Start Your Business Dreams
Sell your crafts online and in person!
There are a million places and ways of selling your handmade goods, but in my experience, only 3 were worth it.
Let’s go over the pros and cons from my own personal experience. Consider me your best friend. I want you to succeed.
The “Little Guys” – Goimagine, Bonanza, Folksy, Ko-fi
Let’s start with the lesser known fringe sites like Goimagine, Bonanza, Folksy, Ko-fi, and all those “little” guys. Now, we all start somewhere, and some of these have been around for a long time.
Pros:
Some are cheap, or even free to get started. But what that usually means is-
Cons:
You have to actively direct people to the site. Even though there are absolutely dedicated fans for each of these websites, the comparison is thousands against millions for the “bigger” sites.
If you are willing to put in the effort to point your social media efforts, business cards, in person referrals and whatnot to these sites, then by all means, go for it.
But, consider this. Those lower fees are made up by your personal effort to direct people that way. Amazon and Etsy have higher fees, but direct people to your listings for you. These little sites are a great place to start, just know you are going to have to spend a lot of time learning how to implement a marketing strategy. Woohoo new skill!
Craigslist, FB Marketplace
Pros:
One in 100 people who are serious will contact you and try to haggle your prices down. Wait, that sounds like a con to me…
Cons:
How much time do you have answering messages to say, “yes this item is still available,” to have either no response or it is some weird scam thing?
Online marketplaces went straight to H.E. double hockey sticks somewhere along in the last few years. Seriously, don’t waste your time. You deserve better for your handmade goods.
Personal Website
If you are a nerd, like me, or crave control, also like me, then you will definitely want your own website. You could just redirect your own dot com to your etsy or whatever, but if you want your very own online shopping experience, then let’s talk about it!
Pros:
Complete control over branding and customer experience. You can change the look and feel any time you want. The power is solely in your hands and imagination.
Cons:
Depending on the site hosting of your choice, there will still be monthly or yearly fees, credit processing fees and custom plug in and function fees, but that’s all you’ll need to worry about. It requires marketing efforts to drive traffic to your site, possibly even paid ads. A site like this can be time-consuming to set up and maintain, and likely have potentially lower sales volume compared to established marketplaces.
Who is your Target Customer?
Now is a good time to consider your target customer. If you are a laser craft seller, you probably make some pretty cool, or even customized, handmade goods.
I primarily make laser cut jewelry. My target customer wants a good enough deal, but will pay for a super fun set of earrings that means something to them. If you sell cake toppers, you will want a customer who will pay more than a generic happy birthday topper, because you made it with their name. If you custom engraved leather wallets with anniversary dates, you probably don’t want customers searching for prices – low to high.
Consider if you sell great gift items, where people look for gifts. If you sell components or raft baubles for makers, where do makers look for parts? Be in the headspace of the people you want to sell to.
eBay
The selling platform giant that has been around practically since the start of the internet.
Pros:
Established platform with a vast audience, potential for quick sales, good for selling one-off pieces or project leftovers. One of the only auction sites I would recommend. Great for bulk lots and unused material sets.
Cons:
Less ideal for showcasing the handmade aspect, high competition with mass-produced items, auction format can lead to lower prices than desired.
eBay, eBay, eBay… I have had a long relationship with this site, so let me just sum it up right now. It’s probably not worth it. That depends on what you make, but I really believe most people who shop on eBay are looking for either rare, or more likely cheap new or second hand crap.
Etsy
Have you heard of this “handmade” marketplace called Etsy? Of course you have.
Pros:
Strong community of crafters and handmade enthusiasts. The buyers are generally looking for handcrafted and personalized items.
Cons:
Competitive marketplace, fees are a bit high and likely to get higher, and it is quite saturated in some product categories.
Benefits to the overall cost include algorithms and search functions that could introduce new customers to your products without you having to lift a finger.
Barrier to entry is relatively simple. The seller interface is fairly intuitive and straightforward. However, it will cost a bit to get listings up.
Amazon Handmade
Pros:
Massive audience reach, brand recognition and trust from Amazon, optional fulfillment by Amazon (FBA).
Cons:
High competition. Fees are higher than pretty much all other platforms. Customer focus might be on price over handcrafted quality.
Barrier to entry is hard as hell. You need to open an amazon store and apply for Amazon Handmade. It took me 2 tries. Fees are the highest, but reach is the highest. If your margins are pretty tight, put Amazon Handmade on the shelf. Consider it again when you are ready to scale. Zero percent beginner friendly.
Benefits include the seller’s reach of a gillion people. Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) is super handy if your margins are low and you want to streamline popular listings that don’t have customizations. This could be a video all on it’s own. Consider it a scaling tool. If you are new, don’t worry about it.
Selling Handmade Craft in Person
Craft shows, church events and little things like that
Pros:
It can be super cheap, or even free, to get a table to sell your wares. The customers are there specifically to find handmade and community centered goods. You’re likely to find your perfect type of customer.
Cons:
If you sell high end handmade goods, customers might be looking for cheaper prices. Or, if you sell quirky items, make sure they are appropriate for the targeted crowd.
I once got a table at a craft fair in a community center in a well to do area. However, my ideal customer was more a younger, eccentric style person and they did not hang out there. I did not do so well at that show.
Specific Topic Expo and Conventions
Speaking of targeted markets, let’s go over finding Specific Shows/Conventions such as a Pet Expo or Comic Con.
Pros:
Targeted audience is more likely to buy. I have sold nerdy jewelry at comic cons for years. I did a cat convention and brought a bunch of cat centered designs, and raked it in. If you have a specific genre of merchandise, there is probably an expo or convention for it.
Cons:
These can cost a lot, but you have a chance to make a lot of money! But, the sales are not guaranteed. Some events start with higher hopes than what actually happens. Plus, they take a lot to prepare for. You need to have loads of wares to sell.
Depending on your margins and customer base, it is absolutely worth experimenting with this. But say goodbye to your whole weekend.
Friends/Fam, Coworkers, Neighbors
Ok, maybe you don’t like going places, I get it! But is trying to sell to you Friends/Fam, Coworkers, Neighbors, and whatever even worth the effort?
Pros:
You are around these people anyway. If they are supportive or have a genuine reason for your services, then they are a perfect customer! (Of course, don’t let them take advantage of you in regards to pricing.)
Cons:
It takes active effort and imagination. You don’t have to transform into a pushy salesman, but you will need to spark your people’s imagination with examples or samples.
To sum it all up:
- For high visibility and brand recognition: Consider Etsy and once you master that, Amazon Handmade. Depending on your target audience and budget for fees, of course.
- For a niche, craft-focused audience: Etsy is a strong choice.
- For quick sales or attracting a bargain hunter crowd: Ebay might be a good option. Auctions can move bulk lots or spare bits.
- For complete creative control and brand building: A personal website can be ideal, but requires marketing efforts.
- For direct customer interaction and relationship building: Craft shows are a great option.
If you are just beginning, I highly suggest starting an Etsy store and signing up to some low dollar craft shows and small events. Heck, you can even have a garage, curb style setup and see if any neighbors are interested in your wares. That’s totally free!
Start small and scale with your sales. Learn everything you can and let me know if I can help.
Here’s a super fun video where I go over these great places to sell your fabulous handmade wares!
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Designs by Laser Lady 
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