Most of us have some sort of hobby that we engage with on a regular basis. Some of us will choose sport, attending fitness classes or joining sports teams. Some of us will go to the cinema or theatre. Some of us will learn a language. Some will begin to throw pottery. The list of potential hobbies goes on and on. But one hobby that has really taken off – particularly since the Covid-19 pandemic when we had to find things to do from home – is crafting. Arts and crafts is a huge field with endless potential. From knitting to felting, embroidery, glasswork and more, there’s bound to be some sort of craft that you’re interested in. If you’ve been honing your craft for a while now, chances are you’re getting pretty good at it. People may have even noted that they’d buy the things you make. If you’re at this stage of your hobby, you may want to consider making some money from it! Here’s some guidance to help you with this venture.
Photo by Diego Pontes
Selling Online
The easiest way to set up your individual craft business is to start selling your crafts online. Nowadays, people do a lot of their shopping online, so this is where you can catch their attention. There are plenty of different platforms that you can use.
Choose Your Platforms
Some of the best platforms to start out with include Etsy, Facebook Marketplace and even eBay. These might incur a small fee, but means you don’t have to fork out the costs of setting up. Another option is to create your own website with the help of a web designer or developer.
Plan Order Fulfilment
How are you going to fulfil any orders that people place? If you’re selling in small quantities, you may be able to pack up your orders yourself and post them using a local delivery service. If you begin to experience more demand, you may want to Compare UPS Shipping Quotes.
Attending Markets and Fairs
Another simple way to sell your crafts is to attend markets and craft fairs. These are environments where people are actively looking for the kind of things you’re selling. You have captive audience and can make a lot of profit when they view your goods.
Find the Right Fairs
Take some time to do some research and find the right fairs to meet your needs. There’s no point selling at a felting fair if you’re offering handmade pottery pieces. Once you find something appropriate, look into factors such as how much it costs to rent a stall and what the attendance and footfall is like. This can help you to determine whether you’re going to be likely to make a profit.
Have Marketing Materials Ready
It’s a good idea to have marketing materials ready for your stand. You could have anything from banner backgrounds to business cards so that people can easily identify your brand and get back in touch if they want to buy more for you.
Plan Order Fulfilment
How are you going to fulfil any orders that people place? If you’re selling in small quantities, you may be able to pack up your orders yourself and post them using a local delivery service. If you begin to experience more demand, you may want to Compare UPS Shipping Quotes. If you’re struggling to balance everything, it could be worth hiring a virtual assistant to help you with your new venture.
Selling your crafts really could be a positive move for you. Whether you’re looking to offset the additional costs of the cost-of-living crisis with some extra income, or you simply want to share your work with the world, the advice and guidance above should help to get your craft business off to a good start!