Sell Your Crafts! Turn Your Hobby into Spending Money

If you enjoy making creative artworks and crafts and you constantly hear people telling you that you should sell your creations, it may be time to consider selling your crafts for money. Like all things, entering the world of selling crafts should be carefully planned. There are many websites and venues where you can sell your crafts both online and off.

Online venues are a great way to reach customers all over the world. Popular websites like Etsy, Artfire, and eBay are great tools that help to reach your targeted customers. Before making the plunge into selling your crafts, be sure to take the time and do some research beforehand. Keep the following questions in mind as you consider the prospect of selling your creations:

* Do I have a product that people would want to buy?

This is the most important question you have to ask yourself. If there is no target market for your products, you will have a hard time selling your creations -not because your items are not great products, but because they may not be in demand.

* Who is my potential target market?

This is a continuation of the question above because you need to know who to advertise to and how to successfully draw your target market to your items. It would be a waste of time trying to sell baby clothes, for example, to those who do not have children.

* What will I charge for my creations?

Pricing is an important strategy. All too often, people undercharge for their creations forgetting to take into consideration the time and materials that go into a product. Make sure you account for both the cost of the materials as well as the time and effort you put into creating your goods. Also be sure not to overcharge. You may find that your items do not sell because they are overpriced.

* Where will I sell my items?

Online websites are plentiful when it comes to selling handmade goods. There are websites such as Etsy and Artfire who only allow the sales of handmade goods, along with supplies. EBay is also another popular venue to sell handmade goods. Be aware though, that you will be competing with the other goods that are not handmade and may be cheaper. A good description of the item and its benefits is always a good idea.

If you choose to sell locally, try finding a store that will sell your items on consignment or sign up to exhibit at a local craft show. Both will be good for exposure. If you choose to go the consignment route, be sure to get all terms in writing. Otherwise you run the risk of having your items kept and not paid for.

It is entirely possible to make money selling your crafts. Be sure to do your research and follow through your plan by keeping the above questions in mind. Once you have your plan in mind, go ahead and take the plunge.