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The items you make are at the heart of your business. This section offers guidance on refining your big ideas into products that will sell. Branding, packaging design, materials sourcing — here’s where you’ll find articles on these topics and everything else involved in creating your goods.

What It’s Like to Run a Subscription Business

Michelle Galletta of Toronto’s Kiriki Press chats about her now-retired embroidery-kit sampler club and what she’s doing next.

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Anatomy of a Product: Songbird Yarn & Fibres

Making a product that stands out in the marketplace isn’t always easy — but it helps if the idea itself is a selling point. Here’s one yarn brand that had its customer base in mind from day one.

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Anatomy of a Product: Uasau Soap

This Iqaluit-based skincare business has built a brand that features local ingredients and is grounded in Inuit culture, heritage and community. Here’s how they did it.

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Anatomy of a Product: Murder Mystery Cross-Stitch Kits by Diana Watters Handmade

Toronto designer Diana Watters’s cross-stitch kits have sold like hotcakes since the pandemic hit. This year, she upped the ante with a set of kits designed to keep customers engaged, and coming back for more.

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Anatomy of a Product: Upcycled Skateboards by AdrianMartinus

The AdrianMartinus team started their business with a simple goal: to design functional, attractive furniture and products out of discarded skateboards. Here's how they made it happen.

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Anatomy of a Product: Halloween Brooms by Prairie Breeze Folk Arts Studio

Amina Haswell structures her broom-making business like a fashion house, creating seasonal collections each year. Here’s how her most recent line came to be, and where she’s going next.

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Where to Get Branded Packaging in Canada for Your Handmade Business

Think bags, boxes and mailers emblazoned with logos are just for big companies? These suppliers offer plenty of options for small businesses.

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Anatomy of a Product: Beadwork-Inspired Fabric by Indigenous Nouveau

Kaija Heitland wanted to create a fabric collection inspired by her heritage and produced entirely in North America. Here’s how she achieved it, and where she’s going next.

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5 Steps to More Eco-Friendly Packaging

As environmental issues become increasingly urgent, businesses need to make a difference wherever they can. Here’s how to make your packaging greener.

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Anatomy of a Product: Natural Dye Kits by The Love of Colour

Julie Sinden’s natural dye kits went from a “what if” idea to the shelves of Indigo stores across Canada. (Perfect fit, right?) Here, we find out how it happened.

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Create an Unforgettable Unboxing Experience: 5 Tricks for Your Handmade Business

How you package your goods for shipping can have an immense effect on how your customers view your brand — and whether they’ll buy from you again. Here’s how to get the e-commerce unboxing experience right.

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