Getting Started Selling Your Crafts

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Getting Started Selling Your Crafts

Getting Started Selling Your Crafts

Until recently crafts were usually sold locally or, at best, regionally. Now you literally have the whole world at your fingertips! Some of you may choose a gradual progression from selling to friends, to selling at fairs and shows, to retail selling ? and so on. Others may decide to jump directly from selling within their circle of friends to the worldwide Internet market ? the costs are low enough that this is surprisingly doable.

My first career was as a special education teacher. After 15 years of teaching I earned an MBA degree followed by CFA (Certified Financial Analyst) certification. After 15 years in finance I was a vice-president and portfolio manager of a major insurance company before I was downsized. Tired of the rat race, I opted for early retirement. Looking for something to do with all my free time, I started crafting and am now making a nice supplemental income from it.

As a crafter and a businesswoman, I feel I have some valuable insights into the craft business that I can share with you.

Getting Organized
to Sell Your Crafts for Profit

At some point in your progression from crafting for fun to crafting for fun and profit, you go from handcrafting individual items for yourself and friends to filling quantity orders for a broader marketplace. That's the time to take a very business-like approach to your craft business. This needn't be daunting. You don't need an MBA or management experience ? just a bit of common sense. If you're going to do this for profit, you need to understand

The Four M's:

1. Meet your market;
2. Minimize your costs;
3. Maximize your selling price; and
4. Market the heck out of your product.

Simple, right? But very few people get it. Look at the high failure rate for new businesses. It takes effort to be successful, but the task is hardly impossible.

Traditional craft retailing methods are what most crafters use to get started. They're the easiest way, especially if you don't know if anyone will buy what you make.

I believe that there is a market for any well-made craft, whether decorative or useful. The problem facing many crafters is how exactly to go about selling them, or more accurately, finding paying customers. The fact is that there is an awful lot of competition out there.

My own business got jump-started by my "circle of friends". My friends noticed and liked my calling cards and began to ask me to design and make cards for them. Starting with just Broderbund's Create-a-Card program, I was soon earning a nice supplemental income in just a few hours a week. It probably helped that I was retired and live in an area dominated by retirees.

But I think that everyone has a "circle of friends" either socially or at work. Of course you don't want to impose on their friendship by making a hard sell, but rather use or display your crafts in front of your friends to see if they draw any interest. If they do and if they're priced right, you're on your way to craft retailing for profit. If your "circle of friends" market starts extending to friends of friends, you're probably ready to tap the general marketplace of craft retailing.

Most crafters are aware of the periodic craft shows put on by local groups or even by the local Parks Departments. These usually cost little or nothing to join and should give you a fair idea of whether there is any broader interest in your craft. What better way to jump into craft retailing?

There are also organized craft shows that tour the country, most of which charge an entrance fee for participants. Check your local papers, especially the free shoppers, for information about upcoming shows

Another venue for craft retailing is at the local flea markets that spring up in every community just about every weekend. Again the entrance cost is usually minimal. The only other thing you need is a little marketing savvy.

With little cost and some effort, you will be well on your way to knowing whether there is a market for your craft. Once you know that, you can move on and think about other ways of selling, such as in galleries, on consignment, on eBay or from your own website.

All these methods and more are discussed in great detail on my website,
www.theartfulcrafter.com. Come visit and see what you can do to become successful in the craft business!

By Eileen Bergen
The Artful Crafter
www.theartfulcrafter.com

Eileen Bergen

The Artful Crafter

www.theartfulcrafter.com

In The News:

Work begins on new crafts, home décor store
Statesville Record & Landmark
The home décor and craft store, built by developer Magnolia Property Group, will be adjacent to Lowe's Home Improvement Warehouse store on NC 150. Vincent Parker, spokesperson for Hobby Lobby, said the company felt like Mooresville was an “underserved ...

and more »

Hobby Lobby Grand Opening June 4, Shelves Being Stocked
Patch.com
By Debbie L. Sklar Hobby Lobby known to be a place where all things crafts and hobbies converge under one roof is expected to have its grand opening on June 4. According to Earl Kortemeier of Hobby Lobby, the store located in the former Mervyns space ...

Orange City Hobby Lobby opens Friday
Daytona Beach News-Journal
The ribbon cutting for the national arts and crafts retail store is 9 am The DeLand Area Chamber of Commerce is hosting the event that is open to the public. The store is open after the ribbon cutting; however, grand-opening events are Monday, ...

AboutMyArea
Craft Fair Leads The Way For Small Rossendale Businesses
AboutMyArea
Small businesses in Rossendale are making good use of their own unique talents, turning hobbies into businesses. Crafty Craft Fairs return to The Bacup Hub, Burnley Road, Bacup on 27th May from 11.00am to 3.00pm for The Bacup Craft Fair.

and more »

Intermountain Catholic
Soaring Eagle math teacher retires after 11 years
Intermountain Catholic
She is excited to spend more time with her husband, who is already retired, as well as on her many hobbies. "I've put off doing crafts and sewing that I haven't had time for," she said. "And we're looking forward to traveling; starting with just ...

Students Learn About Bug Candy, Hobbies at Exploration Day
Patch.com
The Libertyville school held its seventh Exploration Day so that students could learn about careers, crafts, hobbies and sports skills. This year's theme was "Cougie World Tour." Cougie is the name of the schools cougar mascot.

Los Angeles Times
Marie Kolasinski dies at 90; Christian activist ran OC crafts business
Los Angeles Times
... which occupies a warren of rooms jam-packed with homemade knick-knacks, quilts and craft supplies. It also runs scores of classes on traditional hobbies, such as knitting socks and making porcelain dolls, and runs a flourishing mail-order business.

and more »

Next on the list is to organize your things!
Gaston Gazette
Things are like your kids toys, your hobby and crafts, your purse or backpack, the vehicle, your pet stuff. Organizing your kids toys can be first, and don't forget your toys. Think about your hobbies and the equipment involved.

John Howell White, chairman of art education, KU
Reading Eagle
... has chaired the Department of Art Education and Crafts for 10 years. Prior to that, he taught at Sewickley Academy in Pittsburgh and the Crossroads School in Santa Monica, Calif. Hobbies: White paints in egg tempera, watercolor, acrylics and oil.

Spiegel Online
Backlash against ConsumerismHandicraft Sites Turn Hobbies into Big Business
Spiegel Online
Unlike other platforms such as Ebay, however, these sites emphasize offline links between the makers and consumers, hosting DIY blogs and offline crafts workshops. Successive years of climbing sales show they have tapped into a bigger trend.

Google News