How to Sell Needlework Projects

Entering the market of hand crafts such as needlework may seem a bit daunting for the first-time entrepreneur. There are a few options to consider when selling your needlework projects.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Sell Your Needlework Projects

1. Start in your own backyard. Sell your needlework projects locally by networking with hobby shop and gift boutique owners. You should bring along product samples as well as photographs of any projects you are working on to meetings with prospective buyers.
2. Participate in large sale events such as guild sales and craft fairs. Your local needlework guild or club may be able to provide you with a list of upcoming events in which you may feature your merchandise.
3. Build a retail website to sell your needlework projects. Remember that you must thoroughly research any tax obligations required by your state as well as any licenses required in your city or county for online retail businesses.
4. Sell your projects through cooperative websites such as Etsy (see Resources below). Here artists and craftspeople can sell their work in a common marketplace without the high cost of developing and hosting their own websites.
5. Host a craft party around the holidays to sell your holiday themed needlework projects. By providing a warm and social atmosphere for your friends and family, you can kick off holiday celebrations by providing them with fun gift ideas for the season.
6. Take clear pictures of your work before you post it online. The most important part of online marketing for needlework projects is the image and a blurry or badly lit picture can prevent your needlework projects from selling.
7. Research comparable sales prices by reviewing the market in which you live. See what other similar projects are selling for to determine what your base price should be.
8. Remember that your items may be marked up as much as 300 percent when you sell wholesale to another vendor. Your price should not be too high for the market to support nor too low to prevent you from making a profit.

Tips & Warnings

• Every good business venture requires a minimum of research to better understand the market in which you wish to operate. Do your research before jumping into your new business venture to ensure that there is ample demand for your type of needlework project.