Five Ways to Prepare Your Crafty Business for the Holiday Season

Now is the time to start getting ready for the hectic holiday shopping season. The more prepared you are the better! I previously gave readers tips for how to get an online store ready for the holidays, so now I’d like to share more pointers for your handmade business.

1. Use a Calendar

Planning is the key to a successful fall and winter shopping season. Get a calendar or agenda book to help stay organized, and make sure to fill in the important events and dates. This will prevent you from double-booking events and taking on more than you can handle.

2. Apply to Winter Craft Shows

Check the application deadlines and dates for winter craft fairs in your area towards the end of the summer. This way you can make sure you don’t miss out on those popular shows, and you’ll have plenty of time to prepare your photos and descriptions. Add these deadlines and show dates to your calendar to help you remember.

3. Restock Your Consignment Shops

I always contact the shops I sell my goods at a few months before the holidays to restock. This way there is enough time to make and deliver the products before people start their holiday shopping. Boutique owners will appreciate your proactivity because they also get super busy during this season.

4. Consider the Trends

A few months before the holidays start to research the current trends in your particular product category. See what is popular on social media networks (like Instagram and Pinterest), Etsy, magazines, and other platforms. For example, every autumn Etsy posts a “Holiday Merchandising Guide” full of helpful ideas and trend information. If you make items that represent those themes and styles, increase your marketing of them for the season. This doesn’t mean that you have to make certain products just because they’re popular at the moment- but if they fit within your style keep the trends in mind.

5. Develop New Products

Use the late summer and early fall to create new items and product lines to sell during the winter rush. By planning ahead you’ll have time to work on them before you get too overwhelmed with orders. In addition to developing all new products, I suggest adding different colors, patterns, and sizes to your existing selection.

What other ways do you get your crafty company all set for the busy season?

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Rebecca George

Designer at Purple and Lime, Inc.

A Cincinnati native, Rebecca studied Art History & Geology at the University of Michigan. From there, she earned a degree in Fashion Design and Marketing from the American Intercontinental University in London, England. Highlights of her career include having several pieces from her graduation collection featured in the international fashion magazine i-D (UK, Feb. 2007) and working on men’s leather pouches for the movie Elizabeth: The Golden Age (which won an Oscar for Best Costume). Her brand "Purple and Lime" is a line of super-fun womenswear, jewelry, and accessories based in Chicago. She has been successfully selling her line on Etsy and in shops for four years, and enjoys teaching others about online handmade selling!

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