Craft Business while RVing

[aliceinanthemaz]

Has anyone here run a craft business out of their RV? Was curious how you handle storage and shipping for supplies, etc. Could you share issues your ran into?

I'm currently in a smaller Class C, but will be upgrading and considering going full time. I could have a home base on my parent's property, but I really wouldn't be there often as it conflicts with the regular job. I can travel a lot with my job, but mostly need to stick to mountain/pacific time zones and they are on the east coast. Just wondering if I will basically have to give up my crafting side business if it's not practical.

[Parrothead_Mike]

Another option, in addition to your traveling, is longer term stays at specific RV parks inhabited by snowbirds. You could contact parks in areas you'd like to spend 2 weeks to months to find out if you could trade teaching classes for free or reduced cost camping. Sounds like you have a good variety of crafts that easily transfer to craft classes. That still wouldn't prohibit you from doing shows in those areas on weekends.

Another thought on RVs is that you can take an RV and redesign the interior to fit your needs. Removing a sofa or dinette might create usable craft space/storage.

[scroller95969]

We do craft shows using a class C and pulling a 10' cargo trailer, however we make our wood products at home and then travel to shows to sell them. We do have trouble getting close for load in and load out but I have built my booth in 5 sections that can be wheeled out to side streets. There are certain shows that we don't do that are too tight for us to find parking close enough. The best combination that I have seen (if you can afford it)is to have a class A and then tow a cargo van with all of your products in it. That way you can drive the van right to your booth space for set up and take down. Several of my friends use this system. Sometimes they can stay overnight right at the show and sometimes they stay at campgrounds and drive the van back and forth. If you have a small booth setup you can even use a car for the toad.

[rockhillmanor]

aliceinanthemaz wrote:
Has anyone here run a

craft business out of their RV?

Was curious how you handle storage and shipping for supplies, etc. Could you share issues your ran into?

I'm currently in a smaller Class C, but will be upgrading and considering going full time. I could have a home base on my parent's property, but I really wouldn't be there often as it conflicts with the regular job. I can travel a lot with my job, but mostly need to stick to mountain/pacific time zones and they are on the east coast. Just wondering if I will basically have to give up my crafting side business if it's not practical.

Define 'out of MH'?

I have seen a few people sell crafts 'out of their MH' in CG's but I have also found that MOST CG's do NOT allow it.

I did met one guy who just conveniently leaves the back of his toy hauler open all the time at the CG.....with all his crafts in plain view.:W

Most RV crafter's I have met follow the craft shows in their MH. Staying the nights in a CG and then travel back and forth to the show site.

Depending on what type of craft and how much bulk you need to take with I've seen where they take out the bed and store their stuff there and just sleep on the couch bed in the RV. Easy access to supplies.

Shipping. I know the vendors at dog shows received shipments at the shows any time they need it. It's just like anything else you give them the address they will ship it!

Good luck on your business. Where there is a will there is a way!:C

[aliceinanthemaz]

A few different things, candles, soaps, decoupage, mixed media. Wanted to get into more wood, but that seems difficult if I'm going to be on the road.

[Naio]

Well, what kind of crafting do you do? That makes all the difference.

[aliceinanthemaz]

I've been wondering about pulling a trailer. If I upgrade to something longer and then pull a trailer, I wonder if it will be hard finding spaces. I guess I'll just have to plan better. These days with my little C, I can pull in just about anywhere.

[Naio]

I used to date a guy who had his glass equipment in a cargo trailer. He had just come off of several years of traveling from show to show.

[Marine_By_Choic]

I had a custom embroidery & heat transfer business. Pulled a 8X14 cargo trailer with everything in it. Worked well for years. Sold the business earlier this year.

[mikebreeze]

My girlfriend does fused glass. We talked about either getting a toy hauler and using it as her studio or taking our class C on the road to do shows. The issue that she will have with this is that she has 3 kilns that take a lot of power to run. That would rule out the toy hauler scenario. We would have to go out on the road in the class C for awhile, then come home and make more product. We have not done that yet.