I don’t know about you but I don’t do many shows in the spring or summer months. I discovered a long time ago that my sales just weren’t worth all of the time and effort until Fall shows. But what do you do with left over inventory and how do you keep some income coming in once fall craft shows are over? Or in between craft shows for that matter?
Here are 7 Ways to Sell Your Crafts After Craft Show Season:
- Third Party Sites – Ebay, Etsy, Artfire and several other sites are considered third party sites. You list your items, usually for a listing fee and a fee for each sale, all with the hope of reaching a global audience. The down side to many third party sites is that it seems that everyone is looking for a bargain so it might be harder to sell high ticket items. BUT if you have lots of smaller items left over after craft shows then third party sites just might be the ticket. Besides higher traffic, some third party sites offer seller benefits that you can’t get when you are selling on your own like webinars, tutorials and blogs devoted to helping you get better sales.
- Your Self Hosted Web Store – If you have a large enough following and are willing to do the social marketing needed to keep items in an online store moving you might opt to sell items from your own website. The downside is a smaller market compared to the third party sites. The upside? You are in control of pricing and fees consist of web hosting fees that you are already paying.
- Art Walks and Open Studio Events – Do you have an active arts community in your area? Chances are that if you do you can find Art Walk nights or open studio events where you can sell your art.
- Commission Work – Now is the time to create art or products by request. Did someone from the last craft show ask for a scarf in blue or earrings with only sterling silver wires? Now is your chance to follow up and fill those requests.
- Trunk Shows– Do you have a friend who seems to know EVERYONE? Maybe she/he will hold a trunk show for you. For the price of a glass of wine and a nice dessert you might be able to set up a mini gallery or display in your friends’ home and invite her/his friends over to mingle and buy. This is also a great way to get more commission work.
- Retail Shops – Visit local shops and boutiques to see if they will carry your items. Don’t forget beauty salons and day spas.
- Wholesale – Now may be the time to investigate wholesaling your items by attending a trade show. This option involves a lot of research and a willingness to mass produce your items but you never know, it may just be the right fit for you.
Even if you feel that you are not the most outgoing person, you need to explore other ways to sell your art or crafts. Being able to approach a shop or gallery isn’t easy but it’s a necessary part of keeping the income… in coming.
What do you think? What other ways of selling your art or crafts have I missed? I know you have some great ideas!
By: Vicki O’Dell , The Creative Goddess
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Commission work and retail stores can be more lucrative than people think, especially during the holiday season when people are looking for unique gift items. I always feel anxious when the craft show season ends, but these two resources usually keep me busy until the return of spring and all the action.
I have not had much luck with putting my items in stores. First of all, if they do consignment, you usually won’t make enough for it to be beneficial, mainly because with the economy the way it is, they say they might not be able to even sell them. Second, if they “Buy” them, they want to be able to ” double” their money, and usually they can’t sell the items for double the price I need to get from them. I have had someone to carry my items , just doing me a favor, but did not have much luck ever selling any of them. I sold 2 out of the 8 items I had in the store at one time or another.
I’ve found the same with sale or return. The shops don’t promote the goods because they make less profit on them and because they haven’t any money tied up in them either. If the shops are willing to buy, they want to make money on the deal, of course. Most shops in UK want to buy something for £2 and sell it at £5. Well, I can’t make an item to sell for £2 that gives me a pr0fit and that looks like £5-worth. I sell mostly at craft fairs (direct feedback, too) and to commission. I used to sell to the big shops but found them very slow to pay, so be careful of ‘status’ customers.
Yes, I hear you on not having any luck with retail stores. I tried a few local shops in my area and they said they would not be able to earn enough of the item after what I make from the quilts. I talked to one person and they said to go through consignment shops but you only earn 40% from the stores 60% if you are lucky. So you will have to raise your prices because of that reason. I think the best way is craft shows, art shows, business cards and online etc. Even online there are so many quilts on the market and some people are not willing to pay the price even though we are reasonable versus amish prices and others.
I have been straddling the fence on weather or not to sell in boutiques. Thanks for the input.
I hear your frustration….been there done that. Not a very profitale area. What I learned a long time ago when I had my small craft business from my home, was that the less you included stores, boutiques or consignment shops the better. no one can profit but the customer, sometimes. I created a special nitche by contacting a few large companies and asked if they would allow me to show my crafts to the employees at lunch, before or after work and most were receptive and allowed me an area in the lunch area or just outside the building , with exceptable times to do it. I choose my pitch to them on the bases of holiday shopping convience and specility gifts for birthdays and other occasions and all was handmade as well as original. This worked so well and I grow my business to support myself, because I also included a listing of all crafts I created and my business cards with every purchase and on the table. I was receiving calls for orders as well. I also called some of the Insurance and Securities companies (like in stocks and bonds), they liked the idea as well and I would rotate my time to cover all holidays and sometimes in between or upon adding a new craft. You would be surprised how many people forget special occasions. Word of mouth ( best marketing base I know) spread to familiy members and friends….and so on. It became so busy I needed to convert a van so I didn’t waste time setting up and taking down all the time and my live wreaths lasted longer outside. Even if your town is small you can start out with smaller companies or find a park to show some items and hand out business cards, ( but get permission if needed) word will spread if your crafts are good, my gift is my creative mind with so many ideas to feed my business with new thiug continually…Just remember “believe it and you can achive it!” Now go and grow.
I almost done the same thing. I work for a school distict. I put my products in the teachers lounge in both upper and lower schools. Now I am doing craft shows dictor for the PTO of the same school distict. I just started this last year (2013) Now, I am ask all kind of question and getting orders. And getting ask to do more craft shows around the area. I even went to the farmer market and put up a booth. As in the movie that states. If you build it they will come…. I state: If you find a spot to sell.. they will buy…so go out there and sale…. you can do it….Carol
Thank you for all the helpful comments. I have experienced most of the problems encountered by other crafters. I find the craft markets exploit the crafters. They overcharge, don’t bother advertising as promised. I do commission work and select markets during the year. I also give lessons which is a great help.
I was doing really well on etsy until they decided to deactivate all the black folk art dolls…now items must be 20+ years old to list. I guess someone was offended by them…Etsy would not comment.