How To Double Your Arts And Crafts Sales

With the slow economy these days, a lot of people think it is not a good time to sell crafts but nothing could be more incorrect. Many arts and crafts sellers are experiencing record sales because more people are looking for handmade unique items for gifts and for themselves without spending a lot of money at a big corporate retail store. Making your own handmade arts and crafts is a great way to make some extra money on the side or replace part of the income from a downsized job. There are many great things you can make and sell including metal sculptures, knitted items, beaded jewelry and any sort of personalized towels. If you are starting your own craft business or you’ve been selling things for years, then here are some proven ways to increase your customers and make more money:

Track Your Past Customers: A lot of people see selling craft items as a one time sale, but if a customer bought something from you one time, then they might buy from you again! Offering to notify your customers of upcoming craft shows and sales can be a great way to start getting repeat customers of your items. For example, if you make jewelry then you may want to take down your mail and email addresses in your jewelry business software and send out periodic updates or email promotions.

Have A Website: It’s a fact, the internet is not going away and lots of people are very happy with buying things online. You could advertise your website at your sales booth during craft shows and later pick up sales from people who were at the show. There are a lot of choices available to craft sellers who want to start a web-based store from Etsy.com to independent website creators.

Try Different Booth Designs: Just as a retail store’s interior needs to be bright and inviting so does the craft booth you sell your items at. When there are hundreds of people strolling past your booth every hour, you will need to catch their eyes with something bright and exciting. If you are able to arrange your tables so that people have to walk into your booth then do so, because that will help you to easily engage people and discover what they are interested in.  Do not forget to capitalize on emerging fashion and jewelry trends by incorporating some cutting edge design elements in you work!  You never know what may sell well at a craft show!

Want another great way to increase your craft sales? Remember that pricing is key! If you make and sell jewelry you can use a good jewelry inventory program to help you set the perfect price that will sell a lot of pieces and still make plenty of profit!

How About Flea Markets Or Local Markets Selling Hand Crafts And Antiques In Halifax, Nova Scotia..?

Halifax Folklore Centre – 1528 Brunswick St. – 902-422-6350
The Plaid Place – 5475 Spring Garden Rd. – plaidplace.com
Carrefour Atlantic Empoium – 902-423-2940
The Hydrostone Market – 5515-5545 Young St. – hydrostonemarket.ca
Clayworks Pottery – 629 Bedford Highway – clayworks.ca
Beales Fashion, Art, Craft & more – 124 Peggy’s Point Rd – beales.ns.ca
Nova Scotian Crystal – on the Halifax Waterfront – novascotiancrystal.com
There are a ton of local crafts shops set up along the Halifax waterfront, plus more local markets set up on Saturdays throughout the morning and afternoon.
www.halifax.ca/visitors will have tons more info for you

Recession Proof Business Idea: Buy and Sell Crafts Online

In spite of poor sales for many businesses in 2009, online craft sales actually grew, reported Etsy.com. Etsy is one of many sites like Craftsu, where people can buy and sell crafts. Smart craft business sellers took advantage of the trend to ‘buy handmade’ and made it easy for shoppers to find them.

Encourage visitors to stay on your pages longer by adding collections or albums of photos of your crafts. Try creating albums around themes like one for fashion accessories and another for ensemble sets.Letting customers and site visitors view what you are selling is a way to increase sales.Allow for interaction on your web pages; a place someone can comment and leave their email address.

Selling crafts online is something many stay-at-home moms are considering if they want to start their own business.To make and sell crafts, you don’t have to expect investing in expensive equipment.To start, get your basic craft supplies and set aside some space at home where you can craft your items.If you aren’t a patient person, developing a craft can make you so. Making money is good, but having a craft business offers other benefits like making new friends, travel, and getting feedback on your work.

One of the better selling crafts online is handmade jewelry.  Earrings, bracelets and necklaces are only a few of the many accessories you can create.Creating one of a kind items is always a good idea because customers want something special.Get the foundational techniques for making jewelry and then allow time for your artistic sense to kick in.After you have learned basic crafting skills, you start to see mental pictures of what you want to produce before you start. 

Crafting is a skill and so is marketing.  Not everyone has the convincing power for others to take time and look at your items.Use your unique one of a kind items to attract more people to visit your booth at a crafts show.Sometimes, you may find you have to have lower pricing to get sales.  Giving free samples can be a hit when your craft business is just getting started.

What Advice Would You Give Someone Hoping To Sell Their Hand-made Crafts At A Local Market?

1. Make sure it’s something the customer can’t already do for themselves, or can’t do it as cheaply.
2. Sell only your own original designs to avoid being reported for copyright infringement.
3. Don’t undersell yourself – charge 3 times the cost of materials, and double or triple that if it’s a unique item that nobody else makes.
4. Buy your materials wholesale whenever possible. But buy as few components as possible. Try to make all aspects of the item yourself.
5. Invest in decent packaging and bags.
6. Accept credit cards and debit cards. Don’t accept checks unless you know the person very well..

Provillus