Knock On Wood - Five Ways To Market Your Woodworking Crafts
December 4th, 2008

As a woodworker, you face some unique challenges in marketing your products. Here's five ways to go about getting your hand made wood crafts the attention they deserve.

1. Local Shows and Stores

Starting small at local shows is a good way for any craftsperson to get started with their new business. It gives you a chance to see how popular your products are and interact with your customers directly. You can hear right from them the types of crafts they are looking for and in what price range. It is important to start small and locally, especially if many of your woodworking crafts are large and require a lot of effort to transport. There is no sense transporting all your products to an out of town show if they are not what customers are looking for or if they are over-priced.

You can also talk to local craft stores and see if they will carry your crafts on consignment. You will need to pay them a percentage of every sale, but there is no money required up front for the space and display. You may not sell a lot right off the bat, but this will be fantastic exposure for your woodworking crafts.

With local shoes and stores, you want to make sure that you have lots of cards and flyers promoting your business. Even if a customer does not buy something from you at that particular show, they will pick up a card and contact you in future if they are looking for woodworking crafts. You'll be amazed at home long customers hold on to business cards.

2. Network

When just starting out, family and friends can be one of your best resources. Not only can they lend a helping hand at crafts shows, they will probably be some of your first and best customers. They can also help in spreading the news about your new venture. You tell your friends and they tell their friends and it just goes on from there. Never estimate the power of word of mouth in the crafting industry.

3. Magazines and Other Publications

Standard advertising is often not the most effective means of promoting your crafting business. It is better to pick specialized publications if you are planning on running an ad. It would be even better to try and have yourself featured in a magazine or local newspaper - you'll get the same publicity as an ad, but without paying a cent for it!

4. Demonstration

Serious craft buyers are usually interested in the story and the artist behind the craft. That is all part of the buying appeal for them. They want to feel that they are purchasing a one of a kind product and that they have a connection with the person who has created it. Be sure that you make that extra effort to communicate with your customers at local craft sales.

You might also consider demonstrating your craft at local sales or arranging a demonstration at a local store or community centre. This will give your customers a chance to see you working with their own eyes. You'd be amazed at how fascinating people find these kinds of demonstrations. Seeing a project through from conception to finished project will make people feel more connected to the work and they will be much more likely to make a purchase.

It might not be possible for you to show the entire process, especially as a woodworker, but some kind of demonstration will make all the difference when marketing your products.

5. Internet

Even the most computer illiterate crafters can find ways to market their products online these days. With web design programmers and free home pages or personal journals, crafters can take advantage of all these technological advances and go global with their products. You can have a website that gives an overview of your history as a crafter and also shows products samples. You can go further than this too. What about selling your products online? You'll reach an entirely new client base and it will be well worth any sort of set-up aggravation.

As you can see, there are many different ways to market your new woodworking business. Try whenever possible for the personal touch - it will make your customers feel really connected to your products and keep them coming back year after year after year

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