Craft Trends for 2020

*UPDATE

 

Click here to see the most current trend list

 

Whether your handmade business follows trends or not, it’s always helpful to be informed and take color/scent/style trend shifts into consideration when designing new products.

 

Don’t confuse your existing Etsy customers or craft show shoppers by offering a trending product that doesn’t fit with your brand. Instead, try something simple like using a trending color or print of fabric for existing products.

 

If you’re just starting a handmade business, setting up an Etsy shop and signing up for craft shows, you may be able to get a little more adventurous with trying new trends since you’re in the testing/development stage of your business.

 

You may be interested in:

>> HOW TO FIND A GOLDMINE OF CUSTOMERS

>> HOW TO SELL HANDMADE BEYOND FRIENDS & FAMILY

>> CRAFT BUSINESSES THAT MAKE THE MOST MONEY

 

KEEP IN MIND

I did not include trends that are related to Disney characters, movies, designer names, etc. Using trademarked or copyrighted material in your products is a big no-no.

 

Yes, a lot of people are making crocheted Disney characters or are selling products with team logos on them, but that does not mean they’re legally allowed to.

 

Big companies, brands and celebrities do come down on small businesses (Beyonce’s and Taylor Swift’s camps both targeted Etsy sellers), so be crystal clear on what you can and cannot sell.

 

LAWS FOR SELLING HANDMADE explains infringing on others’ intellectual property and protecting your own (as well as other legal topics).

 

Also be aware of regulations you must follow, especially if you’re selling bath & body products or children’s products.

 

 

HOW I CAME UP WITH THIS LIST

Just in case you’re wondering, I did NOT pull ideas out of my hat or guess about what’s trending.

I’ve been creating these lists for a few years now and each of these articles takes me hours to compile because I use a variety of tools, read dozens of trend articles, check industry leaders, popular keyword searches, and in general, do a lot of cross-referencing to confirm the trends I put on my list are indeed trends.

 

 

First I’m going to cover general trends that can be applied to almost any product. Then I’ll share some of the specific trends I discovered when looking at popular product categories.

 

 

COLOR TRENDS FOR 2020

Color is such an easy way to update a product and keep it on-trend. It’s also one of the biggest factors that can catch a shopper’s attention and encourages buying.

 

Planning and creating product collections around colors can give an instant update to your products, encourage existing customers to buy again, and add a level of professionalism to your business.

 

PANTONE COLOR OF 2020

Pantone’s color of the year is: Classic Blue

 

HOME DÉCOR COLOR TRENDS FOR 2019

Benjamin Moore also comes out with their paint color of the year, which is First Light, and is a beautiful soft pink.

This is a great color to incorporate into your collections if you sell home decor items such as:

• Accent pillows
• Blankets
• Art
• Pottery
• Etc.

 

Pantone’s color of 2020 combined with Benjamin Moore’s paint color of 2020 is a beautiful combination for a product collection.

 

Behr’s is “Back to Nature”. A soft green that would also look great on its own, combined with Classic Blue, or other soft colors.

 

And Delux Paint’s color of 2020 is also a shade of blue.

Of course, paint companies come out with a wide variety of colors but in general, softer, earth tone colors seem to be popular.

 

 

CONSUMER TRENDS FOR 2020

I hate to call these first two “trends” because they’re more about positive changes in the world and a new way of life, rather than a trend that will be here today and gone tomorrow. Pinterest’s trend list (as well as several other resources) offered the following consumer trends. There are a few others not covered here, you can view all their predictions here.

 

CONSCIOUS CONSUMING

This was on my list last year and it’s a “trend” that’s continuing to grow. It’s no surprise with the concerns about the environment, that environmentally-friendly features are becoming more and more important to consumers. They’re paying attention to the ingredients in products they consume, the impact products and packaging have on the environment, the social issues happening around the world and how their purchases can help, etc.

Most consumers associate high-quality craftsmanship with handmade products. They’re spending $50 on a handmade item when they could get it at the mall for half the price because they want to support local, sustainable businesses creating quality products.

 

ALL-INCLUSIVE

We’re no longer expected to fit into a box and identify with constricting labels so gender-neutral is becoming more popular. We’re moving away from pink for girls and blue for boys, as well as other generalities. Think beyond gender too. People are breaking the mold in all types of areas from the way someone in a certain profession is supposed to dress or what a wedding dress/decor/ring/etc. should look like.

 

STRESS-REDUCING

Everyone has busy lives and thanks to smartphones, we don’t get a chance to easily escape work and social pressures when we go home. People are always looking for ways to unplug, de-stress, re-energize… That may translate into:

-> De-stressing bath & body products. I can picture a brand that puts a fun spin on unplugging from technology.

-> Indoor gardening, meditation, creative tools (perhaps selling kits so people can make your products at home or teaching your craft), etc.

 

PAMPERING OUR PETS

This was also on my list last year and it appears to be a trend that’s gaining momentum. Anyone who has a pet thinks of them as a member of the family and many want them to enjoy the same luxuries we do. Many consumers aren’t just looking for basic products; they want organic pet food, engaging toys that improve health and bonding, beds that make their pets feel like they’re at a 5-star hotel 😉

 

90’s

if your brand targets a younger crowd, pay attention to trends that were hot in the 90’s and how you can bring them into 2020. We’ve already been seeing several of these trends in the past couple years when it comes to fashion; scrunchies, baggy high-wasted jeans, choker necklaces, neon colors, etc.

 

SPACE

Could be the rise in private spaceflight companies launching rockets that is causing more of an interest in space-themed products. Last year I noticed several jewelry businesses offering astrology-themed products (e.g. pendants stamped with Zodiac constellation signs). This can also be applied to art, clothing, accessories, or even to the labels for products such as candles.

The space theme can also move into shapes and patterns. For example, items such as necklace pendants or children’s bags in the shape of rockets. Fabric colors may focus on the deep blues and purples and patterns focused on stars and moons.

 

*TIP

Another great way to find trends, is to look at other countries who tend to be leaders in a particular industry.

For example, the Korean beauty industry is extremely innovative and on the leading edge when it comes to skincare products. You may research new products major Korean skincare brands are offering and consider how you might infuse popular ingredients into your products.

 

 

THEME TRENDS FOR 2020 / POPULAR SEARCHES

Themes can be applied to the fabrics, shapes, colors, scents, labels, etc. used for your products.

 

In the past couple of years, there have been some obvious trends when it came themes/icons (e.g. unicorn). There’s hasn’t been a theme that has taken over the unicorn trend, or even come close to it. I did research several other animals and mystical creatures to look for a spike but didn’t come across anything that stood out.

 

THEMES

These are a few themes from last year:

• Unicorns – this has dropped fairly significantly from 2019, however, is still above 5 years ago
• Cactus – falling down a bit from the past couple years but still up from 5 years ago
• Llamas – this seems to be holding steady and there’s still interest in llama-themed products

*I’ll update this list if I come across the next unicorn of trends

 

STYLES / PATTERNS / ACCENTS

• Macrame – this trend is holding steady and seems to be on the rise when it comes to shopping
• Pom Poms – this seems to be popular in search terms relating to a wide variety of products: baby hats, keychains, sandals, garlands, wreaths, wall hangings, etc.
• Plaid – over the past 5 years, “plaid” spikes in the last quarter of the year. It also seems to be gaining popularity over the years. Although plaid pattern isn’t necessarily a trend, it’s something to consider when planning fall/winter collections
• Herringbone – this has had a slow but steady increase in searches over the past five years. It also peaks over the last quarter of the year.
• Houndstooth – same search trend as herringbone but there was a bigger jump in searches when it came to “houndstooth” last year. This could indicate a growing trend.
• Animal print – this search declined from 2016 to 2018 but starting to climb in 2019. Looks like that trend is still rising for 2020

 

 

ACCESSORY TRENDS 2020

SCARVES

As we head into warmer weather, knitted products aren’t as popular however the following terms were popular when it came to scarves:

• Satin head scarf
• Twilly scarf – this is a long narrow silk scarf that can be tied around the neck, wrist, or used as a bag accessory
• Poppy scarf – the bold red poppy print seems to be popular when it comes to scarves

 

HAIR ACCESSORIES

• Pearl hair clip – is one of the more popular searches when it comes to hair pins.

Here’s one example of a pearl hairclip from A BEAUTIFUL MESS

 

• Jeweled headband, pearl headband and flower headband are popular searches. Flower headbands are to be worn like a headband (from ear to ear), as opposed to the flower crowns that were popular in past years and sit on top of the head.
• Scarf headbands and wider 90’s style headbands seem to be popular on major brands’ websites. Scarf headbands are a wider headband that look like a wider scarf is wrapped around the head and may have a knot or bow at the top.

Here’s a DIY by AN INSPIRED MESS of a knotted headband.

 

• Scrunchies – these have been popular for a while and based on the 90’s trend in 2020, I’m sure they’ll continue to be popular this year.

• Bows are also popular on several hair accessory websites. Think bigger bows on headbands or bow scrunchies (90’s style)

Here’s a great example and DIY by SIMPLE MADE PRETTY:

 

And another DIY by POLKADOT CHAIR

 

• Word pins are still showing up (you can see the DIY I featured in my JEWELRY TRENDS article HERE) I’ve also seen this trend combined with the pearl trend; letters are created with pearls instead of rhinestones

 

BAGS

• Crossbody & backpack style purses seemed to be popular styles carried by high-end purse brands. You can keep the 90’s style trend in mind too if you’re appealing to a younger market.
• Mini bags also seem to be popular with major purse brands, which are exactly as they sound; smaller versions of backpacks or purses.
• Fanny pack has been a popular search term the past couple of years. It seems to be declining a bit but there’s a pattern of interest spiking over summer months. Higher-end brands call them “belt bags”
• Duffle bag – there were several popular searches when it came to “duffle bag”. Although most were searching for a specific brand (e.g. Supreme duffle bag or Adidas duffle bag), it may indicate an interest in the style of bag (which also fits with the 90’s theme trend).
• Sunflower purse – this seems to be referring to the print of the material used for the bag so you can get creative with the style of bag.

 

JEWELRY

Looking at major retailers that are considered to be on top of trends, it seems the chunky gold chains and pearls are still on-trend, showing up in necklaces, earrings, rings, and bracelets. This trend is carrying over from last year. You can view: HANDMADE JEWELRY TRENDS for more examples of these trends.

 

EARRINGS

• Earring pack – a great idea for the way you plan your collections and package your earrings. These are a variety of earrings packaged together; they’re different designs but can be mixed and matched for an asymmetrical look (a trend that’s been popular in the past year)
• Cartilage hoop earring – these are smaller hoop earrings worn higher on the ear, in the cartilage.

 

NECKLACES

• Black tourmaline necklace – referring to the stone which is black and considered to be a healing crystal
• Moana necklace – a necklace the cartoon character Moana wore in the Disney movie “Moana”
• Baseball bat cross necklace – uses two small baseball bats to form a cross pendant
• Father-daughter necklace – there are a variety of styles in this necklace so it’s open to your interpretation
• Necklace for ashes – also a wide variety of styles but each has a pendant (different shapes, colors, styles, etc.) that carries ashes. Some are personalized with a quote, name, or the relationship (e.g. “Dad”)
• Gold bar necklace – a simple gold bar that sits horizontally with the necklace chain attached to each side. Some are personalized with an initial, gemstone, etc.

Similar to this DIY by A BEAUTIFUL MESS

 

• Gold choker necklace – this simply refers to where the necklace sits (close around the neck); there seem to be a wide variety of styles from thin and delicate to chunky statement chokers.
• “simple” and “dainty” were two of the top terms related to some of my necklace searches on social media platforms.

 

RINGS

*Rose gold is obviously what consumers are looking for this year

• Rose gold Pandora ring – you can’t copy a brand’s designs but this search term doesn’t seem to be pointing to a specific style (as Pandora has several “rose gold rings”). So this could be indicating an interest in the material “rose gold” when it comes to rings.
• Rose gold crown ring – Pandora does carry a couple of rings that resemble a crown, so this could be what the previous search term refers to. However, you can come up with your own design of a crown; simple and modern, tiara-style with jewels, etc.
• Rose gold nose ring

 

BRACELET

• Blue lokai bracelet – Lokai is a brand and the blue bracelet celebrates World Water Day and donates a portion of sales to a charity that helps bring clean drinking water to people in Ethiopia. You can’t copy the design of their bracelet, but I don’t think the design is what’s driving sales. It’s an interest in supporting a bigger cause, which is why I included the term in this list.
• Bracelet Tom Hope – again, Tom Hope is a brand and you can’t copy their designs. However, their designs have a focus on “nautical”, and this popular search may indicate consumer interest in nautical-themed bracelets (using anchor charms, knots, stamps, blue/white/red combos, etc.).

Here’s a nautical-themed knotted bracelet by DANSLE LE LAKEHOUSE:

 

• Bracelet ancre – this is the french term for “Anchor Bracelet”, which further supports my theory that it’s not just “Tom Hope” bracelets that are trending, but more so the nautical/anchor theme.
• Semicolon bracelet – the semicolon symbol has become the symbol for mental health awareness and suicide awareness in particular. There are several designs of bracelets that incorporate the semicolon symbol so you can come up with your own if it’s a cause you wish to support. This would also be a great opportunity to donate a portion of sales to a charity that supports mental health and is dedicated to suicide prevention.

HOME DECOR TRENDS 2020

STYLES

Of course, home decor style is a personal preference and there will always be people interested in modern, traditional, coastal, etc. styles. However, the following styles are proving to be more popular this year according to search trends and styles that major retailers are focusing on.

• Farmhouse
• Mid-century modern
• Minimalist (think Scandinavian style)
• Oversized (e.g. oversized pompoms and tassels)
• Textured (e.g. cable-knit)

Here’s an example of the “pom pom” theme trend and “oversized” trend by Darling Jadore:

*Darling Jadore is always up to speed on the latest trends and they offer knitting and crochet patterns. Check them out here.

 

Here’s another example of texture used in a pillow by It’s Always Autumn.

 

• Patterns: classic patterns such as herringbone, stripes, and houndstooth.
• Faux fur is on-trend with being environmentally conscious.

 

DECOR

• Hoop Wreath – there is quite a significant spike in this term being searched

Here’s a hoop wreath DIY by Randi Runyon-Hayden of A Fresh-Squeezed Life:

 

• “Sensory table” is a popular search term for children’s home decor. These are play tables full of materials and objects that allow kids to use all five senses when playing.

 

HANDMADE SOAP TRENDS FOR 2019

First and foremost, be sure you’re following laws when it comes to the claims you make about your bath & body products (e.g. you aren’t making claims that classify products as a drug rather than a cosmetic…it’s an easy mistake to make) and you’re following labeling laws. You’ll also have regular business laws to follow as well.

There weren’t many obvious trends when it came to handmade soap, but based on the growing “trend” of consumers being more consious about what goes in and on their bodies, as well as being more environmentally conscious, creating soaps that use natural ingredients and scents that are derived from nature, is a safe bet.

Here’s a Lemon & Lavender soap DIY by A PUMPKIN & A PRINCESS:

 

The “pulled from nature” trend is also obvious when it comes to skincare products featured under the “What’s New” category of major retailers. A few themes I noticed were:

• Vegan
• Jelly cleanser
• “whipped” / “souffle” – words that make creams sound rich and luxurious
• Serums and oils – nothing new in the skincare world but brands are paying close attention to the benefits of each type of oil and creating powerful combinations.

 

SCENTS

• Scents used for bath & body products or home fragrance products (e.g. candles) tend to continue to lean towards nature-derived scents.
• Unisex scents are also popular, which is right in line with the “inclusive” trend.
• Mood-boosting scents are also predicted to be popular this year, which is also in line with the “well-being” / “stress-reducing” trend. (source)

 

CANDLES

• Candles with a purpose seem to be popular. For example, a candle with the label “Let it Go”. I also noticed a trend in a little more risque labels (e.g “Let the S*#! Go”)
• In general, clean modern candle labels and containers seem to be more popular (scroll down to see this carry-over trend from 2019)
• Hurricane candle holders is a more popular search term when it comes to candles. If you search that term on Google, it appears “glass and metal” and “wood” are popular materials.

 

ART TRENDS 2020

• Multi-panel wall art – this could be applied to any type of art from photography to paintings. The idea is to take one large image and split it into typically 3 – 5 rectangular panels that are hung together.
• “Take a bath you dirty hippy” wall art – a strange but popular search. Several businesses are offering a print with that phrase written in different fonts, colors, styles and backgrounds, so you could put your own spin on it.
• Vintage world map – this seems to be referring to a larger piece of art, obviously of a world map with a vintage style. This can be combined with the multi-panel trend.
• Botanical wall art – refers to prints of simple botanicals, often sold in sets.

Here’s an example by WHITE PICKET FARMHOUSE

 

PHOTOGRAPHY TRENDS FOR 2019

“Aura photography near me” is a popular search term. It would be more of a service you could offer (if you’re a photographer, have the right equipment and have an interest in and understand how to read auras).

 

 

MAKE WHATEVER YOU SELL, A BESTSELLER

It’s not just about what you sell; it’s how you sell it. It doesn’t matter if you have the trendiest product in the world, if you simply set it down on a craft show table or list it on Etsy without any merchandising or marketing effort, you’ll be missing out on sales. Make sure you:

• Have all your ducks are in a row and you’re following laws that relate to your product and business (LAWS FOR SELLING HANDMADE).
• Don’t rely on a product alone to make sales. You must build a business, not just a product.
• Put effort into creating a craft show display and sales pitch that communicates your message
• Write powerful product descriptions for your Etsy shop (FREE PRODUCT DESCRIPTION & TEMPLATE)
• Pay close attention and track your sales so you can continuously make better decisions about the products you carry and the tasks you work on. THE SUCCESS PLANNER will make the number side of your business much easier, help you uncover which tasks a handmade business owner should be working on, and keep you organized throughout the year.

 

*Please also have a look at last year’s trends below. Many of them have carried over into this year.

You can also check out: CRAFTS TO DITCH IN 2020

 

 

CRAFT TRENDS FROM 2019

Below is a list of trends from my research completed at the beginning of 2019. Some of them are still relevant in 2020 so have a look over the list.

 

COLOR TRENDS FOR 2019

I love staying on top of color trends because it’s simply a matter of choosing new materials to work with, instead of designing completely new products.

 

Be sure to think about color when designing your craft show display too. It’s the easiest way to make a big impact that catches shopper’s eyes. For examples of how to use color at a craft show to make an impact, check out WANT TO STAND OUT AT A CRAFT SHOW? TRY THESE DISPLAY TRICKS

 

What does coral, blue, green, grey, brown, and white make you think of?

 

Probably not much.

 

But seeing coral, orange and yellow might make you think of summer or a sunset, depending on the shades or props used. A couple of coral pieces mixed in with your other products won’t catch many eyes. But a display filled with coral will tell shoppers you’re right on-trend.

 

Use limited colors when creating product collections, as well as your craft show display. The fewer colors used, the bigger the impact your display will have.

 

Join the FREE email course: 5 DAYS TO A STANDOUT DISPLAY if you need help creating a craft show display that promotes sales.

 

 

PANTONE COLOR OF THE YEAR

Living Coral

 

FASHION COLOR TRENDS FOR SPRING/SUMMER 2019

Color trends change with each season and a lot of colors are predictable. For example, you know you’ll see lots of color in spring, as well as pastels tones.

A couple of colors that were popular on spring 2019 fashion runways were bright orange and yellow, which I think look awesome with the Pantone color of the year.

 

HOME DÉCOR COLOR TRENDS FOR 2019

I cover home décor products further in this article but these are the color trends to start. There are several resources listing a variety of popular paint colors for 2019. Since you’re probably not selling paint, I rounded up a few that appeared on most lists and would be great for accent pieces such as:

• Accent pillows
• Blankets
• Art
• Pottery
• Etc.

 

Each major paint company seemed to offer a variation of a greyish blue, rich wine color and deep emerald green.

In softer pastel colors, blush continues to be popular, and a soft lilac is also trending this year. These would look awesome paired with an oyster or mushroom color.

In general, earthy tones seem to be in. “Cavern Clay” by Sherwin-Williams came up on almost every “home color trend” list; obviously, everyone agrees on this one.

Of course, there are many more paint colors that are trending but these were my top picks.

 

CONSUMER TRENDS FOR 2019

In general, consumers are making more conscious purchasing decisions. They’re paying attention to the ingredients in products they consume, the impact products and packaging have on the environment, the social issues happening around the world and how their purchases can help, etc.

Handmade products tend to align with this conscious consuming movement, however, you still must educate your shoppers and customers.

Although you may already be making items such as soap that uses all-natural ingredients, or quality bags that will last a lifetime and won’t end up in a landfill a few months after purchasing, not every consumer will know that at first glance; get that message out clearly.

 

THEME TRENDS FOR 2019

Themes can be applied to the fabrics, shapes, colors, scents, labels, etc. used for your products. Themes that kept popping up in all my searches were:

• Unicorns
• Cactus
• Llamas

 

CROCHET & KNITTING TRENDS 2019

Using the methods mentioned at the beginning of this article, these are the top trends I noticed in crochet/knitting categories.

• Food-themed stitches – for example, waffle stitch and popcorn stitch.
• Big/large knitted blankets – chunky knits are still going strong. I shared this awesome blanket and DIY by Lily Ardor on 2018’s list and it’s still relevant this year. (I like any blanket that has a kitten on it though;)
• Knitted unicorn hat – unicorns are still popular, but this year, the “knitted unicorn hat” is commonly searched. This one is by Little Red Window:
• Knitted headbands – these types of headbands are worn more like a bandana than a headband. This vintage inspired headband is by Mama in a Stitch
• Knitted crop tops – think Coachella, which is in April and probably why this is an increasingly searched term on Google right now. Although this is a music festival with acts like Beyoncé and Arianna Grande, many attendees treat it like a fashion show for bohemian styles. Snowflake Crochet has a bunch of tips on sizing a crop top and a few tutorials listed on their site. Here’s one of her crop tops:

SEASONAL

These items are currently (beginning of 2019) trending according to Google Trends. Although consumers may be onto buying spring and summer products, keep these items in mind for the end of 2019.

• Knitted ski mask
• Geek knitted Christmas sweater
• Nose warmers (See example below by Traverse Bay Crochet)

 

 

SELLING YOUR KNITTED TRENDS

Aside from creating trendy products, make sure you keep that message strong in your craft show display. If your brand is all about being on-trend, make sure your craft show display screams “on-trend” (check out these 50 prop ideas for a craft show).

 

If you’re simply debuting an on-trend line of products, use a section of your display to showcase the trending products.

 

If you’re not quite sure how to tell a story with your display or how to set one up to impact sales, join the FREE email course: 5 DAYS TO A STANDOUT CRAFT SHOW DISPLAY

 

Getting great sales isn’t a matter of introducing one new trending product to your line up.

• That product must work with your brand and USP
• If it’s a trending product, you best believe it’s going to have growing competition so you must have a reason for why consumers should buy from you
• You need to keep those customers coming back…we don’t want one-time sales

 

For help with these three points and more lessons that will take your sales to the next level in 2019, join the free email challenge: BEAT LAST YEAR’S SALES

 

 

BABY / CHILD TRENDS FOR 2019

Using Google Trends, I searched for common product names (e.g. baby headband, baby bib, etc.) and these were a few specific searches that are trending:

• Or course…Unicorn headband – these get incredibly creative and use all types of materials and come in all types of shapes and sizes. I came across a few baby ones that were more of an elastic headband using felt to create a flower crown with earns and a horn. Here’s one example for older kids by Creative Green Living
• Baby turban headband
• Baby top knot headband
• Baby pom pom headband – I wasn’t able to find any images that I could share here but the top results when searching that phrase on Google brought up cute headbands with two big pom-poms on either side of the head, so they almost look like Mickey Mouse ears.
• Big bow headband for baby – this was a similar turban style headband with a big bow at the front. Here’s an example by Viva Veltoro:
• Baby apron bib – this appears to be a mix between a bib and an apron, making mealtime a little cleaner
• Teething mitten or teething egg – these were both common searches when looking up Google trends for “teething”. These may be patented or their designs copyrighted (remember to follow all laws…check out LAWS FOR SELLING HANDMADE for an easy to follow and understand guide), meaning you may not be able to create your own version of a teething mitten or teething accessory in the shape of an egg, but it may spark an idea. Always be sure you follow regulations for baby products. Teething products can easily become a choking hazard.

When looking at “teething necklace” search trends over the last 5 years, it seems to be trending down. However, when people are searching for teething necklaces, amber ones seem to be more searched.

• Toys & games – again, most search trends were based on a specific brand. But 6 of the top 10 highest selling Etsy shops under the category “toys & game” are selling wooden toys (wooden blocks, stacking toys, wooden rattles, etc.)
• Stuffed toys – nothing was trending for search terms, aside from “pokemon stuffed animals”, which you cannot create because that would be copyright infringement. However, the themes “llama”, “unicorn” and “cactus” would apply to this category (how cute would a stuffed cactus be?). When searching “stuffed toys” on Pinterest, Scandinavian style dolls seems to be popular. You can download the pattern here for the adorable Llama below. It’s by Nata Patterns. Check out all of her patterns here; they’re right on trend with a Scandinavian feel and the types of animals.

 

SELLING YOUR BABY/CHILD PRODUCT TRENDS

The baby product industry is a multi-billion dollar one. The fact that consumers are more aware of child health is only helping to grow this industry.

 

But a growing industry means more competition and more effort required for a business selling baby products to stand out. Creating a branded craft show table can help your business stand out (HOW TO BRAND A CRAFT SHOW TABLE) as well as making sure your product’s or brand’s story is communicated through your craft show display (here’s how).

 

It’s not enough to make a trendy product and hope that it takes your business to new heights this year. There are best practices, like these ones, that must be in place to ensure when you launch that new trendy product, all the attention doesn’t go to waste and you can capitalize on it for years to come.

 

 

HANDMADE SOAP TRENDS FOR 2019

First and foremost, be sure you’re following laws when it comes to the claims you make about your bath & body products (e.g. you aren’t making claims that classify products as a drug rather than a cosmetic…it’s an easy mistake to make) and you’re following labeling laws. You’ll also have regular business laws to follow as well.

 

Theme trends can be applied to soap molds, colors, labels, etc. For example:

• Unicorn bath bombs
• Cactus shaped soap
• Llama shaped soap

 

Unicorn Scrub by Happiness is Homemade:

Cactus shaped soap by Lovely Indeed:

 

SCENTS

According to Trend Aroma, scents derived from nature are influencing home scents (candles, room sprays, etc.)

 

According to The Perfume Shop these scents are going to be big in 2019:

• Floral scents
• Food scents (technical name: “Gourmands”…fancy;) Think:
  • Chocolate
  • Cinnamon
  • Licorice
  • Coffee

 

Exfoliating coffee & milk soap by Happiness is Homemade:

 

INGREDIENTS/PACKAGING

Each year, consumers become more and more educated about unethical (big) business practices, such as harmful ingredients they use to save on costs, the environmental impact their factories have, etc. Being a conscious consumer is a trend that’s going to continue…I mean, can you ever see consumers demanding products with more harmful ingredients in them?

 

As a handmade soap maker, you’re probably ahead of the curve with this one and are likely using natural ingredients. But it’s important to educate your customers; most aren’t as aware as you are of what’s in big brand products, why they’re harmful, and how handmade products are different.

 

When it comes to ingredients, think about:

• Infusing – there always seems to be a new ingredient that’s been discovered as being beneficial for the skin, or one a culture has been using forever and is being introduced into new skincare products. For example, products infused with:
  • Charcoal
  • Turmeric
  • Seaweed
  • Celery juice is a big trend right now…perhaps there’s a benefit when applied topically?

 

Looking at Sephora’s website and what’s new in skincare products, a few include:

• Avocado masks
• Aloe, mint, green tea, cucumber, lavender, chamomile, etc. are popular ingredients in skincare products such as facial sprays, serums, washes, etc.
• Watermelon is another ingredient I’ve seen popping up in skincare and is a great one for spring/summer

 

*Always follow cosmetic regulations

 

Watermelon soap by A Pumpkin and a Princess

More scent sensitivities are also coming to light. Sort of like how more and more people are discovering they have a sensitivity to gluten or eggs or dairy, many people are realizing the source of their headaches or rashes are coming from synthetic fragrances. This may spark an un-scented or scent-sensitive line of bath & body products for your business.

 

LABELS

The Perfume Shop also points out that glittery bottles are trending. This may factor into your packaging or labels. But of course, keep it on-brand. If your brand is focused on being natural and environmentally friendly, “glitter” isn’t really on-brand.

 

Keep in mind; although you may understand why you use organic/natural/environmentally friendly ingredients/materials, the average consumer may not. Make sure your labels, product descriptions, signage, sales pitches, etc. communicate why you use the ingredients, materials, and techniques you do, in a way that’s interesting/beneficial to the consumer. You may like: PRODUCT DESCRIPTIONS TEMPLATES, SAMPLES & EXAMPLES

 

SELLING YOUR TRENDY SOAP PRODUCTS

To hit your sales goals this year, it will require more than simply introducing a soap in the shape of a cactus or a lotion infused with a trendy ingredient.

 

If you’re competing with several soap vendors at craft shows or online, you may be spinning your wheels, wondering how you can stand out.

 

Here’s how…

 

Your entire business, not just one product, must appeal to a common passion or a problem. ALL products must be appealing to one type of customer so it encourages add-ons, up-sells, and repeat customers (check out: HOW TO USE ADD-ONS TO SELL MORE HANDMADE, as well as HOW TO USE UP-SELLING TO SELL MORE HANDMADE). And you need to be using THE marketing method and channel that helps you make those extra sales. Make sure you’re following all the steps outlined in BEAT LAST YEAR’S SALES.

 

Your craft show display also must stand out (here are the standout display tricks big retailers use) and tell shoppers why they should buy from you, instead of the other soap vendors at craft shows.

 

 

HANDMADE CANDLE TRENDS 2019

 

Some of those most note-worthy candle related search terms that came up in Google trends have one thing in common:

They’re offering out-of-the-box products when it comes to candles.

 

Although you can’t copy these ideas or create a candle called “magic candle company” or “KFC gravy candle”, without infringing on copyrights or trademarks, you can be inspired by how these candles became trending search terms.

 

TRENDING SEARCH TERMS

Magic candle company

Instead of your typical candle scents, they’re offering ones that mimic popular vacation destinations. How amazing is that?! The other thing they’ve cleverly done is allude to specific places, without infringing on copyrights. If they called their candle Pirates of the Caribbean Ride, that would be infringement. Instead, they’ve called it “Pirate Life” and used the description to paint a specific, but not too specific, picture of the memory the scent may be tied to.

 

KFC Gravy Candle

Yes, this is a term commonly searched and the name of an actual candle created by KFC. I think this candle opens up ideas for fun candle scents.

There are thousands of candle businesses selling vanilla or lavender-scented candles, but how many are selling savory food scented candles? Offering a line of “cooking” scents would be a great way to target a niche audience.

Imagine “roasted chicken” or “roast beef and gravy” scented candles for that friend who can’t cook but wants to order takeout and make their kitchen smell like they’ve been slaving all day? Or to realtors who want to help people imagine cooking in the kitchen of the house they’re trying to sell.

Fast food scents such as “French fries”, “fried chicken” or even “donuts” would make a great line of candles to market as the perfect gift for the person who has everything…they don’t have a fried chicken-scented candle.

 

Augusta Candle Company

This business is selling fairly traditional candles; nothing too far out of the box when it comes to containers, scents, or ingredients. However, the way their candles are created is unique. Customers can choose their containers, create their own scents and pour their own candles.

Perhaps you could offer custom scents. This would be a great idea for the wedding industry; a unique scent for the big day and to be reminded of every time they burn one of your candles at home; you’d have a customer for life since they can’t get their signature wedding scent anywhere else.

 

Foreverwick Candle

These candles have a diamond in them, which is revealed as you burn the candle. Instead of being left with an empty jar, you have a keepsake.

 

 

When it comes to candle trends that appeared in Pinterest searches, there seemed to be more of:

• Wood wick candles
• Clean, modern containers and labels

 

Swoon Worthy has the perfect DIY that incorporates both of these trends. Clean, modern labels and a wood wick.

 

• Candle centerpieces & candle centerpiece wedding – these are both popular search terms on Pinterest. The results that are most common are candles incorporating natural elements. For example, a grouping of candles sitting on log platforms, surrounded by flowers or greenery (eucalyptus is really popular right now).

 

 

CREATING A POPULAR CANDLE BUSINESS

Here’s a trick that one of the bigger companies selling mass-produced candles uses; they tap into your emotions and connect a feeling to their products.

 

Keep that in mind and follow the important steps outlined here when brainstorming which candles to produce next and how to grow your company.

 

Scents tied to memories may be a great start for your USP (unique selling position).

Magic Candle Company is already creating scents connected to popular vacation destinations, but perhaps memories of the holidays (food and drink scents), childhood (5-cent candies, picnics in the park), summer (fresh cut grass, sunscreen, BBQ-ing), popular stores to shop at (you couldn’t use the name of the store; you’d have to do something similar to Magic Candle Company and describe the setting you’re mimicking without infringing on copyrights or trademarks), etc.

 

For more ideas on where to start with creating a unique candle business, check out BEAT LAST YEAR’S SALES.

 

 

JEWELRY TRENDS FOR 2019

Search terms that are currently trending in relation to jewelry are:

• Pinky promise necklace
• You are my sunshine necklace
• Padlock necklace
• Unicorn necklace
• 4 oceans bracelet – I am not sharing this one because of the design (it’s their design and should not be copied), but because of their cause. The bracelet is trending because each one sold cleans up a pound of trash from the ocean and coastlines. This echo’s my earlier mention of consumers becoming more aware. Everyone is starting to wake up to the damage we’ve caused to this earth and becoming more conscious about purchases.

 

 

ETSY SALES

There are a few jewelry shops that are on Etsy’s top 10 sellers list. Those shops are all selling dainty, personalized jewelry and only offering it in silver, gold and rose gold.

Part of their success comes from having a signature style (learn how to find yours here). They don’t work with a wide variety of materials or offer a wide range of styles. If you like one of their products, you’re sure to like all of them.

 

 

BASED ON UPCOMING TRENDS

Fashion runways are saying that the dainty jewelry that’s been selling like hotcakes in the past is on its way out and chunky bold jewelry is up and coming.

 

That doesn’t mean dainty, minimalist jewelry will stop selling. It usually takes years for a trend to run its course. The early adaptors may start wearing chunky jewelry but the majority of consumers are just accepting and hopping on the dainty jewelry trend.

 

In general, jewelry worn on the runways was bolder; more layering, chunkier pieces, longer earrings, etc.

• Extreme hoops – bigger, chunkier, bolder
• Chunky chains
• Seashell jewelry
• Asymmetrical earrings – mismatched earrings is a cool trend from the runways; one was a pendant earring while the other was a hoop. Or one was a hoop while the other was a stud. Some models on the runway were even sporting just one statement earring and the other ear lobe going bare.
• Coins – like this coined jewelry by Sadie Seasongoods:

 

Remember to also check out:

• HANDMADE JEWELRY TRENDS FOR CHRISTMAS 2019

CREATING A COHESIVE JEWELRY PRODUCT LINE

Jewelry is a popular category for handmade products and has many business owners wondering if it’s too saturated to make any real money.

 

Absolutely not.

 

You simply need to have some basics in place to stand out, capture a piece of the marketplace and keep those sales consistently coming in.

 

A trendy product may help you get that start and stand out, but you must keep the momentum going using the simple, but often overlooked, steps every handmade business must take.

 

If you’re selling your handmade jewelry at a craft show, make sure your display tells the story of what makes your jewelry different. Shoppers have lots of options when it comes to handmade jewelry so you need them to immediately understand that your jewelry is different and they should buy from you. Here’s how to say just that with your craft show display. 

 

 

BAG & PURSE TRENDS FOR 2019

• Runways – the styles seen on fashion runways were all over the place from oversized bags to micro bags (about the size of a coin purse) and a wide variety of styles; it all depended on the designer. There wasn’t one style that was seen across the board. In general, you could apply some of the popular fashion runway colors to bags, or even the Pantone color of the year: living coral.
• Etsy – many of the top-selling Etsy shops under the “bags & purses” categories are selling more industrial looking, unisex bags (messenger bags, backpacks, etc.). I’ve also noticed that waxed canvas, canvas and leather (in natural colors) are popular.
• Google trends – searches related to “bags” or “purses” were focused around specific brands, eg.g “Gucci belt bag” and “Dior saddle bag”. You can’t copy their designs (that’s copyright infringement) but perhaps a belt bag (which was done in a variety of styles by different designers) will inspire you.
• Social media – most of the results that come up when searching purses, bags, handbags on social media are designer bags. And the people who want designer bags like Gucci, Fendi, etc. are not your ideal customer (these are the mistakes you may be making with your ideal customer). One overall trend was boxy, leather bags in soft colors like blush, cream, beige, mushroom, oyster, etc.
• Environmental trends – reusable produce bags, lunch bags, sandwich bags, etc. are right on-trend with consumers being more environmentally friendly. Waxed canvas lunch bags seem to becoming more popular. They look like a brown paper bag but are reusable…and they look a little more professional than a brown paper bag or plastic bag.
• Macrame – the macrame trend in home decor seems to be migrating to handbags. They showed up on a few runways at fashion shows and on social media.

 

The key to any successful handbag line is finding your signature style (help with that here) that appeals to a passion or problem (e.g. a passion might be a love for a certain style such as boho, while a problem may be a sore shoulder from carrying around a heavy book bag or needing to carry around a diaper bag but not wanting to look like you’re carrying a diaper bag).

 

You must also know why people should buy your bags when there are so many options for them out there.

 

Repeat customers are essential to the success of any business but that can be a little more difficult when selling handbags because, how many bags does one need to buy in a year? You must offer products that make sense for your customers to buy together or within several weeks or months of purchasing a bag.

 

 

HOME & LIVING PRODUCTS TRENDS FOR 2019

If you sell pillows, bedding, art, etc. you can easily work in this year’s trending themes (unicorn, cactus or llama). A few trending search terms that are not necessarily “home decor” but fit under sewing are:

• Breastfeeding pillow – here’s a nursing pillow by DIY Danielle:
• Seatbelt pillow
• Weighted blankets
• Buffalo plaid – this is likely seasonal but good to keep in mind for a print to offer in pillows, blankets, etc. in fall (example of Buffalo plaid below)

 

TABLE DÉCOR TRENDS FOR 2019

• Farmhouse table décor
• Unicorn table décor – I imagine this would be related to party decorating
• Seasonal table décor ideas – keep this in mind for upcoming holidays. You can offer Easter/Halloween/Thanksgiving/Christmas table décor and provide inspiration. Many people search “console table décor ideas”, “entryway table décor ideas” etc. Use that information to your advantage by taking photos of your products, incorporated with other household items to create a beautiful table or mantle display. You could even write a blog post or newsletter sharing tips and linking to products you sell that help create a vignette. For example, instead of simply posting a photo of the candleholders you sell, show them set up on a foyer table, sitting on top of a stack of books and other items that might look great displayed with them; perhaps a lamp and framed picture (see the photo below of Geode wall art by Fox + Hazel for an example of how to stage your home décor products to create a vignette).

 

WALL ART TRENDS FOR 2019

• Geode wall art – here’s an example (and free printable one) from Fox + Hazel
• Moss wall art – I LOVE this one. It’s like a take on the living wall. Here’s a small, quick and easy DIY creating art with moss by Garden Therapy
• Boho wall art – this may mean different things to different people but in general, I think the macramé trend is continuing.
• Inhale exhale wall art – my suggestion would be to come up with your version of this, using your signature style. They all seem to all use a very similar font and style but why not put your spin on it? You could choose a different font or styling, or use different words that remind people to relax. I quickly created an example of one to give you an idea of what the trending “inhale exhale” art looks like:
• Paintings – a lot of searches are related to a specific type of painter, which you don’t want to follow; you want to use your own style. These were some trending searches for popular sub-categories of paintings:
  • Watercolor – “rainbow watercolor” is a popular search term, according to Google Trends; which makes sense as it aligns with the unicorn trend we’re seeing this year. “Sunset watercolor” and “florals” also come up a lot in relation to “watercolor”. Watercolor pens are also commonly searched but that would be more for the artist and not necessarily the art consumer. However, if many artists begin using watercolor pens, it may be something consumers start to look for.
  • Surrealist painting – there are many different interpretations this type of painting can take on. Generally, it takes a realistic painting and adds unrealistic elements. Please search the term on Google to see examples.

 

PHOTOGRAPHY TRENDS FOR 2019

Lots of people are currently searching the following keywords when it comes to photography. For copyright reasons, I can’t share other’s photos here but if you search the keyword and go to the “images” tab, you’ll see lots of examples.

• Surrealism photography – this is when a photograph is edited to create a “surreal” photo.
• Milk bath photography – this seems to be a trend with portrait, maternity, baby, etc. photography sessions. Subjects lay in a bath of milk with objects such as flower petals floating around them.
• Blue hour photography – “blue hour” is a twilight period in the morning or evening; taking photos during this time creates photos with a blue shade.

 

 

WOODWORKING TRENDS FOR 2019

Here are a few searches that are popular on Google right now:

• Jigsaw puzzle coffee table – there are two types of results that show up when you search for “puzzle coffee table” (which is commonly searched). One is a coffee table with the top being big wooden puzzle pieces that fit together to make a tabletop, and the second is a coffee table with a hidden pull-out drawer for putting together a puzzle. I believe the second option is what Google Trends is referring to, as “coffee table with hidden storage” is also trending. Here’s a DIY by Home Made by Carmona:
• Surfboard coffee table – this appears to be the shape and design of a surfboard used for the top of the table, but not an actual surfboard converted to a tabletop
• 3 piece coffee table set
• Log coffee table
• Woodworking kits for kids – this may be an idea for selling the parts to make a toy or item and including instructions for how to put the item together
• Jerky cutting board – this is a cutting board that makes it easier to cut strips of meat for jerky. Here’s a list of a few on the market.
• Wood signs – the top 10 sales spots for Etsy stores selling under woodworking were dominated by wood signs.
• Wood toys – as mentioned in the baby/children’s section, the majority of Etsy shops that landed in the top 10 spots under the “toys & games” category were selling wooden toys. Please scroll up to that section for examples.

 

CREATING A COHESIVE PRODUCT LINE

Getting great sales isn’t a matter of introducing one new trending product to your line up.

• That product must work with your brand and USP
• If it’s a trending product, you best believe it’s going to have growing competition so you must have a reason for why consumers should buy from you
• You need to keep those customers coming back…we don’t want one-time sales

 

For help with these three points and more lessons that will take your sales to the next level in 2019, join the free email challenge: BEAT LAST YEAR’S SALES

 

 

PET TRENDS FOR 2019

There wasn’t a lot of information in regards to pet trends that could be applied to handmade products. But in general, the health trend that pertains to humans is carrying over into pets.

 

Pet owners are becoming more aware of the ingredients in food and their pet’s general wellbeing. We’ve recently switched our cat over to raw food but he’s been on wet canned food for most of his life. Most dry kibble pet foods are not great for our pets’ health because they can be high-carb and plant protein.

 

Although you may not be in the pet food industry, I believe a happy pet is a healthy pet and anything that encourages play, activity, and one-on-one time with their owner, is moving in the right direction.

 

My own observation is also that, pets are becoming less and less thought of as “pets” and more as a member of the family. It’s not as rare to find pet owners who love to spoil their pets rotten…myself included 😉

 

 

UPDATE:

Don’t forget to check out CHRISTMAS CRAFT TRENDS FOR 2019!

 

Which trends are you going to try this year?