Suggestions on selling handmade crafts?

[goldenfleece]

I would like to sell stuff made or drawn by my family. Any suggestions?

**moderation edit**

[Moira]

Hey @goldenfleece,

Selling handmade crafts can indeed be a profitable small business. The beauty of this business model is that it allows you to turn a hobby into a source of income, and it's a wonderful way to express creativity. Additionally, there's a significant market for handmade, unique items. Many consumers value and are willing to pay for products that are not mass-produced and have a personal touch.

That being said, the success of a craft business depends on several factors including the quality of the crafts, the demand for the type of crafts you're making, how well you market and sell your products, and the level of competition.

I did some digging on popular crafts that sell, here are a few ideas:

1. Jewelry: Handmade jewelry is always in demand. This can range from beaded bracelets and necklaces to intricate silver or gold pieces.

2. Home Decor: Items like handmade candles, pottery, wall art, and wreaths are popular. These items add a unique touch to customers' homes.

3. Personalized Items: Personalized items such as custom name signs, monogrammed towels, or custom pet portraits are popular because they offer a personal touch.

4. Handmade Clothing and Accessories: This can include knitted scarves, hats, or even unique T-shirts. Hand-sewn items are also popular, especially if they feature unique fabrics or designs.

5. Art and Prints: If your family is artistically inclined, selling original artwork or prints can be a great option. This can include paintings, drawings, or digital art.

Remember, what's most important is that you choose crafts that you and your family enjoy making. This passion will come through in your products, and customers will appreciate the love and care put into each item. It would be great if you can combine what you love making with what's in demand for the best results.

By the way, I'm curious to know more about the crafts your family makes. What sort of products are you planning to sell?

[OneMobile]

Hi @goldenfleece 

I'm lighthearted to hear that you want to start a business with your family members, as you guys will have more opportunities to work, know, and bond more with each other.

Here are some of product ideas you can consider:

• Handmade crafts:  If your family enjoys making crafts, consider selling them. These could include ceramic items, jewelry, bags, candles, etc.
• Artwork & prints:  If anyone in your family can draw or paint, you can sell original artwork or create prints for a more affordable option. 
• Digital art:  Consider turning your drawings into digital artwork and selling them as prints or for items like t-shirt designs, coffee mugs, tote bags, or home decor.
• Custom portraits or illustrations:  If you're skilled at drawing or painting, you could offer custom portrait services.
• Homemade clothing or accessories:  If there's a knack for sewing or knitting in your family, consider creating unique pieces of clothing or accessories.

I hope that this helps!

[PageFly-Garcia]

@goldenfleece Hello, I'm Garcia, a Conversion Rate Optimization expert from the PageFly team. I can empathize with the initial uncertainties that arise when you're toying with the idea of launching your own startup. Rest assured, these doubts are a common starting point for every entrepreneur.

1. Craft Your Business Idea:  Sell what you love, what you're good at is really great, however, researching the market first is the wisdom step such as "Who are you selling to? What are their needs and wants? Where do they hang out online? What other craft sellers are offering and identifying gaps in the market? 

Once you understand your target market, you can tailor your marketing and branding accordingly

2. Outline your goals, budget, and a marketing strategy: Planning your budget is like laying the foundation for your business journey. It's not just about the initial setup; it will be a guiding star for every step you take.

• Start by researching how cash flow works in the realm of online sales. 
• How much do you have available, and how should you allocate it wisely? When crafting your budget, consider not only your primary expenses but also the additional fees and miscellaneous costs. Think about packaging, shipping, website maintenance, and any other expenses that might be incurred, including those related to third-party services.
• Pricing mechanism: Consider your costs, such as materials, labor, and shipping, when setting your prices. You also want to make sure your prices are competitive with other sellers in your niche.
• When will we reach the break even point?
• Note: Don’t join many communities at the same time. When you are involved in too many communities, it can be easy to get sidetracked and lose focus on your own business goals. It is important to choose communities that are relevant to your business, in terms of market (customer behavior, culture, etc)

3. Choose an e-commerce platform: 

• Absolutely, Shopify is a fantastic choice for a wide range of businesses across different industries. It's tough to argue with its versatility. However, if you're specifically looking to sell handmade items, I'd highly recommend exploring platforms that are tailor-made for craft enthusiasts like ETSY and Amazon Handmade. These platforms have a lot to offer in terms of support and visibility for craft businesses. 

• It depends on your needs and budget. If you are just starting out and you want a platform that is easy to use and affordable, then Etsy is a good option. However, if you want more control over your online store and you need more features, then Shopify is a better option.

4. Set up your online store

a. Prepare the media, content asset:

• High-quality photos and videos of your crafts can help to showcase your work and make it more appealing to potential customers
• Improve your search engine rankings by making your website more relevant to the keywords that potential customers are searching for

b. Creating a domain name and web hosting account

c. Design your store with conversion-rate-optimized things

• Optimize your budget by leveraging pre-designed website templates offered by platforms, thus avoiding the need for substantial investments in designers
• Free Sample (ref: PageFly Template)

5. Marketing and Promotion

Once your store is up and running, you need to start promoting it to potential customers. There are many ways to do this, such as social media marketing, email marketing, and paid advertising.

• Create a digital marketing strategy that incorporates social media, email marketing, and SEO.
• Consider paid advertising on platforms like Google Ads and Facebook, Tiktok to broaden your reach. I don't know which platform is common in your country, let's take a small research, and utilize this
• Consider implementing additional promotional campaigns to capitalize on the heightened global shopping surge during Black Friday and the Christmas season. Example:
• Limited Edition BFCM Exclusives: Introduce exclusive, limited-edition clothing/accessory items available only during the BFCM period. Promote them as collector's items to entice customers.
• Gifts Galore: Shop for Your Loved Ones: Campaign Idea: Highlight your products as ideal gifts for family and friends. Execution: Create gift guides based on different recipient categories (e.g., gifts for him, gifts for her). Promote these guides on your website, social media, and through email campaigns.

However, these are just a handful of helpful pointers to smoothen your startup journey, not enough. In case you have any questions, don't hesitate to let me know.

Thank you.

Garcia