Why Most Craft Clubs Fail (And Yours Won't)
Posted on Feb 05, 2026We almost quit.
After weeks of approaching schools with our after-school craft program idea, we kept hearing the same thing:
"No thanks." "We're all set." "Maybe next year."
We'd already bought supplies. Planned our curriculum. Spent hours perfecting our pitch. We were ready to teach kids and change lives.
But without a single school saying yes, none of it mattered.
Christelle said, "Maybe this isn't going to work."
I almost agreed with her.
If we had quit that day, we never would've grown our local club to 61 locations in just 2 years, built a community of 10,000+ across 91 countries, or collectively taught tens of thousands of children.
But here's what we didn't know then: We were right in the danger zone.
The place where most people give up. Right before the breakthrough. We call it the 3-Month Rule.
And honestly?
That's exactly what we see with people starting their craft clubs.
Some get their first yes immediately. Others have to knock on more doors.
Both end up successful.
The only ones who don't?
The ones who never start at all. Or the ones who quit too soon.
So today, we're walking you through why the 3-month mark matters, and how to make sure you push through it.
Christelle & Stef X
The 3-Month Rule: Why Most Craft Clubs Fail (And Yours Won't)
Why Month 3 is Make-or-Break.
Here's what nobody tells you when you start: The first month is exciting. You're running on adrenaline and hope. You're telling everyone you know about your new program. You're buzzing with energy.
The second month? Reality hits. The rejections sting a little more. You start wondering if you're doing something wrong. The excitement wears off.
The third month is when most people quit. They look at their empty calendar and think, "This isn't working." They get tired of putting themselves out there without seeing results. They start telling themselves stories about why it won't succeed.
And that's exactly when they should keep going.
#1 – Make a Commitment (No Matter What)
After what felt like endless rejections, we made a deal: "Let's commit to 3 months. No matter what. Even if we have to approach 20 schools.
We're NOT quitting before 3 months." So we kept going.
Week 9: Another no.
Week 10: A principal who seemed interested but "needed to think about it."
Week 11: This is when everything changed.
We walked into a school, gave our pitch one more time, and heard the word we'd been waiting for: "YES."
Then something incredible happened. Once we had that first school, everything shifted.
We had proof of concept. We had confidence. We knew our pitch worked because we'd refined it with every conversation.
Week 14: We held our first school class. Six students attended.
And you won't believe what happened after that...
Our students ran out to the playground with their hobby horses. Yarn manes flying, kids galloping everywhere.
Within minutes, a crowd of kids gathered around them.
"Where did you GET that?" "Can I try?" "Mom! MOM! I want to make one too!"
Suddenly, we had kids tugging on their parents' sleeves, begging to join craft club. Parents we'd never met were asking us how to sign up. Word spread across the school playground like wildfire.
Our first class filled up. Then we had a waiting list. So we added another weekly slot at the same school. That one filled up fast too.
The month after that? Two more schools said yes.
Within 2 years, we were running programs at 61 locations.
None of that would've happened if we'd quit before we got our first yes.
#2 – Word Spreads Slowly, Then All at Once
We didn't get into the first school we asked. Or the second. Or the third.
But we kept going, and eventually one said yes.
Here's what we learned: Getting into schools takes time. But once you're in? Classes fill up FAST.
When you first start out, some will say no.
None of that means your program isn't wanted. It just means you haven't found your yes yet.
For Zayani, she kept showing up: "Nothing beats walking into a school and shaking hands with the secretary and saying 'hi, my name is Zayani, I'm starting a new business, and I would love to share it with you' because they feel my excitement and they want to help."
Today, a few months later, she runs a monthly community club, weekly sessions with preschoolers, and programs across multiple schools.
For Natalie, once she got her first school on board, classes filled immediately. She opened her first class with 10 spots. Sixteen students signed up.
Today, she runs 4 weekly classes with 46 students total, bringing in $4,600 per month for just 6 hours of work per week.
If either of them had quit before their breakthrough moment, they'd have missed everything.
The pattern is always the same: Once you're in at schools, classes fill up fast.
#3 – You Need Time to Find Your Rhythm
Your first few school pitches are rough.
You stumble over your words. You're not sure what principals actually care about. You forget to mention the most compelling parts. But by month 3? You've got it down.
You know exactly what objections they'll raise and how to address them.
You lead with what matters to them: happy parents, educational value, zero work for their staff. You're confident, and they can feel it.
CCC Member Kayla, who just a year ago was working as a school facilitator, puts it simply: "Start messy. Start small. When you start small, the only thing you can do is grow from there."
Today, she runs her own thriving kids' craft program. But she had to give herself permission to be imperfect at the start.
That confidence you'll have at month 3? It comes from the reps you put in during months 1 and 2. There's no shortcut.
#4 – Once You're In, the Crafts Do the Marketing For You
Here's what we didn't expect: Getting into the school was the hard part. Growing WITHIN that school? That happened on its own.
This is the pattern we see over and over: Once you're inside a school and kids see how awesome the projects are, growth happens naturally. The crafts themselves become your best advertisement. Kids show off what they made. Parents see the quality. Other kids want in.
Before you know it, you're running multiple classes at the same school. And once principals at other schools see your success? You're running multiple classes at multiple schools. But you have to get that first yes to unlock all of it
#5 – Momentum Builds on Itself
Every successful school partnership leads to referrals.
Every excited parent showing off what their kid made becomes your best marketing.
But you have to stick around long enough for that snowball to start rolling.
Samantha's advice? "Embrace the fact that there are going to be challenges. Celebrate the small wins."
Those small wins? They add up faster than you think. One school becomes two. Two become five. Before you know it, you have a thriving club.
That's the snowball effect.
But only if you're still there when it starts rolling.
Here's the Truth
You don't need to be perfect. You don't need fancy supplies or a business degree.
You just need to commit to 3 months.
We've watched thousands of people do exactly this and launch successful clubs. Some got their first yes in a week. Others took months.
The difference? They didn't quit before the breakthrough happened. There is massive demand for quality after-school programs.
You just have to push through long enough to tap into it.
Zayani went from "just walking my dog every day" to "I come home, and I'm just happy."
That's what happens when you build a business around work that both pays you and fulfills you.
Your story could be next.
So... where are you at right now? Haven't started yet? Already got a school lined up?
Hit reply and let us know. We respond to every email.
HERE'S HOW WE CAN HELP YOU:
Don't Start Your 3-Month Journey Alone!
THOUSANDS of People Have Already Attended Our FREE Get Started Workshop! And YOU Are Next!
In less than 60 minutes, you'll learn the 4-step plan that's helped over 10,000 moms and teachers turn their love of crafting into real income.
(Work from home? Check. Flexible schedule? Check. No experience needed? Double check!)
What You'll Learn:
- Why craft classes are the easiest, most fun way to earn extra income
- How to get your first paying students in 7 days or less
- How to run a successful, low-cost, no-venue launch
- How to earn reliable monthly income doing work you actually enjoy
- How a club can give you flexibility to work on your terms and never miss another moment that matters
THE BEST PART: It's 100% free!
Click here to see when the next free workshop is happening!
