If you spend your evenings and weekends making arts and crafts, you’ll love this post. Today, we’re going behind the scenes of the arts and crafts business. There’s a lot of money to be made here, and the business of handmade products is soaring. Websites like Etsy and Pinterest have been incredibly powerful at drawing attention to crafts.
But, have you ever considered making a business out of your hobby? It could start as a simple side-hustle. But, eventually, you could turn it into a full-time job. Here are the first simple steps on your road to arts and crafts entrepreneurship.
Choosing your craft
If you’re looking to turn your crafting hobby into a full-time business, you need a niche. In this business, you’ll thrive by sticking to a small range of products. Studies show that customers are often overwhelmed by too much choice. They love to browse, but ultimately don’t buy anything. By focusing on just one or two core products, you greatly increase the chance of sales. It also means you can make things cheaper and faster when you’ve just got one or two to focus on.
Making a website
If you’ve mastered your craft, all you need is a website to sell from. One of the easiest ways to get started is by hosting a shop on Etsy or eBay. These sites have a built-in audience of craft and gift lovers. You can tap into their existing customer base, and join a community of sellers. If you’d prefer your own website, we suggest using ‘Shopify’. It’s a platform that allows you to set up an ecommerce shop just how you like it.
Mass producing
You’re probably used to making crafts in a slow and steady way. But, if you’re planning on selling lots of products, you need to step up the production! It’s time to invest in some quality equipment that will help you mass produce your crafts. For starters, take a look at Modern Industrial for quality PVC. You’re looking for the schedule 40 PVC which is slightly different to the industrial CPVCs. With these high-quality materials, your crafts will last longer, and feel more professional. It’s essential if you’re mass-producing your products.
Marketing
Now that you’ve got your store up and running, you need customers! Picking up those first few customers is tricky. One of the best ways to get started is social media. You can create accounts on Facebook and Twitter, and start to build a community of craft lovers. Instagram and Pinterest are also very useful here. They allow you to post beautiful pictures of your crafts. Encourage lots of sharing so your products reach the masses!
Treat it as a business
Finally, don’t forget to treat the entire operation like a business. If you’re looking to make this your full-time job, you’ll need a strict business plan. Manage the money correctly, register for tax, and make detailed marketing plans for the future.
Slowly, you’ll begin to see your arts and crafts business start to bloom!
