A good way to sell crafts....

mforseth, are you looking to sell your knitting only online? Or are you willing to sell in person too? I was chatting about this in another discussion and, where I live, knitters are always successful at the craft fairs, exhibits, bazaars and flea markets. A lot of the other crafters are at those events to sell their attempts at the latest "craft trend," whereas the knitters are generating really useful items like slippers, mittens, afghans, baby blankets and the like. So, while people are bypassing the 52,000 booths that are all selling the same candles or silk flower creations, the knitters have a line of folks waiting to see what's available :)

I love to knit but I don't do enough for selling, it's wonderful that you can. Have you tried consignments shops in your area, you may be able not only to sell your items but bring in "clients" that like your work for special requests. I would look for "upscaled" consignments shops. Good luck to you in your business endeavors!

The very best way it to take a stall at a specialist fair or market, make sure you have done your homework first so your pricing is spot on though. Ebay is good, but having your own webshop is a lot easier in the long run and helps showcase your whole repertoire

I would try going to craft fairs or selling them at swap meets. These are inexpensive ways to start. Selling on Ebay is also good but you have to have the market that wants it. As well maybe you could go to senior homes or retirement homes and show your items.

I know stuff like that sells in flea markets try renting a booth. Also give some grage sells and have some of your crafts for sell too.

I'll tell you of an experience of my own and maybe it will give you some ideas. Many years ago, a friend shared with a truck driver, that I handmade custom sweaters. This truck driver was huge, I mean 42" shoulders. What's more, he had a pot belly galore. His complaint was that no matter how big a sweater, his belly always poked out the bottom. My friend told him that I could make him a custom sweater that he would love and we made a deal, right there on the spot, for $100 for a simple sweater that would cover his body like a normal person. True, I spent $20 on yarn and a week to make it but it wasn't too bad, considering I knitted while watching TV. I added length to the front, to compensate for the belly. When he tried it on, the sweater was so absolutely perfect, it hung straight on him, just as it would on anybody else. He was so pleased, he sold more sweaters than I could possibly make. Please one pot bellied truck driver and you'll have a slew of customers lining up. :) judy

Take out a box add in your local newspaper. Do you have craft bazaars in your town or nearby? Take your items to a local craft store or country store.

go to local farmers markets, swap meets, and craft fairs. it also depends what what your knitting. some things can go pretty easily. if its something special and something you know people are willing to pay for, you can set up your own website. there's a lot of options over the internet.

Just keep in mind that most lower end craft events like church bazaars, swap meets, and farmer's markets attract people looking for a bargain, not buyers willing to pay what your time and materials are worth. Say you pay $50 for a booth, work all day and make $50. You haven't even broken even, because you could have just stayed home, not spent $50 and still had your items to sell or give away as gifts in the future. In other words, you just paid people to take your crafts home. Plus you lost a Sat. you could have spent with family and friends. Read your craft contracts carefully. Most offer no refund whatsoever if the event gets rained out or if the weather is so bad, the public doesn't show up. Even if it's indoors, no one is going to show up in bad weather. And each city you sell in (at least in CA) may expect you to get a business license. More and more events are requiring vendors to have a license, a resale number and insurance. If you can build a niche online, it has many advantages. You never have theft or gooey fingers all over your items. You store is open 24/7 on line. People from all over the world can view your items. And you don't have to lug heavy bins, canopies, and tables all over creation. Craft fairs are very time consuming with all the traveling and setting up. So if you stick to selling on line, you have a lot more time to make crafts. Personally I prefer Etsy.com because unlike Ebay it is crafts only. It's free to open a store, and you can use it to drive traffic to your website. Even if you don't sell anything right away on Etsy, it still gets your name out there, and you don't have the hassle and expense of building a shopping cart into your web page. To do well on etsy or ebay you definitely need to have a good digital camera and know how to take photos that show off your crafts. Good luck whatever course you take.

Yes I knit as well mainly blankets, and have sold them mainly in local clubs, and local markets but I find ebay not that good to sell them there though, but I do not know if this is allowed where you live.

have tried car booting? at this time of year alot of towns do table top sales so your in the warm. If you go regularly you can build a good clintele up. I go all the time and sell my hand made cards but too many other people are doing the same. i've just started knitting and am tempeted to try selling my knitting etc What sort of things do you make and what sort of prices do you think you might charge for them?

Fair and flea markets are good as well as garage sales which you can use to promote your crafts.

A fair market is an obvious place but also a great way is to go to local stores in your area and ask them to purchase your product directly for sale. Of course you charge them a lower price for wholesale, but in the end, you're building a long term relationship with companies who can probably reach more potential customers than you can on your own.