Under this classification come those projects that are ordinarily done right on the customer's property. They include masonry, brickwork, carpentry and so on. Custom-made and special-order crafts, such as glove making, chair caning, etc., are discussed later.

Securing orders for masonry or similar projects depends to a large extent upon recommendations from friends and other people in business. Local hardware and garden shops, nurseries and florists, real estate agents, lumber mills and building supply houses are in a position to send work your way. Two other and very important sources of recommendation are the Home and Garden Editors of newspapers and magazines. Their write-ups about your work are extremely valuable.

All sources must be convinced both of your skill and your reliability. You can't very well carry a brick walk around with you but you can take along a photograph of it and other things you have built. Many times you will be asked to leave those photos for references so have a number of prints made for just that purpose.

With each thing you construct, make accurate notes regarding the costs of the materials and the exact amount of time it took you to complete the job. This information, together with your name, address and telephone number, may be typed on the back of the photos. Or, the prints may be pasted on a sheet of good paper with the information clearly typed below. When doing it this way you might include a list of the things other than those illustrated that you are prepared to take orders for.

Find out the name of the store owner or manager before going to call on him. Ask for him by name and when you get to see him introduce yourself and state your case briefly and clearly. "Mr. Walters, my name is Jack Brown. I build terraces, pools and walks. It occurred to me that some of your customers might ask you who does that kind of work. I'd appreciate having a chance to estimate on some jobs." One thing will lead to another. You may meet a crusty old individual whose attitude may be, "Now run along, sonny. I'm a very busy man!" Don't argue. Just leave. Most people will be interested and sympathetic. With them the conversation will move along agreeably. Leave your exhibit and remind them that you will be back to see them soon.

Follow-up calls are very important and should not be neglected. They serve to keep things alive. It may take many calls before something crops up for you. Even so, keep making those calls.

How To Secure Orders For Custom-Made Articles

There are two good ways of selling handmade gloves or custom-knit sweaters or other special-order craft work: one, show a sample or two of your work to a number of friends and ask them to pass the word along to their friends; and, two, show your samples to the Shopping or Woman's Page Editor of your local paper. If your things are written up for the paper, you will doubtless receive some orders, for this kind of publicity is an excellent way of getting business.

Another good method of getting business is by the use of short, simple advertisements in the Public Notices and Classified column of the local paper. Averaging about seven cents a word, the cost involved is negligible when compared with the potential returns from the ad. All the advertisement need say is "Chairs caned, rush seats restored. Call Allen 4-0000." Don't however, expect one lonely little ad to deluge you with orders. Try an ad once a week for four weeks and see what happens.

This same type of ad may be used to get pupils for classes in Craft Instruction. Teaching crafts is a very pleasant way of earning money. How do you know if you can teach? Try it out on friends, volunteer to teach in a Youth Center or a settlement house. Contact the Occupational Therapy Director of a hospital and offer your services. The work is all for free but what a wonderful opportunity you have to perfect your teaching methods, to work out and organize the individual lessons so that they will add up to a well-rounded, comprehensive course.