Make It/Market It – How to Sell your Crafts!

It’s been a long, cold, winter, and if you’re an avid crafter, you’ve no doubt got a pile of freshly completed projects looking for a home (after all, there are only so many jumpers and handcrafted breadboards you can gift to family and friends!). If this sounds like you, it may be time to think about selling some of your wares. At the very least, the profits could pay for that next round of yarn, native timber off-cuts, or ceramics clay. If you are interested in selling what you love to create, below are a few suggestions for places where you can pop your creations on the market. Plus, some tips for how to get them noticed!

Felt

Felt is an online marketplace offering quality, Kiwi-made items for sale to the public. It’s the sort of place you might go to nab a one-off creation for the perfect Christmas or birthday gift, or to hunt out a New Zealand-flavoured baby shower item to send overseas. With over a million ‘visits’ a year, Felt is the sort of site to get your crafts noticed. Best of all, Felt is as supportive of established businesses as it is of first-timers, so don’t be afraid to contact them!

Tip: A picture speaks a thousand words – when first making contact with any marketing platform, send one or two photos (no more) of the items you typically make.

Facebook Marketplace

Most of us are familiar with Facebook, yet other than using it to post to, or to catch up with friends, we may never have noticed the other strings to its bow. One of these is Marketplace (if you’re looking for it, it’s at the top of your Facebook home page, and its symbol is a little building with a shop-front awning). Navigate your way to Marketplace, and you may never leave, especially if you’re looking to buy craft materials! But before you get lost in this exciting online site, familiarise yourself with how to sell almost anything, including your crafts. Selling on Facebook Marketplace is free, and the site takes no commission.

Tip: When selling on Marketplace, keep a close watch on your listings because swift and efficient communication is everything. And if you score a sale, be sure to ask your buyer to make a deposit into your account, right away, to secure the deal.

Supermarket noticeboards

If you think no one takes the time to read the notices on the supermarket pinboard, you couldn’t be more wrong! More houses are rented, baby-sitters found, and crafts sold on these handy advertising spots than you can shake a stick at, and at no cost to the seller! Before you leave home to post your notice, snap a picture of your craft item, reduce it to a 3×3cm image, and rock up with a glue stick to attach it to the card the supermarket’s customer service team will give you. Take a felt-tipped pen with you, too, to create a colourful border around your advert. Your notice will not only be eye-catching, it will tell the world you take as much care with your crafts as you do your post-notes!

Tip: Supermarket community noticeboards usually specify a limited time for keeping notices on their boards. Make a note of the take-down date, and when your advert is removed, be right ready with a fresh one!

Community newspapers

Most of the cost of marketing is in paying for advertising, but many community newspapers offer free advertising for items under a certain value. Check your local rag to see if this opportunity is available, and if it is, give a short, clear description of what you’re selling, its price, and your contact phone number.

Tip: Newspapers are usually a weekly publication, but it doesn’t mean they’ll run your advert a second time without being asked to. Keep up with the play, and resubmit your advert until you make your sale!

Fairs and market days

Fairs and market days are fund-raising events, so if you want to sell your crafts at them, be prepared to pay for the privilege, and make the most of the day by having plenty of stock available. If you don’t think you have enough items to cover costs or to make an impact, team up with two or three friends who also like to craft.

Tip: Fairs and market days are usually seasonal so boost your sales by ensuring your items reflect specific times of the year. For example, if the market day is close to Easter, plan ahead to knit hats and jumpers featuring an Easter Bunny! Turned wooden decorations go down a treat at Christmas, and floral, hand-stitched bunting is perfect for announcing the arrival of spring!

Crafting is a world of fun, and when you know how to sell your work, there’s no reason in the world to hold back on projects. Enjoy!