Making a profit from crafting handmade items is a great way for small businesses and entrepreneurs to develop a supplement to their income. Crafting is an exciting and innovative way to make a living, but it can be easy to get caught up in the enthusiasm of the process and forget to consider what type of items you should craft that will most effectively give a return on your investment.
To gain an understanding of the most profitable types of handmade items, this article will outline thirteen key factors that might influence the potential of handmade items to sell successfully.
1. Views and Shares on Social Media
The power of social media in marketing should not be underestimated; it is a highly effective tool to use in promotion, and it is often the best way to build an understanding of and an audience for a handmade business. Sharing pictures and videos that have been taken of the item being made can be useful for engaging customers, as well as offering an insight into the production process and the materials being used. Customers who can see the process and which materials are being used will naturally have more trust in the quality of the product.
2. Quality of the Materials Used
The materials used to create handmade items are vital for the product’s overall quality; customers have come to expect certain levels of quality and often have an understanding of materials and craftsmanship that they expect to be applied to the item they are purchasing. Quality materials will ensure that the items crafted can withstand wear, tear and general use, which in turn makes them more sellable and more likely to receive repeat custom.
3. Uniqueness of Idea and Design
The customer market has become increasingly saturated with the influx of big businesses offering an array of mass-produced products. As such, customers are likely to be looking for handmade items with a unique design, which will stand out and make them feel as though they have an exclusive item.
This requires the crafter to take some time to consider the colour of fabric, the texture of the leather, the embroidery and any other elements that will make the item unique and help it to stand out from mass-produced items.
4. Clear and Detailed Description
Providing customers with a clear, descriptive and accurate portrayal of the item is essential to encourage a customer to make a purchase. The description should detail the materials used, the measurements and features, as well as any special touches that have been added.
Customers should also be made aware of any special care instructions for the item and how to best keep it looking its best. Making sure this information is easy to find is essential.
5. Competitive Pricing
Pricing handmade items can be difficult, as there are many factors to consider: the cost of materials, the time it took to make the item, the cost of labour and the added value that the unique nature of the item brings. Achieving the perfect price point can be a challenge, but it is important to set prices that are competitive, but that also reflect the quality and effort that has gone into crafting the item.
6. Branding and Packaging
Branding is an extremely powerful tool in terms of marketing handmade items, as it not only gives a message to customers, but it also helps to establish a sense of loyalty and trust. Branding can be expressed through the use of logos, colour schemes, taglines and slogans, as well as through packaging or display pieces, such as boxes, display trays and labels. Having these elements in place will help customers to make a connection with the product, and may help them understand why the item is worth buying.
7. Handmade Quality Assurance
Quality assurance is an integral part of producing handmade items. Customers don’t just want products that look good, they want products that are of a certain standard and that have been created to last.
Quality assurance in craftsmanship needs to cover every aspect of the item, from the materials used to the design, construction, finishing and packaging. Having this level of assurance in place can build trust and confidence in customers, increasing their likelihood to purchase.
8. Relevant and Ageless Trends
Following trends in craftsmanship can be a great way to ensure that customers are constantly looking to buy handmade items, as they will be curious to see what new and exciting products are available. Knowing which trends are relevant and ageless can be a great tool for crafters, as it ensures that the handmade items they create will be popular, but also be timeless and remain in fashion for seasons to come.
9. Contact Details and FAQs
Providing customers with contact details and a list of frequently asked questions (FAQs) is key, as it ensures that the customer will have access to information they need when making a purchase. Customers may have questions about the material, colour, size and design of the product, and being able to have those answered quickly and effectively can play a huge role in customers making a purchase.
10. Promotion and Advertising
Promotion and advertising are extremely important for handmade items, as it not only allows for a wider audience to be reached, but it also helps to establish a strong presence for the craft business. Advertising options for handmade items can range from items placed in shop windows, to leaflets and even email campaigns. These methods should be used to communicate any offers or discounts that the crafter is offering, as this is an effective way to get sales.
11. Consistency of Product and Design
If customers are making repeat orders for an item, it is essential that there is consistency between the products that they receive. If customers don’t know what to expect when they make a purchase, their likely to be discouraged to make a purchase and would therefore reduce the potential of sales. On the other hand, if two or more items are ordered and they come in the same tone and design, customers are more likely to be satisfied, and are therefore more likely to come back and make repeat purchases.
12. Networking and Storytelling
Networking and storytelling is an effective tool for marketing products. Collecting stories from customers about their experience using the items and sharing them on a blog or website can be a helpful way to promote the brand, as it provides an element of trust and allows customers to understand more about the crafter. Additionally, networking with other crafters can help to increase the promotion of the handmade items due to the mixture of contacts and resources available.
13. Responsive Customer Service
No matter how well-prepared a handmade item is, pre-sale and post-sale issues can still arise. Customers will be more likely to recommend or make repeat purchases if they felt they were being heard in a timely fashion and if they were satisfied with the response they were given.
Clearly informing customers how they can contact you or where to go if they need help or have a query can play a huge role in ensuring customer’s expectations are managed.
Conclusion
Creating profitable handmade items requires understanding what customers want, as well as developing their skills in marketing and sales. Handmade items may take more time and effort to create, but the success rate for selling them can be greatly improved if thought is put into each step of the process, from the creation to the marketing.
Taking the time to consider each of the thirteen key factors outlined in this article can make all the difference in determining the success of handmade items.