If you enjoy expressing your artistic DIY side by making crafts, you may want to consider opening your own online craft store. Not only is this a fantastic way to relax and keep your brain active, but it can also be a profitable, entrepreneurial
Globally, the crafts market is expected to reach a handsome value of $50.9 billion by 2024. As such, the industry represents a lucrative opportunity for anybody looking to turn a creative passion into an income.
When starting a craft business, you need to choose a product that you will make and sell. It is important not only to be able to do something with your own hands but also that your product is interesting to the client. Then you can make a business plan, look for suppliers of materials, stock up on goods and launch your own online store.
So, whether you’re looking to earn extra cash or quit your regular job and get crafting full time, the following article should give you all the information you need to get your homemade crafts brand off the ground.
Read on for more information.
How to Sell Crafts Online?
The first thing you need to do when creating a crafts business is figuring out what products you are going to sell. Of course, you should always gear your business towards the items you love to create, but you also need to research the market and figure out what could be profitable for your company.
Look for a gap in the market
Ask yourself how you can stand out from your competition. What slant can you put on a popular product that makes it completely your own? You can also use secondary market research from the likes of MarketResearch.com, NPD, and Nielsen, to see what products are trending at the moment. You can also use Google Trends to figure out what potential customers are talking about in your market.
You should also figure out where to sell crafts locally and identify the popular products at these establishments. In addition, if you want to sell crafts on Amazon, you’ll have to research how to get yourself onto the Amazon marketplace. There are many handy
Understand your audience
Here’s the good news: the arts and craft industry is popular among various demographics. As such, you should target which group of people are more likely to buy your products. For example, if you’re selling blankets or other home essentials, you may want to appeal to an older demographic. Conversely, if you sell handmade, organic jewelry or bath bombs, you should probably shift your focus to a younger audience.
As such, you should consider the following factors about your potential customers:
- Why do they want to purchase your products
- Their general likes and dislikes
- Gender, age, and location
- Where they currently shop online
Create a business plan
While you may be excited about all the goodies and products you’re going to sell to your target demographic, you also need to develop a comprehensive business plan that covers everything from your vision to how much money you expect to make during a specific timeframe. A business plan will help you stay on track and remind you of your overall goals for the endeavor. They are also handy if you want to fund from an investor or bank. Typically, your plan should involve:
- An executive summary of your business idea
- A short description of what your craft company will do
In-depth market analysis- SWOT analysis (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats)
- Sales and marketing plan
- An overview of your business management team
- Financial projections for a specific timeframe
Time to Start Crafting
Now that you’ve got the business plan and other research out of the way, it’s time to perfect your products and build on the skills you’ve already acquired creating gifts as a hobby. We recommend using online workshops and webinars to learn new techniques and ensure your creations are as professional as looking. After all, you want to achieve repeat custom from your customers. Don’t be afraid to experiment and try new ideas; this is how you create something original and unique to your brand.
Find a supplier or manufacturer
If you plan to scale your business (and want time for life outside of work), you’ll need help creating your designs. As such, you should look for an adept manufacturer who can make your crafts to a high enough quality. You’ll also need a supplier who can provide your materials at wholesale prices. We recommend looking for a manufacturer and supplier that deals in quality materials and craftsmanship; can provide samples, so you know what you’re working with is adequate; have a local headquarters to receive your goods quickly, and speak to the business directly if any issues arise.
If you are a beginner, you may want to choose a less expensive business model, such as dropshipping. This involves setting up your online craft store and listing your products. Still, when you make a sale, a
Develop your brand
If you want to connect with customers, you need to create a strong brand identity. If you leave a lasting impression, people are going to trust in the products you sell eventually. As such, you need to come with a memorable business name,
Take care of logistics and legal requirements
We also recommend ensuring your craft business meets all legal requirements. For example, you have to register your business with the relevant tax authorities before you get started. You also need to consider:
- Business registration, licenses, and permits
- SKUs for your product line
- Shipping costs
- Shipping restrictions for your goods
- Any company overheads
- Relevant sales and business taxes
- Filing the correct copyright, patent, and trademark requests
Create your online craft store
As well as creating your amazing crafts, you also need to create your own online store. Without a doubt, this is the best way to sell your crafts online. Once you have your brand name, logo, design, colors, and products in order, you should focus on a
Ecwid is an ecommerce platform that makes selling online easier. Build your own store from scratch to instantly sync and sell across your own website, social media, marketplaces, and more. Grow your business with automated marketing tools. And manage it all from your Ecwid control panel. In short, this is a great option to sell crafts online for free; you don’t even need much experience running an online store.
Start Marketing Your Products
Once you have your website and crafts ready to go, you need to focus on marketing your products to potential customers. This is a crucial aspect of selling crafts online. You need to factor various marketing expenses into your budget, although there are many cheap ways to market your crafts to customers. These include:
- Social media marketing: As well as a stellar website, you also need to create a fantastic social media page (or pages). For example, if you want to sell crafts on Facebook or sell crafts on Instagram, you’ll need to put in the work engaging with your followers and building your social media presence. A strong social media output is an excellent way to build trust with your fans.
- Email marketing: A mailing list is a good option for developing a positive relationship with customers, garner repeat purchases, and letting them know about any new crafts or exciting discounts.
We hope this article has given you some food for thought regarding your online crafts store. As you can see, there are many factors to consider, but with the right attitude and perseverance, you can build a successful business in the arts and crafts industry.
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