to want to get everything done at once. I'm still learning how to be patient. That's part of why I make minis, they don't seem to take as long
Thank you both for your help 
Hi Katrina!
I've had a little look at your website, which is lovely by the way, and was reading all about you - and your story is so similar to mine!!!
I'm 23 now, but began selling my bears at 15. I must have started making bears when I was about 10 years old. I got interested in miniatures through my Mum (she makes dolls), and was lucky as a teenager to be able to sell my bears on my Mum's table at shows. I live in the UK, so when I finished school, I went to university, and was able to make some bears in my spare time, which helped fund being a student. Since graduating, I now work, but am self-employed, so I can allow some time to make my bears aswell as earning money with a 'real' job!!
I think your website is a great way to start. I would highly recommend that you introduce your bears to the bear collector's world slowly but steadily. If you make a piece you are particularly pleased with, then take a good, clear photograph of it, and send it to the editor of one of the magazines, asking if they could include your picture - make sure you include your website address, so that it can be included with your picture. If people are interested, they can then visit your website. Always look out for opportunities to be included in a magazine. Editors seem to be supportive of new bear artists, so have the confidence to show them what you can do!!
I personally LOVE shows, although they are not for everyone. I would suggest starting at a fairly low-cost show, and just guage people's reactions to your bears. Hopefully you'll sell a few aswell!!
I personally have never paid a penny for advertising, although I have paid to enter some of the more prestigious competitions, as they give great exposure. I may have to pay for advertising at some time, but it just shows that it isn't always necessary.
Always remember that the most important thing is to enjoy making the bears, and this will come through in what you make. Always try something new, or something different, and always push yourself to create the next one 'better' - this has certainly always been my way of thinking.
Lastly, make sure you put lots of pics of your bears on Teddy Talk, as we would all love to see them, and you can get great feedback from people on here, and a lot of encouragement!!
Samantha,
That's cool that we have all of that in common There's hope for me after all
Thanks for sharing! I'm so glad I decided to post, you've all been so helpful!
Katrina
