Whatever your craft is, you’re bound to be passionate about it. I’m sure that like mine, your craft products are made with the utmost care and precision! I enjoy lots of different crafts but my favourite has got to be beadwork. I find stringing hundreds of little sparkly beads together to make a bracelet or necklace so therapeutic. I just love beads! Which means that my beadwork projects are worth a lot to me. In the past I’ve sold various handmade pieces (mostly to make room for more beads!) and it’s been tricky to find the best place to sell them to the right buyer and for the right amount of cash.
If you’re trying to sell some of your handmade crafts, don’t be tempted to sell them at a low price just to get a sale. Everybody is looking for a bargain these days but don’t compromise your work for any reason – whether it be to gain recognition for the type of crafts you’re making or even to earn an extra income. You’ll probably find that if you set your prices too low, you won’t sell many anyway because of the perception that some people might have in thinking that quality is lacking in your product. Therefore you will only attract buyers who are out to get the best deal for the lowest possible price. And this can lead to feelings of resentment and frustration! I am remembering when I have done this in the past in terms of selling bespoke jewellery pieces on Ebay and I really regretted it afterwards. Looking back I would have rather kept them all than sell them for half of what they were worth!
When selling handmade crafts, you need to attract the right kind of buyers who have an appreciation of handmade goods rather than just anyone.
Here are 5 of the best ways to sell your crafts (to the right buyers):
1. Local craft fairs
Selling your crafts face-to-face is by far the easiest and most pleasant way. For a start, someone who is attending a craft fair will appreciate craftsmanship and will probably be keen to hear the story behind your one of a kind product. Hearing why and how something is made gives your craft work an edge. And of course potential buyers like to be able to touch and feel handmade goods! Take a look at UK Craft Fairs which list local craft events and to find out more about exhibiting.
2. Online handmade marketplaces
There are some great online marketplaces, similar to Ebay, but purely dedicated to the making and selling of handmade goods. The listing fees are cheaper than Ebay too!
Check these out:
These websites attract a specific audience who WANT to buy handmade products and although it may take some time for the right buyer to come along, when they do, they are usually happy to pay the price that you want and think is fair.
3. Local cafes/shops
Are there any shabby chic local cafes or boutique shops near you? If you can find a local café that’s kitted out with unusual or vintage style decorative furnishings, they may welcome (or already have) a handmade craft display. These displays add interest to such places and may persuade customers to stay a little longer to have a browse. Gather a collection of the crafts you want to sell and go to see the owner. Some may take a commission but it’s worth it as it’s basically the same as advertising your work in the local area and you will likely build relationships (and future sales) with local buyers.
4. Set up your own ecommerce website
Did you know that you can set up your own website and you don’t have to pay through the nose for it? If you’re serious about selling your crafts and thinking about setting up in business, why not have a go at standing out from the crowd with your own online shop? Have a go in WordPress to start with. To set up an ecommerce website, you will need to ‘self host’ it which is much easier than it sounds and not expensive at all. A self hosting package can cost as little as £2.99 per month. WordPress offers a free ecommerce plugin to make setting up an online shop easy. There’s a few key factors for consideration though. Marketing is vital and will need a lot of thought and planning in order to match and get ahead of the competition out there. You can start with your family and friends and use social media platforms such as Twitter, Facebook and Pinterest to spread the word. You’ll need to take some great photos of your craft products as these are what will sell them when potential buyers visit your website. The plus side here is that you can develop a brand associated with you and your handmade crafts and any money you make will be yours – no commission to worry about – and the overheads are relatively low in terms of setting up a business.
5. Ebay
Although it’s true that just about anything sells on Ebay, it is my least favourite platform for selling crafts. The reason for this is that most buyers on Ebay are looking for a bargain – quite rightly so – but when they are bidding on one of your bespoke jewellery pieces that’s taken a few weeks to make and perfect – you get the gist. I have found that selling crafts here has been difficult – there’s nothing worse than watching your much-loved craft product go for as little as 99p on Ebay. BUT!! Don’t rule out Ebay completely as occasionally the right buyer will come along. Just be prepared to set the price that you want and wait. Keep waiting and don’t reduce the price. Somebody will want to buy your handmade craft – the right person – but it might take a bit of time.
If you have any other ideas or have found other places worthy of selling crafts, leave a comment below!
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