One thing that many crafters decide to do after they’ve honed their craft is to sell the stuff they have made. However, there are still a lot of people that just don’t have a clue how to go about selling the things they have created, aside from Etsy.
There are many ways to sell your creative items, and you may actually be surprised that you never thought of some of them. You can do it online or in person, and Etsy really isn’t your only online choice either!
Start out with a marketing plan, and use some (or all) of these four tips for places to share your items for sale.
Start With Your Friends And Family
One of the best places to start with your arts and crafts is your friends and family. You may find that they are your biggest supporters and buy up a lot of your stuff. Plus, they’ll show it off to others and hopefully bring you even more customers.
You can also give out samples to friends and family, maybe as stocking stuffers or special gifts. This little investment could mean a lot of sales if you are making something they fall in love with.
Look Into Your Local Farmer’s Market And Craft Fairs
If you have a hope of making a living with your crafting business you’ll need to venture outside of your friends and family. That means getting your items out there. There are a lot of choices, from local stores that may be happy to consign your well made items to flea markets where for a small fee you can set up every week and sell whatever you want.
A couple really good places to sell crafts, though, are your local farmer’s market and local craft shows. Spring and Summer are ideal farmer’s market season, and many markets welcome handmade items. Once they wrap up for the year the Christmas season starts and so do craft fairs.
Set Up Your Own Craft Show Or Event
If you think you have what it takes, and enough product, to go out on your own for a craft show, go for it. No one ever won without going big and putting themselves out there.
You can look for a great venue where you can set up shop for a day or a weekend, or you can go cheap and set up right in your own front yard, kind of like a yard sale.
Sell And Promote Online
Of course, you want to be on Etsy, which is the main destination for crafters selling their wares online. You can also sell direct through Facebook now, to your friends and family and members of different groups.
You should also promote your items online with Twitter, Facebook, and even Instagram. You can also use YouTube to make and share commercials for your awesome handmade items.
Selling crafts can be a fun thing to do, almost as fun as making them. Why not take some time and see if your hobby can make you a little spare cash, or maybe you’ll find out you can make a living at it. Good luck!
