Selling things you make -anyone do it?

[jendifa]

So I've decided that I need to make a bit more money, and my plan is to sell some of the things I make (mainly knitting/sewn stuff/jewellery). I'm just not sure how. I do commissioned knitting and sewing occasionally, but wondered if anyone sold online, at crafts fairs etc and how you found it (and found out about it)

Thanks, Jen

i have done some school fetes and suchlike, not ever sold a lot, but enough to keep me in beads for a bit

Find out about local craft fairs and visit a few to check that they sell the sort of stuff you make, don't be tempted to sell at any old crapola fair as their is nothing worse than sitting at your tables all day with no sales due to wrong demographic. You will need insurance but it isn't a lot. It is a good idea to share a table with someone so you share costs, have company and don't need so much stock.

Shop holders often come to fair to find stuff to sell so have a card made up to give out.

Set up a shop on folksy to costs very little and again you can put this on your card so people can buy later if they like your stuff.

Don't underprice. If you can't sell for what your time/material cost the it isn't worth doing

Good luck

Thanks both.

I live in Birmingham but there seems to be a lack of crafts fairs nearby. I've been to a few, but found the one I wanted to sell at had to be booked 8 months in advance for a table which put me off a bit.

I've got a folksy shop, so will get on with taking photos and putting things up. Thanks

I have shops on Etsy and eBay where I sell my jewellery. I have tried Folksy, but there doesn't seem to be as much traffic there.

I've done a few craft fairs, but they've been a bit of a waste of time with all the setting up and extra costs involved. I've also tried selling in a gallery, but they take such a big wedge out of the price, that after material costs are taken out, you're not left with much (plus the one I sold in wanted loads of my stock which would have been better off in my online shops).

If you are selling online you have to be constantly promoting your stuff (facebook, Twitter, Pinterest etc) or it will just sit there. It does take up a lot of time, but it's all good fun :)

Check out space hopper events-I've just signed up to do their Nov craft fair in Brum

I'm just starting out too...stallfinder website seems to be the best to find craft fairs...I've been busy looking there, but lots of them seem to be very expensive (found a laaarvely christmas fair but it was £150 to trade there) ...

I have a website, two shops on etsy, and one on folksy, ebay and wowthankyou and only do local craft fairs between now and christmas, and I have started advertising in magazines.

I do this as my full time business, and as SuperTressy said, you've got to constantly be promoting your shop/wares otherwise your presence on the web is very weak/non existant.

At a craft fair you're selling to the people who attend the fair, on the web you're potentially selling worldwide.

Thats all really helpful, thank you everyone