I’ve always loved crafting. In fact, one of the marketing things I do is craft-related. But, I don’t like crafting just to craft, I want the item to be functional. I brought on a guest today to share some DIY crafts to sell.
Check out what they say here-
The popularity of producing DIY crafts has rocketed in recent years, for various reasons. For starters, it’s much more satisfying to use something that you’ve created rather than something you’ve simply bought. Second, with the amount of information available online, it’s never been easier to make high-quality goods.
Yet while making them is enjoyable in itself, it’s also possible to sell them and bring in some additional money. It’s a fun hobby that a lot of people have an interest in — more than ever, people are looking forwards to hand-made, unique goods, rather than simply those bulk items that they can buy in the chain stores. But what goods are selling, and how do you sell them?
Here are a few things you might consider:
1. DIY In the Home
You can go to Ikea and get everything you need for your home at an affordable price, sure, but when you go to visit other people’s homes, you see that they’ve got all the items as you do. Some items just keep popping up again and again.
As such, people prefer to buy one-off — or small quantity — goods. If you can make, say, craft lamps, tables, clocks, and everyday items like cutting boards, you’ll find plenty of eager buyers. Every home looks better when it’s filled with one-off goods, rather than something that was mass-produced on the other side of the world.
2. Homemade Clothing
People want to look good, but what they choose to wear is about more than just looking presentable — it’s about showing the world their personality, the things they like, the things they believe in, and more. A t-shirt is much more than a t-shirt. The problem many people have is that they don’t identify with the messages that are often found on commercially produced clothing.
As such, there’s a large market when it comes to selling t-shirts, and the big companies can’t compete — it’s the small quantity and handcrafted nature of the goods that are most appealing about them. It’s also relatively simple.
All you’ll need is a strong design, a high-quality blank t-shirt, and a vinyl cutting machine, which you can find at vinylcuttingmachineguide.com. You’ll be able to make your own awesome shirts, and then sell them at fairs and online. Wear them yourself, and you’ll be a walking advert for your goods!
3. Unique Accessories
The accessories that people wear are an easy sell, because it gives them options for their clothes. Everyone has to wear clothes. Accessories are entirely optional! As such, jewelry is an especially good option when it comes to selling your crafts.
Not only are they in demand in the craft world, but you’re also able to push the boat out somewhat. There’s no space for the middle-of-the-road jewelry — think of a theme, and go with that. There are a million and one places where people can look for, say, a traditional gold ring, but not so many places to search for a handcrafted, eco-friendly necklace.
4. Around Town
The everyday basics that people need are a good option, too. Some people play things relatively safe when it comes to their clothing, and don’t wear any accessories at all. But everyone needs a wallet, or a purse, and many like using a tote bag.
If you can make these items, you’ll find there are plenty of people willing to pay. The tote bag, in particular, is recommended — they’re easy enough to make, and you can put any number of whacky designs or slogans on there.
5. For the Baby
People love to spoil their baby and the babies of their friends and loved ones. And while you can find some great items in the stores, there are some who prefer the unique approach. They want their child to have something that others don’t.
Things like baby clothes are popular, though you’ll have to come up with some witty slogans or cute drawings to get people interested. Little model wood items and other toys are also good options. If the parents are cool, they’ll want their children to look cool too — this is where you come in.
6. Homemade Soaps and Scents
There’s been a big shift in recent years towards using soaps and other smelly goods that aren’t loaded with chemicals, which virtually all mass-produced goods are. And alas, the natural items you find in the stores are normally too expensive. But here’s the thing: making these items isn’t too difficult.
Indeed, anyone can make them, providing they have a little bit of space to work with. For this project, you’ll want to engage in a bit of trial and error, and figure out what works and what doesn’t. Once you’ve mastered your recipe, you’ll be able to sell the goods online. It’s cheap to make homemade soap and shampoo bars, too, which will bring a healthy profit margin.
7. Garden Accents
Those who love being outside don’t want that plastic stuff imported from far away. They want the real deal. They appreciate the value of someone’s labor. In the garden, this can be stuff like custom-made equipment, garden decorations, bird feeder, or even swings.
Of course, if you take this approach, you’ll need to be aware of what people are looking for in their garden goods — which is to say, something that looks natural, made of wood, and so on.
8. Woodworking
There’s been a big revival in interest for traditionally handcrafted wood products in recent times. If you’re adept at woodwork, then why not look at making your own bowls, spoons, and other products? These types of items can attract a reasonably high price, though, of course, they take longer to make, too.
Even relatively simple items like door signs can be a profitable venture, especially since that type of rustic look is popular in home decor at the moment.
Find The Best Place to Sell
Once you’ve got your goods, you’ll have to figure out where you’re going to sell them to the public if you’re going to make a profit. Fortunately, there have never been more options than right now, with plenty of online and real-world options allowing you to post your goods. In the online world, Etsy is king — it’s the largest marketplace for handmade goods.
However, you might find that it’s worthwhile setting up your own website and selling your goods there too, though it depends on how large your range of items is (a handful of items probably don’t justify a website). In the real world, check out any markets that are taking place, and book a table (you usually have to pay, but not much).
The bigger the city where you live, the more options you’ll have, but even the smallest of towns have craft fairs.
Marketing Your Craft
The problem with selling your goods online, specifically Etsy, is that the market is saturated, for certain types of products at least. As such, you need to find a way to get your goods in front of people. You could start by setting up an Instagram page and showcasing your work there.
You may also find it useful to promote your Etsy store, so that your store is near the top of the search results, though whether you do this will depend on how much money you need to make from your crafts. As always when you’re selling online, you’ll want to ensure that you’re taking high-quality photographs, and also getting feedback from previous buyers.
Get Creative With Custom Orders
Part of the fun of buying handcrafted goods directly from the creator is that you’re cutting out the middle person in the transaction. Instead of just buying something that was simply imported, made by an unknown hand, you’re buying directly from a person who made the item in their own home.
That’s pretty awesome! And also gives a lot of potential too. Because you’re not making too many variations of the same items, you should make yourself available for custom orders. You can charge a little more, of course.
Your Crafting Hobby Could Turn Into a Business
Your venture might start out as a hobby, and a way to make a little extra cash, but it doesn’t have to end there. If you find that you’re really enjoying the process of making and selling your goods, then why not look at setting up your own business?
Depending on where you live, you may be able to find a small store that’s cheap to rent. If that’s asking too much, then you could consider taking over a section of another store — you won’t get as much of the money from the sale, but it will be relatively risk-free and nudge you in the right direction for what you need to do to develop your business.
It’s fun to create DIY crafts just for the fun of it, but if you’re making good stuff, then share the joy with other people. You’re able to offer competitive prices because you don’t have any overheads, so it’s not like there’s much to lose or many risks to take — you just need to commit some of your time.
