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A crafty business

Setting up a craft business
Setting up a craft business

Setting up a craft business

So now you have a new hobby making craft and gift items, and you really enjoy doing it.

Then one day someone says that you ought to sell them! But could you? Would you like to branch out and turn your hobby into a business?

Do you think that you would still enjoy your hobby if you had to make things to order or to build up a stock? If the answer is yes, then you have a chance of turning your favourite hobby into a business.

Check out other craft businesses
There are many people who have set up their own business based on crafts that they started as hobby, just have a look on Facebook and type in the search ‘handmade’ and there will be a long list of pages that are advertising their wares.

Search for 'Handmade' on Facebook

Search for ‘Handmade’ on Facebook

Is it really as easy as that? It can be, but you need to find a niche in the market. Unless you are really lucky, you are not likely to hit it big in the first month.

I ‘fell’ into my business, after I had made myself a handbag and purse, something I had wanted to do for a long time – it was more of a challenge to myself.

As I also work full time, I used my handbag for work and people remarked on how nice it was. Then one person said: “Please can you make two for me?”

That was the start! But once you have started, there are then many other things that you need to think about, because once you have sold something and made even the smallest amount of profit – you will need to share it with the tax man!
Next page pricing

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Using Facebook as a tool

Facebook login closeup
Facebook login closeup

Use Facebook to help you sell

While you are starting up your craft business you are likely to have a small budget, which you need to use mainly to buy supplies and equipment.

You can set up a Facebook business or community pages as a free way to promote your products.

You can use your business name and it can help you increase the amount of exposure you get for your products.

Facebook is:

  • one of the largest social networks, with more than 750 million
  • it gives you access to a large audience of users, who can check out your pages and products at home, at work and even on-the-go
  • you can upload pictures of your products and display them on your walls and in online photo albums
  • it is good to interact with the people who like your page, ask their advice on colours or designs, it makes them think that they can have a say.There is more chance that they will buy from you if you make them feel like a friend.

Next page Networking

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Networking

A craft fair is a good place to sell your products and meet new people
A craft fair is a good place to sell your products and meet new people

A craft fair is a good place to sell your products and meet new people

Now that your business has started and you have sold a few things, unless you have found a golden egg the hard work still continues. In other words you have to work hard to keep getting the sales figures you need and want.

It is important that you keep the momentum going and not get complacent, if you don’t keep promoting, the orders will dry up.

If you use the internet keep your website updated, sell your products on eBay, Etsy and as many other sites as you can. Keep ‘chatting’ with your followers on Facebook, and offer incentives, discounts or give-aways. Be prepared to vary your products if the customer is wanting something slightly different.

Another good way of getting your products known is by attending craft fairs, there are many around, and a lot of them will be very local. Check out your local papers, schools and church halls.

If it is your first craft fair it can be a daunting experience.  How much stock do you take?  How do you display your products?  How do you price them? What else do you need to take? Well the Crafty Network have some good tips and advice!

Good luck and enjoying building up your business!
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