Earn an Income from Crafts
One big attraction for consumers who buy and collect handmade arts and crafts is the originality of such work. For a one-person craft business, it’s reasonable to concentrate on one or two markets and a focused line of craft products aimed at particular buyers. If you try to make too many different items, or try to sell to those who don’t want your products, you dissipate your momentum and waste time and money. The question you should be asking is “How can I make my crafts stand out from the crowded crafts business marketplace?
- Create a story for each of the craft pieces you make and include the story as a promotional tag or brochure. A story can make a craft special and add value.
- Engage the senses; studies show that sales go up when a product interacts with one or more of the customer’s five senses: sight, sound, smell, touch, taste.
- Make sure the product is well displayed; use extra lighting to boost sales.
- Build an eye-catching display to draw customers into your craft booth.
- Increase sales by offering customers the option to pay by credit or debit card.
Handcrafted products are divided in numerous categories:
Home & Garden: candles, place mats, napkins, curtains, towels, potholders, coasters, fire screens, baskets, pillows, quilts, room dividers, coverlets, throws, wall hangings, carvings, floor rugs, lamps, chairs, swings, stained glass, birdhouses, wind chimes, clocks, mirrors, cutting boards, pottery, plant holders, window boxes, potpourri, gift baskets, rubber-stamping, candle making, rug weaving, gemstones, flowers, potpourri, doll making, leather, quilting, knitting, crochet, egg painting, stone painting.
Clothing: shawls, dresses, blouses, aprons, suits, kimonos, children’s clothing, shirts, vests, sweaters, jackets, coats, painted sweatshirts, t-shirts; Accessories: handbags, purses, belts, sashes, babushkas, mittens, mufflers, house slippers, men’s ties, men’s and women’s: scarves, hats, caps, bandannas, boots, sandals, moccasins.
Interior Design: paintings, wall hangings, rugs, upholstery fabric, throws, curtains, pillows, room dividers, screens, window frames, furniture, ceramics, stained glass, woodwork, glass blowing, lapidary, basket making.
Corporate: rugs, tapestries, wall hangings, sculpture, furniture, paintings, batiks, folk art, wood carvings, flower arrangements, hand painted wooden door hangers.
Graphic Arts: stationery, books, calendars, gift cards, note cards, posters, caricatures, buttons, bumper stickers, photo prints, signs.
Toys: stuffed toys, dolls, puppets, animals, teddy bears, wooden trains, puzzles, building blocks, toy boxes, kaleidoscopes.
Special occasion: bridal gowns and shawls, baby blankets, greeting cards, Christmas ornaments, stockings, Easter bunnies, heart pillows for Valentine’s day, wreathes.
Religious: altar objects, vestments, tapestries, chalice palls, baptismal towels, banners, stoles, stained glass, candelabras.
Jewelry: earrings, bracelets, necklaces, rings, anklets, headbands, jewelry cases, leatherwork, nose rings.
Other: tote bags, duffel bags, backpacks, garment bags, saddle-blankets, musical instruments, dried flowers, book ends, confectionaries, key holders, seat covers.
Contact Theresa (ecottage@gmail.com) to design packaging, promotional tag, brochure, Web showcase.
About Theresa
I’m a published author of four business books and have written a number of self-study tutorials [creative writing; editing and proofreading; business writing; and self-publishing] and an eBook [Workplace Harmony]. I am an experienced writer, editor and publisher. 
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