William Hynes began making handcrafted furniture while still a university student. In 1976, he and his wife set up their own craft business. They explored the market, as recommended in this book, and finally decided to specialize in stuffed toys, puppets, and pillows. Their business grew quickly, and soon they had 16 full-time employees. After 25 years in the business, they have now retired from full-time production crafts, and William Hynes acts as a consultant to craft and craft-related businesses.