Whether it’s painting, woodwork or knitting, lots of us enjoy making items for ourselves or as gifts for friends. But have you ever considered turning that hobby into a second income?
It’s now easier than ever to start selling your crafts online, with numerous online marketplaces set up to enable crafty people to advertise and sell their handmade items to a global market.
What can I sell?
The possibilities are absolutely endless – whatever you can create, you can sell – assuming it can be safely packaged and shipped to the recipient. Finding a niche is a good way to start: if the market is already saturated, it may be harder to find customers and make sales. For example, you might sell handmade blankets if you’re a dab hand with a pair of knitting needles, but make these stand out by creating extra-cosy, winter weight knitted blankets using chunky yarn rather than regular weight wool. For a beautiful range of yarns, visit The Wool Couture Company.
Which websites are best to start?
Online marketplaces such as Etsy or Folksy are great for beginners. You will simply need to photograph your item and upload this, along with some product details and it will be available for sale via the Etsy or Folksy platform. Etsy has some great tips on how to photograph your items. A sturdy USP or ‘unique selling point’ ensures your products stand out from the rest.
Alternatively, you can create a website of your own: this may sound daunting, but platforms like WordPress make this really quite easy. You can even incorporate a selling tool so you can sell your items directly from your site.
Anything else I should consider?
Once your items are ready and are showcased online, give some thought to your shipping. Items need to be well protected from damage in transit, and a little bit of creative packaging such as a ribbon can make the package look exciting and encourage repeat custom. Lastly, make sure you keep good records of all your incomings and outgoings.
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