So every shelf, every bit of space in your home is being filled with your handmade creations. You have given some as gifts to family and friends, and although they were gratefully received, you really cannot keep repeating the gifts. So here’s the question: Can You Sell Your Handmade Creations ? Yes, why not?
Where Can You Sell
- Craft Fairs
- Social Media
- Open an Online Shop
- Local Shops
Are My Creations Good Enough?
Now at this point you will start asking yourself, “Are my creations good enough to sell?” we really are our own worst critics. I have actually found that items I have not really liked much, for whatever reason, have sold far quicker than items I absolutely love. So really, are they good enough? I don’t really think there is an answer to that. Leave something on sale long enough and someone, somewhere, will pop up and love it.
What Shall I Charge?
The next BIG question is how much shall I charge? This is a difficult one. First of all, you do not want to sell too cheaply, but you also don’t want to over price. You need to work out what your item has cost you to make: the materials needed, the cost of any equipment needed to produce the item and, of course, your time.
One method a crafter can consider is adding together your total costs and then multiply by three. This can leave room to reduce items in a sale and still make a profit. However, I sometimes feel this can price items too high and people are simply not going to pay that price. Then there is the old question of “selling less for more or more for less?” the choice is down to you.
Some crafters sell their creations purely to enable them to buy more materials to craft with, because its something they enjoy doing. Others are looking at making crafting their business and want to earn a decent living from it. So ask yourself: which group do you belong in?
- Visit craft fairs see what other people are charging.
- Ask family and friends what they would honestly be prepared to pay.
- Look at online shops and social media marketplaces.
- Ask yourself if you would honestly be prepared to pay that price.
With unique handmade items it is not always about being the cheapest – it can be quite the opposite. I have actually found that when I have increased my price, the item sells! This is because when you have a customer who truly values handcrafted items, they are happy to pay a fair price for individuality, and for item that they are not going to see everywhere else.
The Cost of Selling
Yes, unfortunately, it does cost to sell !
- Online shop listing and selling fees.
- Commission charges.
- Advertising.
- Packaging & Postage.
- Craft fair table fees & Insurance (public liability insurance is often required).
These are all things you need to consider and fit within your budget. My advice is: do not commit yourself to something if it is going to overstretch your budget. Look around – there are cheaper and, in some cases, free ways to sell your handmade creations.
Where To Start
A table at a local school fete, a boot sale or craft fair can be a good starting point. You also get to chat with other sellers and can pick up a lot of useful information from their experiences. I know this because I have done it.
Talk to local shop keepers. Take some of your items with you, or some good photographs of your crafts to show them, and ask if they would be interested in selling your creations in their shop. Some shops even rent space to local crafters – a shelf or some wall space it can be a great place to start and to get feedback on your creations too.
Getting Your Handmade Creations Noticed – Selling Online
Now if you are thinking more of selling online, once you decide where – and again this can depend on your budget – the first thing you need to remember is that your photographs are your shop window.
Your photographs are often the only way your potential customers can really see your creations. Unlike at a craft fair, where they can hold your creations, feel them and see them from every angle, an online customer has only your photographs to help them decide whether your creation is for them.
I have written a post or two about how to photograph and sell your handmade creations. You can read more here : How to Photograph your Creations for Marketing
Post and Packaging
First of all, you obviously want your package to arrive safely, with your creation inside intact. Appropriate packaging is therefore essential. Again, this can be costly, but it is a necessary cost. It will cost far more if your item arrives damaged due to poor packaging and you have to replace it, possibly receive a poor review and lose future custom – all because you were trying to save a few pence on packaging.
I personally use these Jiffy Bags for a lot of my smaller items, such as resin jewellery, and my Mary-Anne Collection of character bag charms and keychains. I find they are strong and good value and I get them from Amazon ( please see my affiliate disclosure page regarding affiliate links)
For Posting my painted light bottles, I have used these packing boxes, again from Amazon. They are perfect for putting bottles in the post, and come in many different sizes. What you choose will depend on your budget and the type of craft you are selling.
Shop around when looking at packaging and make sure you are getting the right size for your item. Is there room to add some extra packing if needed? Have you checked that you have the correct postage cost for weight and size of your package?
If you are charging postage to the customer, remember it is not only the postage cost you need to consider, but the packing too. A little tip: when weighing your parcel, allow for the label, tape and any final packaging you still need to add.
Customers like their order to look attractive when it arrives at their home. They are excited to open the package and hold your creation in their own hands for the first time. If your item arrives in a scruffy old box with poor wrapping around it, that can start influencing how they feel about what they are about to discover – and they may start looking for flaws. Its something for you to think about !
Don’t Expect Sales Overnight
When you first start selling your handmade creations it can be disappointing when sales don’t come flooding in straight away. Unfortunately, just because you have opened an online shop or put your creations on social media doesn’t mean people are going to find them immediately.
It takes time to get noticed. Keep adding new creations, share them on social media, take good photographs and don’t be afraid to remind people where they can buy from you. Some weeks may be quiet and then suddenly an item that has been sitting there for months will sell.
Most importantly, don’t let a quiet spell make you think your creations are not good enough. Sometimes the right person simply has not found them yet.
So, Can You Sell Your Handmade Creations?
Yes, you can! You don’t need to have hundreds of items ready to sell, an expensive website or lots of money to get started. Start small, find what works for you and learn as you go.
There will be mistakes along the way – I have certainly made plenty! But every craft fair, online listing and customer teaches you something new.
If you enjoy creating and have reached the point where every shelf in your home is full, perhaps it’s time to stop wondering if somebody would buy your creations and give them the chance to do just that!