For those of you hoping to get your products to the marketplace, Janice West presents the basics of getting started, and offers guidance along the way.
Step #1 - Be Prepared
Start with a business card. Crafters need to realize that if they do not have a business card, craft professionals may feel that they are not in business. Go to a local printer or office supply store where business cards are sold for as low as $9.95 per thousand. These days, there are also software programs that allow artisans the power to create business cards in less than ten minutes.
Step #2 - Starting Out
It's important to think about who will buy your work, and which ways of selling appeal to you.
Church Bazaars -- Buyers who shop church and charity bazaars appreciate hand-crafted work. Shoppers at these events are anxious to purchase one-of-a-kind items at reasonable prices.
Craft Malls -- This year, $50 million worth of American crafts will be sold through craft malls. Crafters can usually rent space for $25 and up. There are over 1000 craft mall operations throughout the country, and managers of malls will often arrange and keep up displays for out-of-town participants who want to sell their work in other parts of the country.
Craft Shows -- This can be an exciting and profitable way to sell crafts. Making money, developing contacts, and gaining exposure for your work are just a few of the benefits associated with craft shows. An added benefit of craft shows is that they may open up new markets that you may not have previously considered.
Step #3 - Always Look for Marketing Opportunities
Although some crafters are happy to be selling their work through one profitable market, others want to explore additional avenues. Many artisans are surprised to learn that there are all types of buyers actively looking for arts and crafts. Here are some often overlooked but lucrative ways to market your works:
Home Parties/ Private Showings -- These are well-suited to crafters who want to sell their work on weekends or weeknights. Offering a "Feel Free to Come Anytime All Afternoon and Bring a Friend" approach is irresistible. Think about sending attention-getting invitations on fluorescent orange paper, providing information sheets that entice attendees to host parties in the future and packaging products in seasonally decorated gift boxes or bags.
Holiday House Boutiques -- Holiday house boutiques involving special craft shows ordinarily offered twice a year (Christmas and Spring), offer opportunities for those who want to work part-time. Thousands of people are drawn to these types of boutiques, which are held in all types of locations from school gymnasiums to historical houses.
Catalogs -- Last year American shoppers spent more than $1.5 billion on mail-order merchandise from catalogs. We buy more products by mail than consumers in any other country in the world. As one might expect, crafts are big sellers in this arena. Approach a catalog buyer whose products are in a similar category or type as yours. Be prepared to pay for your supplies and labor up-front, and show that you will be able to meet the demand for catalog sales.
Resources Marketing Your Arts and Crafts: Creative Ways to Profit from Your Work
by Janice West (ISBN: 1565301277)
Click
here to order this title.
The Summit Publishing Group
Arlington , TX
US
Phone: 817-588-3013
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