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Making It The art of growing a crafts business.

By Linda Formichelli

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

It's a fairly simple concept: Take something you're goodat, and create a profitable business. Talented artisans are takingheed: According to the National Craft Association, the past threeyears have seen a steady 43 percent growth in the crafts industry,and sales of crafts and hobby products topped $10 billion in eachof those years. Entrepreneurs who create everything fromhandcrafted candles and jewelry to dolls and woodcarvings areseeing their sales soar.

Yet that very popularity often proves problematic. Handlinggrowth is difficult for all business owners--but more so forcraftspeople, whose businesses are based on their own creativetalents. How can you expand beyond your individual capacity whenyou're the only person qualified to create your product?"It's a huge issue for all businesses, but the transitionfrom being solo to being an employer is especially hard forcrafters," says Madeleine Homan, a business coach in DobbsFerry, New York, who works with creative businesses.

The secret is to delegate tasks to others so you have more timeto concentrate on growing your crafts business. The following sixsteps will help you learn what to delegate--and how:

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