Market Yourself-five Tips To Selling Your Crafts In Your Own Backyard
December 4th, 2008

Selling crafts isn't like selling something that every body can use. It's a specialty item. Only certain people will buy them. Therefore you need to know how to reach the right audience.

The first most important tip is to do something you love. If you have a passion for what you're doing, then you will do a better job at it. When starting up a craft business, it has to be for the love it and not just for making money. Loving what you're doing will give you endurance to endure even through drought times.

Coming up with a business plan is essential. Before starting a craft selling business, you must come up with a business plan. A business plan may sound intimidating at first, but it's a good idea to lay one out. A business plan can consist of deciding how much money you want to spend on supplies, how much money you plan to sell your crafts for, how much time you can spend in your business and how big your want your business to be. When selling your crafts close to home, you may want to start small. This way you can see what kind of demand there is for your type of craft.

Once you've perfected your craft making abilities, try throwing a home party. This is the route a lot of home décor business travel. It's less expense than renting a booth or having a store. This is a good way to market your items. Start by making a lot of your items and displaying them in your living room or special room you have set aside for your crafts. Make sure the atmosphere is relaxed and inviting. Offer beverages and snacks. People will feel more relaxed and want to observe what you have to offer if they feel comfortable. You might want to offer prizes or a free giveaway of one of your items to the person who brings the most people or buys the most stuff. This is a good motivator. There are a few ways you can market your items once guests have arrived. You can have an introduction and tell them who you are and what you are about. Let them know why you got started in the craft making business. There's a story behind every great idea. Then you can proceed to explain the craft items and allow them to look around at the displays. The good thing about displays is people can see what they're getting. Unlike magazines, they don't have to look at a picture and hope it looks like how it is explained. Although more than likely, someone may want to order more from you later. At the end of the party, ask for volunteers who may want to hold a party in their home. They may have a group of people that have not been exposed to your crafts yet.

The next tip is to offer business cards. A business card is probably the simplest way to market your items. When designing your card, make sure the picture on the card matches the theme of your business. I can't tell you how many times I've picked up a business card and couldn't tell what they were selling because there was no picture or the title just wasn't clear enough. Make sure it's obvious. Also, make sure you have plenty on hand. It's the best way for people to contact you in the future. Putting an email address on it is also convenient.

Another idea for the more dedicated, would be to have a small craft store in your house. Of course you would have to check with the city and make sure zoning allows this. You could have certain days picked out and advertise in the paper. People will get familiar with your times, and come regularly to check out new items. If you choose to go this way, you will probably have to write a proposed plan for the zoning board. Getting approval from your neighbors may help in their decision as well. Selling crafts from home is low maintenance and gives you the freedom of staying home as well. Mothers with small children may find this the most convenient way to go. Be sure to have an OPEN and CLOSED sign if your craft room has a separate door from the house. Don't feel rude if someone comes knocking after closing time and you send them away

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