Marketing is essential to small business success but many business owners make these common mistakes. It’s easy to push marketing to the side, figuring the important aspects are to make product and sell it. But the number one question I see on message boards is; why aren’t my sales higher? That’s where marketing comes…
When it comes to selling handmade online, It doesn’t matter which marketplace you sign up for, which platform you use to build your website or which social media site you post to, you cannot rely on traffic just rolling in. I really do wish it worked that way though, for your sake and mine….
I’m sure you’re already aware of what to sell at craft shows under the main categories. Typically they are: Accessories Bath & Body Clothing Food Home Decor But you can’t just apply to a craft show with your “accessories” or “bath & body products”. For your application to stand out to organizers and…
The hard part is; you’ll never know 100% what people will and won’t buy until you put it out there. But….you can increase your chances of creating a handmade product that sells and save costs along the way by doing research and working off facts, not guesses. Let’s assume you’re in the dream stage of…
When I was a visual merchandiser for a large retailer, so slow months after the holiday rush made it hard to get excited about work, but at least I had a boss telling me what to work on and giving me a sense of security. Once I started my handmade business, these times had me…
If you’re struggling to make sales in your
small handmade business, one of my first suggestions is to take a look at your
products. When you have a great product, people brag about it for you, write
good reviews, become repeat customers and if they own a shop, they carry it in
their store. Having a great product also helps take pressure off when it comes
to marketing and selling.
Craft Show Display Tricks to Stand Out is one of my more popular craft show display-related articles with over 20,000 people reading it each month (and growing). Through that article, I’ve received many emails and comments from craft show vendors asking for ideas on how they can create an impactful display for their products. “How…
Marketing is my least favorite task as a handmade business owner. But it has to be done. As much as I wish I could create all day, the things I create won’t sell if I don’t dedicate just as much time to marketing and selling them. But if you’re like me, and self-promotion doesn’t come…
I often looked at other craft show vendors as my competitors. They could potentially take sales away from me. But there’s another perspective you can have that may help you increase your sales at a craft show. Think about how you can work with your fellow vendors to promote each other’s products. Cross-promote with another craft…
This article outlines the requests I’ve received from craft show shoppers over the years. They’re ones I wish I hadn’t accommodated (or at least not with some serious thought first). Shoppers don’t head to a craft fair with the intention of insulting the vendor. They’re usually just asking a question they see no harm in…