It’s happened to many a self-employed entrepreneur – even to big corporations. You come up with a fantastic new product idea. You mass-produce it, certain that demand will be high and that it will simply fly off the shelves. But when it comes time to sell it, no one is buying. Businesses have been lost over mistakes like this. How could they have got it so wrong?

It is a situation that can happen to anyone, and as a crafter who has decided to sell your products, you face the same challenges as any other business. The success of your hand made craft business really depends on knowing your audience and reaching them with your products.

Here are five things to keep in mind when deciding what crafts you are going to produce.

1. Research Current Trends

The craft industry, like other industries, has its current fads and trends. When thinking about the long term, you don’t want to develop a product that fits into a specific trend or faze, because odds are that product will not be popular for the long haul. That being said, you do still want to know what people are buying. You want to keep on top of new techniques and products being used in your crafting field. You want to have the flexibility to create some products that fit with what people are buying, without just giving in to a current craze.

2. Research Your Target Audience

Right from the start, you might have a clear idea of who will buy your product. If you don’t, you need to try and figure out who your craft will appeal to. What gender and age are your main buyers? What kinds of crafts do they buy now? What price range do those purchases fall in to? Once you know your audience, you need to decide where they buy their crafts. You need to know what areas they live in and what shows or stores they buy crafts at. It is no good having a clear picture of your ideal buyer and then selling your crafts places that he or she does not go to. You need to figure out the best way (and the best place) to reach your target buyers.

3. Find Your Niche

Having a really unique product will set you apart from other crafters in your area. Often people who buy crafts are looking for something new and different for their homes or for gifts for family and friends. They buy crafts because they want to find something really unique and know that it is one of a kind. This is what your customers want so be sure to give it to them. Don’t copy crafts and techniques that ten other crafters in your area are using. You need to work on developing a reputation for unique and one of a kind products.

4. Seasonal Suitability

Work in the craft industry is often seasonal. November and December are often really busy months, when customers are trying to find gifts for the holidays. Be prepared for this and try to manage your time so you have enough products to meet demand. It is also good to have a seasonal product that will appeal to your customers. For example, many people are looking for interesting little knick knacks that can send in place of the standard holiday greeting card. Designing little ornaments that capture the spirit of the season will really pay off. Similarly, it would be silly to have a lot of holiday ornaments for sale at a show in April when holiday gift giving is the last thing on your customers’ minds. Try for a diverse range of products that are not always season specific in you are showing your work at craft shows year round.

5. Price, Price, Price!

Nothing will kill your hand made craft business quicker than overpriced products. Customers are often willing to pay more for something that is hand made, but there is a limit. When pricing your product, you must be realistic. For example, a product that is priced below $20 will probably sell better than something that is priced at $22. Why? It may seem very little to you, but in your customer’s mind that $2 difference crosses some kind of line. While it is understandable to want to be paid decently for your work, you won’t make any money at all if your price point is too high for your customers’ tastes.

Maybe you were lucky enough to find a way to make money out of your passion for crafts, and even launched your own crafting business. But now you find yourself wondering how to make extra money from your crafts. One of the best and easiest ways to supplement your crafting business is by offering craft lessons.

How can you start your own crafting classes? A good way to begin supplementing your crafting business is by organizing small home parties where you can invite friends, family members, and co-workers. This is a wonderful way to ease into teaching. If you’re a little nervous about the idea of teaching, remember that a home party is basically just a small gathering of friends. Focus on your love for your craft have confidence in your skills, and the rest will follow.

At your home party, ensure that your guests have a memorable experience by making the lesson as pleasurable as possible. Prepare well, provide light refreshments, and send your guests off with a completed craft, or if this is not possible, some sort of sample or party favor. You can bet that if your guests have a good time and enjoyed the experience of crafting with you, they will tell their friends, and positive word of mouth will begin to spread.

If you feel comfortable teaching at a professional level, you may want to seek out your local community college. Many community colleges offer non-credit crafts classes that are always in need of instructors. Teaching part-time is an excellent way to supplement your income. Be aware that to get this type of teaching position you will have to demonstrate significant knowledge and experience in your field. If you are a novice in your craft area, the chances of getting hired for this type of position is slim.

Teaching at a local college is not only a good way to make extra money, it also allows for an excellent opportunity to network and make contacts. When telling your students about your expertise and background, mention your crafting business. This type of exposure is invaluable because you are targeting a room full of individuals who have a deep interest in your craft.

Teaching at the college level will also force you to become better at your craft. This is a benefit of teaching that is invaluable. You will undoubtedly improve at your craft in the process of teaching. Teaching at a local community college may also serve to boost your crafting business by designating you with the unofficial title of ‘expert’ of your craft. Where do people often go to seek expert advice on a very specialized topic? Most people will seek out colleges, of course. People who are interested in the type of craft you specialize in may begin to seek you out because of your status as a professional college instructor.

Another way to supplement your crafting business by offering craft lessons is to visit your local crafts store or hobby shop. As a professional craftsperson, you are probably already very familiar with these types of businesses. If you haven’t done so already, introduce yourself to the store management. Explain that you operate your own crafting business. Be well prepared with professional business cards and, if possible, a portfolio or a sample of your work. The more professional your presentation is, the better your chances of landing an opportunity to teach.

If the store does not offer a class or workshop on your area of expertise, offer to design a workshop. Many of the workshops featured at local hobby shops are run by volunteers. If you are truly interested in using teaching as a valuable networking tool for your crafting business, you should be willing to volunteer your time. Most of these classes are run on a short-term basis (most only meeting once or twice), so you won’t necessarily have to spend a great deal of time teaching these workshops. Remember to be prepared with business cards and your portfolio during these workshops.

If you began your own hand made craft business, then odds are you started it because you enjoyed crafting and hoped to make some money from your hobby. To survive in the craft business you absolutely have to love what you do. If you started your business just to make money and not because you loved your craft, then you won’t have the dedication and staying power to make it in the craft industry. A person’s passion for crafting shows in the end product as well as in all the little touches.

But perhaps you did start your business out of love for the crafting. Since then though you’ve lost some of that original spark and you’re finding it difficult to muster the same enthusiasm about your home made products. This can be a disheartening experience and you may reach the point where you consider giving up your new business because the enjoyment just isn’t there anymore. How can you keep that original joy in crafting alive when you make the switch from hobby to business?

Start Small

It’s important to start small when launching your new hand made craft business. Try out your crafts at local craft shows or through family and friends. You should borrow little or no money to get your business started. Monthly loan payments can cripple a small start-up craft business – an industry that is fickle at even the best of times. Not depending on your new craft business for all your financial income will take some of the pressure off and allow you to just enjoy the process of crafting and selling.

Manage Your Time

With any small business, people have difficulty keeping traditional working hours. When starting your new craft business you will most likely not be working 9-5 at it. Odds are you’ll keep your main job and just devote time to your new start-up in the evenings and on weekends so you have enough money to make a go of it. You need to be realistic in terms of what you can accomplish. If there are four local craft show that you want to participate in all within a two week span of each other, are you really going to have enough time to create enough stock for all of the shows? You have to figure out how much you can produce and stick to that. Running yourself ragged is one of the quickest ways to lose the enjoyment of crafting. Remember you also need to keep a life-work balance. Even though you enjoy crafting, you can’t do it 24-7. You need to make time to relax and see family and friends.

Experiment

Some times it is important to away from the business end of things and concentrates on the crafting itself. Experiment with new techniques and materials. This process can refresh you and you might even come up with some really unique new products for your next craft sale.

Talk to Others

It is really important to have a support system in place when starting a new venture like this. Family and friends can be a huge help with your new hand made craft business, but a lot of time they lack experience and expertise in the industry itself. It is important to develop your own kind of crafters’ network – other crafters who you can turn to and learn from. The best way to meet other crafters is at local craft shows. You can also join or start a local crafters’ group or guild. This can be a monthly group that meets to share stories and learn from one another. This group could also develop into a means for all of the members to market and sell their crafts. Many craft guilds hold yearly sales where all of the members showcase their work. You can start small by hosting a craft show in one of your members’ home or renting a community center or church basement if everyone contributes a bit. Feeling part of crafters’ community will make all the difference when things get rough.

As with any new start-up, starting your hand made craft business will be difficult and at times frustrating. The most important thing is to keep your passion alive however you can so it truly is a labor of love!

If you began your own hand made craft business, then odds are you started it because you enjoyed crafting and hoped to make some money from your hobby. To survive in the craft business you absolutely have to love what you do. If you started your business just to make money and not because you loved your craft, then you won’t have the dedication and staying power to make it in the craft industry. A person’s passion for crafting shows in the end product as well as in all the little touches.

But perhaps you did start your business out of love for the crafting. Since then though you’ve lost some of that original spark and you’re finding it difficult to muster the same enthusiasm about your home made products. This can be a disheartening experience and you may reach the point where you consider giving up your new business because the enjoyment just isn’t there anymore. How can you keep that original joy in crafting alive when you make the switch from hobby to business?

Start Small

It’s important to start small when launching your new hand made craft business. Try out your crafts at local craft shows or through family and friends. You should borrow little or no money to get your business started. Monthly loan payments can cripple a small start-up craft business – an industry that is fickle at even the best of times. Not depending on your new craft business for all your financial income will take some of the pressure off and allow you to just enjoy the process of crafting and selling.

Manage Your Time

With any small business, people have difficulty keeping traditional working hours. When starting your new craft business you will most likely not be working 9-5 at it. Odds are you’ll keep your main job and just devote time to your new start-up in the evenings and on weekends so you have enough money to make a go of it. You need to be realistic in terms of what you can accomplish. If there are four local craft show that you want to participate in all within a two week span of each other, are you really going to have enough time to create enough stock for all of the shows? You have to figure out how much you can produce and stick to that. Running yourself ragged is one of the quickest ways to lose the enjoyment of crafting. Remember you also need to keep a life-work balance. Even though you enjoy crafting, you can’t do it 24-7. You need to make time to relax and see family and friends.

Experiment

Some times it is important to away from the business end of things and concentrates on the crafting itself. Experiment with new techniques and materials. This process can refresh you and you might even come up with some really unique new products for your next craft sale.

Talk to Others

It is really important to have a support system in place when starting a new venture like this. Family and friends can be a huge help with your new hand made craft business, but a lot of time they lack experience and expertise in the industry itself. It is important to develop your own kind of crafters’ network – other crafters who you can turn to and learn from. The best way to meet other crafters is at local craft shows. You can also join or start a local crafters’ group or guild. This can be a monthly group that meets to share stories and learn from one another. This group could also develop into a means for all of the members to market and sell their crafts. Many craft guilds hold yearly sales where all of the members showcase their work. You can start small by hosting a craft show in one of your members’ home or renting a community center or church basement if everyone contributes a bit. Feeling part of crafters’ community will make all the difference when things get rough.

As with any new start-up, starting your hand made craft business will be difficult and at times frustrating. The most important thing is to keep your passion alive however you can so it truly is a labor of love!

Part of the attractiveness of making your own crafts will be in the material that you choose to send it in. This is the first impression that the customer will have of your product, making it essential to have the right packaging to give or send the craft in. One of the options in packaging, if you decide not to buy the packaging, is to make your own packages that are unique to your crafting business and items.

There are several different options that you can use when creating your own packaging for hand crafted items. The first thing to consider is what type of packaging you will be using. This can be a box, bag, or any other creative item that will hold whatever it is that you are selling. Many times, you can cut or design a box to reflect your business. It is easy to find boxes and containers that are in different shapes with different cuts. You can also take your own regular box or cardboard and design it with putting the slots into different places to fold into a different shape. If you are shipping the box, you can also use different types of cardboard or plastic to send the craft in. As well as these different packages being folded, they can easily be designed with your own made stamps or designs. If you decide to use a bag, you can create your own using white bags and different types of stenciling, paints, etc. You can also have these custom designed by a company.

The labels that you are using for your packaging can be creative, with a logo or some type of picture to represent the item they are getting or your craft business. One of the ways that you can decorate your package labeling is by using silk screen printing. This is a common form of decoration. This usually will put one to two different colors on your design and package. If you would like more colors, then printing your logo or information with a hot stamp can be considered. This will also leave a shine and somewhat gold design on the package. You can also custom label just about any type of packaging that you are using with either your own techniques or through the help of other businesses. If you have the right tools on your computer, you can design and create your own logos, etc. on a regular application and print it through special paper, then attach it as a label on your package.

You can also decorate the protective paper that you are wrapping the craft in. You can make a custom label with this or make your own paper by simply getting regular tissue or wrapping paper and decorating it with cheaper items such as stamps, your logo, etc. It is possible to do this with any part of the packaging that you are sending an item in.

Another option to look into is packaging the craft with an inner box or container, as well as an outer box. With this, possibilities are endless. You can put your craft in a can, bottle, jar, pottery, seashell, basket, or anything that will hold the craft and be reflective of what it is. Smaller purses or bags that are sewn, etc. can also be used to provide an extra something that the customer gets with their purchased craft. These containers not only are creative, but can be decorated with your logo, or any other type of paints, to add onto the craft. You can also decorate it by putting a certain cloth around the box, bag, jar or whatever you decide to use. This will make the container look more professional.

If you do not want to make your packaging completely from scratch, there are several places that make custom packaging for you to use when sending something to customers. These places can also simply provide ideas for your packaging needs.

While there are endless possibilities with decorating and making your own packaging, it is important to keep in mind that the packaging should look professional and be a part of your business. One way to help in deciding what to do with the packaging is by making sure that it is a reflection of the craft and the business that you are a part of.