If you enjoy making crafts, why not consider selling a few of your creations? Selling crafts could be a fun way to make some extra money on the side. It could even be a full time business venture. Below is a guide on how to sell crafts successfully.
Types of crafts you can sell
There are so many different types of crafts you can sell. Some of the most common examples include:
- Jewelry
- Ceramics
- Artwork
- Blankets
- Rugs
- Clothing
- Furniture
- Ornaments
- Clocks
- Bath bombs
- Pet products
Signs you should sell your crafts
There are a few signs that it could be time to sell your crafts. You should consider selling your crafts if any of the following are true:
- Multiple people have told you that you should sell your crafts
- You’ve looked at crafts online, in stores or at markets and thought to yourself ‘I can do better than that!’
- You feel fairly proficient when it comes to your craft. You’ve mastered the basics and are often looking for new challenges.
- You’ve started to develop a distinct style that other people have complimented you on. Your creations have their own personality and they stand out from the crowd.
Know where to sell them
There are so many different places to sell crafts. It’s worth trying a few different avenues to see what works best for you. A few different ways to sell your crafts are included below:
- You could consider the old-school method of attending a craft fair. These are fairs where you rent a stall and get to sell your crafts in person. They’re great opportunities not just to sell your crafts, but to meet other crafts sellers and gain exposure locally.
- You could try setting up your own market stall at a general local market. This is generally the next step beyond a craft fair and will require you to constantly keep making creations to sell on your stall.
- You could set up an Etsy account and start selling your crafts online. This is probably the most popular option nowadays. Etsy is just one site for doing this – Amazon Homemade, Zibbet, iCraft and Folksy are other sites worth trying.
- You could try setting up your own social media pages and website to sell through. This is ideal if you want to set up a business and build an official brand.
Know how to price them
Your crafts need to be priced accurately – particularly if you’re thinking of turning your hobby into a full time business. This involves factoring the cost of supplies into the price, as well as the amount of hours poured into your crafts. This guide explains more on how to price your crafts.
Don’t be intimidated by the business admin
Some people are put off selling their crafts because they don’t understand the business admin that comes with it. However, there are so many online guides and advisors that can help with these admin tasks including application for a federal tax ID number and obtaining necessary licenses. Setting up a business bank account and downloading accounting software can meanwhile make bookkeeping easy.
Maintain your passion
It’s so important to maintain your passion for craft if you decide to turn it into an income. Craft hobbies may be better suited as a side hustle rather than a main source of income for many people – having a main job to support you could allow you to sell crafts in your own time so that you don’t feel that you’re having to meet targets. If you do decide to turn your craft business into a full time business, make sure that you don’t lose your passion by creating things you don’t want to create – it’s important to vary up your crafts and still challenge yourself to make new things.