Reading this research brief put out by a foundation that evaluates independent businesses reminded me that our industry is not alone in our day to day business challenges.

73% of businesses said in the last quarter they could not fill an open position because they could not find a qualified person. I'm not surprised that folks find it difficult but I am surprised at the percentage.

A college education rarely prepares someone for an industry that is not a specific career track. You can major in art and you can major in business but to my knowledge nobody is offering a B.S. in Craft Business.

For example, my degree in fashion design didn't make me into an editor or marketing manager. It was good instincts and lots of on the job training and mentoring that got me here.

Which leads me to the bottom line- we must train our own future leaders. We need to let go of the idea that a person who does not scrapbook would not make a good employee.

Not everyone who crafts makes a great business person and not every great business mind can design fabulous projects. We need to find talented people with enthusiasm for what we do. Someone who is great with people and has good ideas. Then we need to make sure those people are mentored and encouraged to grow and try new things.

For retailers that means hiring people that have the personality to be great salespeople. You can always take them to a show to learn about products or teach that person how to create a page. It's much harder to adjust someone's personality and make them customer service oriented.

If we don't find the time to train future leaders, where will our industry go? What is our secession plan? Each one teach one, I say.

In an acceptance speech at a prestigious awards event I heard a woman say "I stand on the shoulders of every woman who helped me get here by teaching me and helping me grow."

I love the idea of honoring the folks who taught you along the way and have many women upon whose shoulders I stand. Consider how you can
lend a shoulder to a future business leader. Not only will you help your company, you will be doing a service for the industry--Beth