Crafting needn’t be just a hobby you undertake to unwind at the end of the day. If you’re crafty, it is possible to turn your passion into a successful craft business – perhaps you’re already trying your hand at it!

It’s not easy, but making money from your creative hobby is not only possible, but it’s what you deserve! Think how many hours you spend on it. There’s no reason that you can’t get more than enjoyment out of your activities. 

Whether you’re just starting out as a crafts business, or are simply gearing up to grow it, here are four essential tips that you should keep in mind. 

5 Ways to Boost Your Craft Business:

1. Pricing Your Craft Products: One of the biggest mistakes crafters make when they’re just starting to sell their products is to drastically under-price themselves. Set up your business with the long-term aim of making enough money to support yourself. Your prices shouldn’t just cover the cost of your supplies, especially if your products are handmade. Always keep in mind that your time is valuable, and the hours it takes you to make the product, as well as overheads such as packaging and shipping, should be included in your final costing.
2. High Quality Images: Research has demonstrated that we spend much more time looking at highly detailed images. This traces back to the days of actually visiting a store and having a product in front of you before you buy… seems like a long-lost era now! Ensure that the images on your online shop are of high quality so that your customers can get a true idea of what they are buying. Misleading content will only lead to negative reviews.
3. Digital Marketing: While you might initially rely on word of mouth, this method of marketing will only get you so far. The digital sphere is the best way to get your products in front of the eyes of potential new customers. Digital marketing can seem daunting if you’re just starting out, things like keyword rankings and search engine optimisation might sound like another language, but once you get your head around it, you’ll really see the boost to your business. Either find yourself an expert to get you set up or learn it yourself. Distance learning institutions such as Anglia Ruskin University even offer courses in digital marketing for those out there who really want to sink their teeth into it!
4. Fairs and Markets: With so much existing online these days, it might seem almost pointless to spend your weekends selling your wares at a market stall. However, markets are still a great place to find new customers for your products. Have some business cards printed, and hand them out with every purchase, or simply to anyone who takes an interest – they can always visit your online shop afterward! Craft fairs are also a great place for you to visit, either as a seller or a buyer. Whichever you choose you’ll have plenty of opportunity to network, scope out your competition, and source new supplies for your own products.
5. Get a Design Bundles Plus Membership: Serious crafters need access to some seriously good SVG files, illustrations, graphics, and laser cutting templates. The problem is, this can often come at a high cost, which will eat into your profits. Thankfully, there are solutions out there to keep your outgoings down while ensuring you’re offering great quality for your crafts and makes. Design Bundles offer the Design Bundles Plus Membership, giving you access to lots of premium design resources as well as extra discounts on all products. This membership option gives you instant access to more than 220,000 fonts and designs while also offering a free 7-day trial, after which point you can cancel anytime, so you have nothing to lose! Check out this blog about Design Bundles Plus Membership to learn more.

Do you have your own craft business? Tell us about it in the comments below! For more information about developing a craft based business check out my book Crafting A Successful Small Business.

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