If you sell your Arts and Crafts...

[MyKingdomforaNameChange]

Where do you sell, and how do you advertise?

I sell on Etsy, and have a Facebook page. I post on Instagram and Pintrest. Going to do a Craft Fair soon but there are only 4 a year near me.

What other ways are there to get my items out there? Not keen on Ebay due to the changes that are coming. Amazon Handmade looks interesting but complicated.

What else can I do? Any tips or tricks I am missing?

Thanks :)

[speakout]

I sell on ebay and Amazon ( main site not handmade).
I sell 1000 items a month.

Need to get my own web site, but too busy to find the time!

[governess]

with regards to what software to use - then Ecwids //www.ecwids.co.uk - so easy, no tech knowledge required or updating software etc. You create your shop, you can then install the shop anywhere - copy / paste the 5 lines of text - and when displayed in a browser - you shop appears - as if by magic.

BUT - here is the killer bit, it is the #1 facebook ecommerce app. Create your page in facebook - then click the install and your done.
You can then directly from within facebook - people never have to leave their facebook session. The icing on the cake - is that with FB advertising you can directly geo profile people. EG women in London that like sewing, men in the UK that like Arsenal football club etc.

Any queries - PM me here, I have tried all the various other options including etsy. The only thing etsy has going for it is that fellow crafters use it, but it's stupidly long winded and frustrating

[triballeader]

I work part time as a semi-professional fine artist. Long hours and not one to do if you need a regular and reliable income.

For now I am only have a low profile and only accept commissions via my FB page and that works out at 2-3 who go on to actually commission per month. Most of what I do is via word of mouth recommendations. It has taken quite a while to build that kind of reputation though. I suspect what I do is very different to producing craft items.
I did look at Etsy and the like but I work long enough hours as it is without wanting to give a middleman a cut. Once I have moved later this year I hope to launch a artist website so I can deal with potential clients directly. I have decided to insist folk use pay-pal to pay and must agree and cover the cost of Special Delivery [tracked and signed for post] before any work is sent on. I exercise my legal copyright on the work I produce. I may also post on the gallery of the artists society I now belong with. I will not be framing as that makes for a lot more more work for me, more cost in materials and extra cost to post. I would rather be painting than framing. I no longer send my work outside of the UK as I have had a lot of fun with the costs and insurance of sending art abroad.

[MyKingdomforaNameChange]

Thank you Miaow and Rhubarb :)

I'm hoping to get out and check out more local shops this week. Our road has been dug out by JCB, although it's pretty slippy now.

I've had 6 sales so far on Etsy, so I'll keep going for a while longer. I need to work on my SEO though!

[RhubarbYoghurt]

I sell via Fb. Word of mouth and I run a busy craft group where I sell craft shop items. Etsy didn't work for me. I grew tired of ebay buyers claiming to not have received and item

[MyKingdomforaNameChange]

Thanks! I've found some great suppliers, and had worked out prices, but got told by many people that they were too low :D

I've upped the prices and am getting sales, which is great. Apparently my prices would make people think my pieces were "cheap"! I don't buy much jewellery and thought things were fine, I have a lot to learn about that side of things :D

[Avasarala]

That's much easier then! When you're just getting started, being full time can make it very stressful as you'd rely on it. Starting out part time ish means you get your foot in the door and can learn it all without being all stressed.

Feel free to get in touch anytime; line sheets and catalogues and emailing retailers can be daunting but you sound like you've got a great start!

[MyKingdomforaNameChange]

Thanks so much Avasarala, that's really kind!

Not full time, more of a hobby at the moment, but I would be happy to do it full time if that's how it works out :)

[Avasarala]

Is this going to be your full time job? I'm a jeweller, full time and I sell directly to the public and also business to business. If you need any help or want to talk through wholesale catalogues and line sheets etc, then pm me and I will help you anyway I can.

[MyKingdomforaNameChange]

Thanks Battle, I will definitely be taking some of my hosting shop's business cards with me when I do the Craft Fairs.

Just wish this weather would improve - we are still snowed in - so I can get out and have a chat with some shops in other villages... And so my long awaited supplies can be delivered to allow me to make more pieces!

[InDubiousBattle]

Sounds promising! Two of the shops I sold in were in touristy places and it was good, especially on day when the town had special events on . I agreed with them that I wouldn't put my stuff in any of the other shops in that town (they were only quite small towns!). I used to do one of my regular craft fairs in the same town and agreed not to undercut them there either. It turned out to be a nice relationship as I would publicise the shop (and town events)at other fairs and she would do the same for my fairs.

[MyKingdomforaNameChange]

I make jewellery Battle :)

Definitely couldn't do classes. I am a rubbish teacher :D

I do have a local shop who stocks a few of my items - one sale on the first day of display, then it snowed, but hoping things will go well when the weather improves! I'm planning to check out a couple more localish shops too when I can get out of the house :/

Thank you for taking the time to reply :)

[InDubiousBattle]

I don't know op. I started around 10 or 11 years ago and did craft selling for around 6-7 years. Craft fairs were great to begin with but gradually became less profitable and professional over the years. Shops were much better by the end and I mainly used the craft fairs to try out new things as it meant I could talk directly to customers . What type of craft (generally) do you do? Could you do classes for adults or after school clubs?

[MyKingdomforaNameChange]

PM'd you @Haribogirl, thanks :) Hope you like what you see, and any ccriticism welcomed!

[Haribogirl]

Send my your Facebook page via private message, I’ll have a look

[MyKingdomforaNameChange]

Battle, that's such a shame :(

Haribogirl, I'd love to do that, but I'm not sure it's allowed?

[Haribogirl]

How about showing a link on here where we can see what your selling
That may create sales

[InDubiousBattle]

I did 3 a month regularly , so once monthly in three different (still local)towns, then maybe one or two others. When I started I could have done two a week but over the years they gradually reduced. I'm certain two of the three I used to do are shut now.

[MyKingdomforaNameChange]

Thanks Battle, I would love to do more Craft Fairs but there's a limit to how far I am willing to travel, so will have to stick to the 4 in my local town.

Local shops are a good idea though, we're in a touristy area. Thanks :)

[InDubiousBattle]

I gave it up 4 years ago but I only sold at craft fairs and shops (had my stuff in 3 shops).

[MyKingdomforaNameChange]

Another relevant link: www.ecommercebytes.com/C/blog/blog.pl?/pl/2018/2/1519091217.html

[MyKingdomforaNameChange]

Yes, I have over 300 pieces to list, I would have wanted a shop before the changes :)

[Fabpinky]

Correct me if I'm wrong but the information in that link only seems relevant if you have an eBay shop, which is not compulsory?

I don't have a shop and only pay a fee to eBay and paypal when I sell?

[MyKingdomforaNameChange]

Ha ha, clicky link automatically. I'm an idiot :p