How to Start a Handmade Brand and Sell Crafts

Posted 4 years ago by Max Komonov

깝닥桂꿎늡넵 enjoy expressing your artistic DIY side by桂making crafts, you may want to桂consider opening your own online craft store. Not only is桂this a桂fantastic way to桂relax and桂keep your brain active, but it桂can also be桂a桂profitable, entrepreneurial 깎꾈삣깎껸국늡곶�봶쓩넨농 the桂right attitude.

Globally, the桂crafts market is桂expected to桂reach a桂handsome . As桂such, the桂industry represents a桂lucrative opportunity for桂anybody looking to桂turn a桂creative passion into an桂income.

When starting a桂craft business, you need to桂choose a桂product that you will make and桂sell. It桂is桂important not only to桂be桂able to桂do桂something with your own hands but also that your product is桂interesting to桂the桂client. Then you can make a桂business plan, look for桂suppliers of桂materials, stock up桂on桂goods and桂launch your own online store.

So, whether you�셱e looking to桂earn extra cash or桂quit your regular job and桂get crafting full time, the桂following article should give you all the桂information you need to桂get your homemade crafts brand off the桂ground.

Let�셲 go桂step by桂step.

Step 1:桂Look for桂a桂Gap in桂the桂Market

Ask yourself how you can stand out from your competition. What slant can you put on桂a桂popular product that makes it桂completely your own? You can also use secondary market research from the桂likes of桂, NPD, and桂, to桂see what products are trending at桂the桂moment. You can also use to桂figure out what potential customers are talking about in桂your market.

You should also figure out where to桂sell crafts locally and桂identify the桂popular products at桂these establishments. In桂addition, if桂you want to桂sell crafts on桂Amazon, you�셪l have to桂research how to桂get yourself onto the桂Amazon marketplace. There are many handy how-to guides on桂the桂website to桂help you get started.

Step 2:桂Define Your Products and桂Services

It�셲 time to桂focus and桂describe the桂items or桂services your craft business will provide. 깝닥桂꿎늡넵�셱e a桂new craft vendor, you might want to桂start off by桂selling smaller things like jewelry, mugs, or桂stickers, because you won�셳 have to桂worry about high shipping costs.

Consider answering the桂following questions to桂help you better identify the桂items you�셱e going to桂sell:

What types of桂craft products inspire you?
What crafts do桂you have experience making?
How do桂these crafts fit into your niche?
What�셲 the桂market demand for桂these products?
Where will be桂the桂best place to桂sell these crafts?
What will you charge?
Where will you purchase your supplies?
How much will supplies cost?
How much will production cost?
Do桂you still need to桂research or桂develop your product?

Once you�셶e answered these questions, you can map out a桂plan to桂turn your creative business dreams into reality.

Step 3:桂Understand Your Audience

Here�셲 the桂good news: the桂arts and桂craft industry is桂popular among various demographics. As桂such, you should target which group of桂people are more likely to桂buy your products. For example, if桂you�셱e selling blankets or桂other home essentials, you may want to桂appeal to桂an桂older demographic. Conversely, if桂you sell handmade, organic jewelry or桂bath bombs, you should probably shift your focus to桂a桂younger audience.

As桂such, you should consider the桂following factors about your potential customers:

Why do桂they want to桂purchase your products
Their general likes and桂dislikes
Gender, age, and桂location
Where they currently shop online

Step 4:桂Determine Sales Channels

You know what you want to桂sell, but where are you going to桂sell it? 뇟桂local arts and桂crafts fair might be桂an桂inexpensive way to桂get a桂feel for桂the桂business around you. Alternatively, you may start by桂selling your items in桂a桂local boutique or桂consignment shop before opening your own store.

Of桂course, you can always create an桂ecommerce website or桂sell on桂a桂digital marketplace such as桂Amazon, eBay, or桂Etsy

Digital marketplaces offer a桂ton of桂benefits for桂both vendors and桂their consumers. However, keep in桂mind that digital markets often charge fees for桂utilizing their platforms, which can add up桂over time.

Finally, while these platforms have a桂lot of桂demand, they also have a桂lot of桂competition, so桂you�셪l need to桂put in桂a桂significant amount of桂effort to桂stand out in桂the桂crowd. But no桂matter how you slice it, there are many fantastic ecommerce solutions out there; therefore, it�셲 important to桂do桂your homework and桂find out which platform is桂right for桂you before starting to桂develop your craft business�셲 website.

Step 5:桂Create a桂Business Plan

While you may be桂excited about all the桂goodies and桂products you�셱e going to桂sell to桂your target demographic, you also need to桂develop a桂comprehensive business plan that covers everything from your vision to桂how much money you expect to桂make during a桂specific timeframe. 뇟桂business plan will help you stay on桂track and桂remind you of桂your overall goals for桂the桂endeavor. They are also handy if桂you want to桂fund from an桂investor or桂bank. Typically, your plan should involve:

An桂executive summary of桂your business idea
뇟桂short description of桂what your craft company will do
In-depth market analysis
SWOT analysis (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats)
Sales and桂marketing plan
An桂overview of桂your business management team
Financial projections for桂a桂specific timeframe

Step 6:桂Find a桂Supplier or桂Manufacturer

깝닥桂꿎늡넵 plan to桂scale your business (and want time for桂life outside of桂work), you�셪l need help creating your designs. As桂such, you should look for桂an桂adept manufacturer who can make your crafts to桂a桂high enough quality. You�셪l also need a桂supplier who can provide your materials at桂wholesale prices. We桂recommend looking for桂a桂manufacturer and桂supplier that:

deals in桂quality materials and桂craftsmanship;
can provide samples, so桂you know what you�셱e working with is桂adequate;
have a桂local head quarters to桂receive your goods quickly, and桂speak to桂the桂business directly if桂any桂issues arise.

Step 7:桂Take Care of桂Logistics and桂Legal Requirements

We桂also recommend ensuring your craft business meets all legal requirements. For example, you have to桂register your business with the桂relevant tax authorities before you get started. You also need to桂consider:

Business registration, licenses, and桂permits
SKUs for桂your product line
Shipping costs
Shipping restrictions for桂your goods
Any company overheads
Relevant sales and桂business taxes
Filing the桂correct copyright, patent, and桂trademark requests if桂needed

Step 8:桂Create Your Online Craft Store

As桂well as桂creating your amazing crafts, you also need to桂create your own online store. Without a桂doubt, this is桂the桂best way to桂sell your crafts online. Once you have your brand name, logo, design, colors, and桂products in桂order, you should focus on桂a桂professional-looking website. Any good entrepreneur needs a桂website to桂sell crafts to桂as桂many customers as桂possible. That�셲 where 붚죕쳔 can help.

붚죕쳔 is桂an桂ecommerce platform that makes selling online easier. Build your own store from scratch to桂instantly sync and桂sell across your own website, social media, marketplaces, and桂more. Grow your business with automated marketing tools. And manage it桂all from your 붚죕쳔 control panel. In桂short, this is桂a桂great option to桂sell crafts online for桂free; you don�셳 even need much experience running an桂online store.

Step 9:桂Start Marketing Your Wares

After you�셶e created a桂company name and桂brand, a桂professional business website, and桂determined the桂items your craft business will offer, it�셲 time to桂start promoting them so桂you can build up桂a桂steady base of桂repeat customers.

Consider how you could advertise your items in桂a桂novel and桂exciting way. 깝닥桂꿎늡넵 haven�셳 already, now is桂the桂time to桂get your business registered on桂various social media platforms. Instagram and桂Facebook will be桂essential components of桂your company�셲 marketing plan.

Your goal here is桂simple: to桂explain what makes your goods stand out and桂unique. Make use of桂this as桂the桂foundation for桂your marketing strategy. Your promotional strategy should aim to桂bring your items in桂front of桂as桂many potential consumers as桂possible.

The Best Places to桂Sell Crafts Online: Global Marketplaces

No桂matter what you want to桂sell, there�셲 an桂online marketplace that�셲 tailor-made for桂you, your crafts, and桂your consumers. Finding the桂right marketplace is桂a桂matter of桂doing your research and桂not being afraid to桂try out something new.

Selling crafts on桂Etsy

Etsy is桂a桂popular online marketplace for桂handmade, vintage, and桂craft supply items that has been around since 2005. It�셲 changed a桂lot over the桂years, but it桂remains one of桂the桂most popular places to桂sell crafts on桂the桂internet. And it�셲 no桂령늡꾈삣깎곶�봶농깎꾈 you sell goods on桂, you can reach a桂global audience of桂30桂million potential buyers! As桂such, Etsy really has earned its reputation as桂a桂marketplace with the桂potential to桂turn your handcrafted items into a桂lucrative home-based business.

Selling crafts on桂Amazon

When it桂comes to桂selling handmade crafts on桂the桂internet, the桂 platform is桂a桂sort of桂new kid on桂the桂block. The premise is桂simple: they want to桂work with vendors who sell one-of-a-kind items, and桂put them on桂the桂world�셲 largest online retailer. Though they are still in桂an桂invite stage, it�셲 worth a桂try to桂check the桂platform out and桂see if桂Handmade at桂Amazon is桂the桂right fit for桂you.

Selling crafts on桂ArtFire

is桂an桂excellent choice for桂individuals who want to桂sell handmade items online in桂the桂most straightforward way possible. With over 10,000桂operational stores and桂7桂million yearly customers, ArtFire is桂a桂fantastic way to桂get your art out into the桂world.

Selling crafts on桂Handmade Artists

started as桂a桂result of桂a桂forum group seeking a桂safe and桂secure location for桂artists to桂sell their handcrafted products. To桂join, you have to桂pay a桂monthly $5.00桂fee (or $50桂for桂a桂year). But that�셲 all there is桂to桂it. Otherwise, it�셲 a桂safe and桂straightforward platform, and桂might be桂a桂great choice for桂beginners with unique goods to桂sell.

Selling crafts on桂Cratejoy

Marketplace is桂designed for桂subscription box companies to桂locate subscribers in桂their niche. They work hard to桂find the桂right subscribers for桂individual items. The recurring revenue model is桂a桂promising one for桂makers and桂artisans looking to桂earn money on桂a桂more regular basis. Every month, 겻곶껸넨깎쭐늡꿎�셲 marketplace works with over 500,000桂members, making it桂the桂internet�셲 biggest marketplace dedicated to桂subscription boxes.

Selling crafts on桂Folksy

is桂a桂marketplace for桂artists and桂makers based in桂the桂United Kingdom. So, if桂you�셱e a桂craft seller from England, Scotland, Wales, or桂Northern Ireland, Folksy may offer you a桂more focused market for桂your items.

The benefits of桂selling through online marketplaces

Marketplaces allow you to桂reach millions of桂people who may be桂interested in桂your product or桂service.
Buyers trust these sites. They feel comfortable purchasing from these marketplaces, more so桂than if桂they stumbled upon your website alone.
Selling here is桂easy. The marketplace has everything you need to桂sell in桂place and桂helps take care of桂the桂checkout procedure.

The downsides to桂selling on桂marketplaces

They charge fees. You have to桂share a桂percentage of桂each sale with the桂platform.
It�셲 highly competitive. There will likely be桂hundreds, if桂not thousands, of桂other craft businesses hoping to桂attract attention on桂the桂same marketplace site.
It�셲 not your brand. If桂the桂brand name and桂things like web design and桂a桂personalized user interface are important to桂you, you�셱e unlikely to桂find an桂ideal home on桂a桂third-party marketplace. People go桂there to桂discover products and桂find deals, not to桂interact with a桂brand�셲 personality.
You don�셳 know anything about your customers. The marketplaces keep this information to桂themselves which can make marketing more difficult.

The Benefits of桂Selling on桂Your Own Online Store

You have control over your branding and桂content. You can truly build your own unique 끓곶껸꾈삣�쿄곶늡낼 the桂visual brand elements you incorporate into your website design to桂the桂customer engagement that comes from having an桂integrated blog, signup forms, and桂social media profiles, everything is桂yours.
You keep what you make from each sale�봞끅 opposed to桂paying a桂fee per transaction to桂Etsy or桂ArtFire.
You have access to桂your customers�� information. When someone makes a桂purchase on桂your online store, you receive all the桂information you need to桂start developing a桂longer-term relationship with that customer, including their name and桂email address.
You can develop targeted promotions and桂discounts. With your dedicated website as桂a桂lead-generating machine, you can then retarget your email list with special discounts and桂promotions, and桂track the桂effectiveness of桂each offer.

So, with so桂many options, what way of桂selling makes the桂most sense? It�셲 simple: ideally, you�셝 sell crafts online from your own dedicated store AND on桂one or桂more of桂the桂marketplaces where your target customers spend their time. Tease key products on桂marketplace sites, with links back to桂your dedicated site for桂in-depth product information and桂other items that will entice buyers. That way, all your bases are covered.

How To桂Start Your Own Online Craft Store

Your own website is桂perhaps the桂best place to桂sell handcrafted goods on桂the桂internet. This is桂because it桂allows you to桂interact with clients directly and桂avoid paying marketplace fees.

Choose the桂right platform

Choosing the桂appropriate ecommerce platform for桂your online business can be桂a桂difficult task. The ideal ecommerce solution for桂your company will be桂determined by桂the桂size of桂your operation, whether or桂not you have employees, and桂what features are accessible with free software. It�셲 critical to桂figure out exactly what you need so桂that you can figure out exactly the桂solution that�셲 right for桂you.

Here are some considerations to桂keep in桂mind:

How big is桂your business?
How many products do桂you need to桂sell?
How often will you manage/update your inventory?
How do桂your customers prefer to桂pay?
What sales channels do桂you use?
What marketing tools do桂you use?

Arrange shipping

깝닥桂꿎늡넵r company sells online, there�셲 another important factor you have to桂consider: shipping. The time it桂takes to桂deliver goods is桂critical, and桂significant delays can result in桂negative customer feedback. So桂stay on桂your customer�셲 good side by桂comparing costs and桂selecting a桂shipping service that you feel confident in, whether it�셲 USPS, UPS, or桂FedEx. Then purchase proper packing supplies to桂prevent breakage along the桂way.

Set up桂payments

There are a桂variety of桂payment solutions you can set up桂for桂your fledging craft business, from those which will enable you to桂accept credit card payments to桂more advanced alternative payment options to桂your customers: such as桂ApplePay, GooglePay, PayPal, etc.

Think about your branding

When it桂comes to桂selling your handmade products on桂the桂internet, establishing a桂brand is桂absolutely essential. This is桂your chance to桂display some of桂your personality and桂who you are as桂an桂artist. It桂also allows customers to桂connect more easily with your brand, your values, and桂what you have to桂say about the桂market you�셱e in. Customers should be桂able to桂infer what sets you apart after seeing your brand for桂a桂moment.

From business cards to桂your online craft store�셲 website and桂social media profiles, your brand identity should be桂used wherever possible. Having a桂unified voice, tone, and桂visual style will allow customers to桂better identify with your company 닥껸끅넨깎곶�봞꾈삣 help them develop consumer loyalty more quickly.

Some of桂the桂things to桂consider as桂you build your brand:

What sets your brand apart from others?
What is桂your target audience and桂what resonates with them?
What�셲 a桂brand name that�셲 catchy and桂memorable, but still related to桂what you have to桂sell?
What should your logo look like?
What�셲 your website�셲 ideal guiding style (site layout, graphics, typography, and桂more)
Do桂you have an桂interesting story for桂your About Us page?

Write captivating sales copy

When it桂comes to桂creating product descriptions to桂sell crafts online, you want to桂include specifics such as桂the桂dimensions and桂materials employed. But you also want your potential customers to桂pay attention. This is桂an桂opportunity to桂use a桂narrative: How did you figure out the桂idea for桂the桂item? How do桂you create it? What is桂its ultimate value?

Add compelling images

Without product pictures, you won�셳 be桂able to桂sell online effectively. The quality of桂your product images often determine how interested a桂customer is桂in桂buying it. To桂maximize your selling potential, place your items in桂front of桂a桂white backdrop, with natural light only.

Make every effort to桂take detailed high-resolution photographs from all angles, avoiding shadows and桂concentrating on桂capturing as桂many of桂your product�셲 unique qualities as桂you can through the桂images. 깝닥桂꿎늡넵�셱e in桂a桂hurry to桂get started, use your smartphone.

However, if桂you can manage to桂acquire a桂decent camera and桂a桂friend with a桂good eye for桂photography, the桂effort you put in桂here can only help you in桂the桂long run.

Add a桂blog to桂your online craft store

깝닥桂꿎늡넵 blog about things related to桂your hobbies, you�셪l have a桂better chance of桂being discovered by桂potential customers. Because Google ranks websites in桂a桂certain way, blogging regularly might improve the桂position of桂your site in桂Google search results. 뇟桂higher ranking indicates that your website contains relevant, high-quality information.

Blogging may also be桂a桂way to桂engage with interested potential customers by桂allowing them access to桂your life and桂creative process.

Some ideas for桂craft blog content:

Your favorite artists and桂crafters
Your favorite materials to桂work with, or桂brands you use to桂make your items
What inspires you to桂keep crafting
뇟桂crafter�셲 diary
Free craft ideas
Advice on桂crafting
Patterns, or桂lists of桂patterns from places you enjoy

What Customers Look For in桂an桂Online Craft Store

뇟桂user-friendly interface

Assist customers in桂obtaining what they want by桂getting rid of桂any桂unnecessary clutter. Concentrate on桂uncomplicating your site�셲 user experience by桂providing shopping categories, filters, and桂the桂ability to桂compare products and桂prices.

Excellent videos and桂photographs that show off the桂best you have to桂offer

It�셲 a桂great idea to桂take some time and桂put some energy into taking pictures and桂writing descriptions of桂your products. Customers want to桂see what you sell from various angles before making a桂purchase decision.

Allow them to桂not simply zoom in桂on桂the桂photo, but also get an桂idea of桂what it�셲 like through words. Photos and桂videos for桂your crafts shop should be桂high-resolution with a桂short load time. Descriptions should be桂clear and桂include information on桂materials used, size, and桂other important details.

뇟桂mobile-friendly user experience

In桂the桂last six months, have made a桂purchase on桂their devices. To桂create an桂environment that encourages sales, make sure your store is桂mobile-friendly and桂adapts to桂whatever device it�셲 being shown on.

Return policy

Make sure your crafts store has a桂transparent return policy. This means that the桂policy is桂both clear and桂listed on桂your website in桂a桂place that is桂not difficult to桂find. This will help customers feel confident making a桂purchase, and桂help head off any桂customer service issues.

붚죕쳔: An桂Easy Ecommerce Shopping Cart to桂Sell Crafts Online

붚죕쳔�셲 ecommerce platform offers you the桂resources you need to桂help turn your talent or桂skill in桂the桂crafting world into a桂profitable business. How? Here are some special features of桂붚죕쳔�셲 ecommerce solution:

굣늡桂낌늡삣쓩꾈껨

By桂removing the桂headache of桂manually setting up桂your own website and桂outfitting it桂with shopping cart functionality, 붚죕쳔 provides automation and桂an桂easy-to-navigate solution for桂helping you sell crafts online.

Secure payments

붚죕쳔�셲 ecommerce solution ensures that you will be桂provided with a桂secure system for桂your business transactions, as桂well as桂the桂ability to桂reach a桂large, international customer base.

Online and桂offline

With an桂extensive background in桂online technology, 붚죕쳔 is桂able to桂cater not only to桂businesses already selling crafts online but to桂those just getting into the桂game. We桂can also provide an桂easy-to-set-up model for桂those who are interested in桂selling crafts but are unsure how to桂get started.

Marketplaces

붚죕쳔 doesn�셳 depend on桂one model of桂outreach to桂sell crafts online. Instead, we桂work with many. We桂make use of桂a桂comprehensive and桂efficient interface, along with high functionality that enables you to桂sell across every major ecommerce platform at桂the桂same time. This includes Google Shopping, Amazon, eBay, and桂more!

Social selling

깝닥桂꿎늡넵�셱e interested in桂selling your crafts on桂social media, 붚죕쳔 will help you distribute your products across major social networks like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Pinterest, and桂Snapchat. At桂the桂same time, you can still manage everything from one control panel, taking the桂confusion out of桂inventory management.

With 붚죕쳔 running under the桂hood, you�셪l have a桂beautiful store and桂global reach, giving you the桂ability to桂sell your crafts everywhere.

Discover DIY craft ideas and桂learn how you can sell them online.

桂

DIY ideas
Greenhouses Fire Pits Desks Headboards Workbenches Decorations Face Masks	Cat Trees Floating Shelves Coffee Tables Bookshelves Wall Decor Fidget Toys	Pull Up桂Bars Cat Toys Garden Gnomes Squat Racks

About The Author

Max has been working in the ecommerce industry for the last six years helping brands to establish and level-up content marketing and SEO. Despite that, he has experience with entrepreneurship. He is a fiction writer in his free time.

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