Crafting is a hobby for many people. Most do it because they enjoy it, but wouldn't it be great to make some money from selling the crafts you love to make?
Selling crafts once involved finding local distributors and signing up for craft fairs. While those are still popular and profitable options, the Internet has made it possible to sell crafts right from your home. You can sell to people across the country, or even around the world, as long as you are willing to ship to their addresses.
Open a PayPal account. It makes receiving payment for your sales easy, it offers your customers security and a variety of payment options, and it's free to set up. Alternatively, you could set up a merchant account, but it will cost several hundred dollars up front and require your customers to pay by credit or debit card.
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Consider setting up shop at Etsy.com. Etsy is a popular online craft marketplace that attracts lots of visitors each month. Setting up an account is free, and the prices per listing are very reasonable.
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Sell on eBay. You can use the traditional auction format or set up a store. Both options are relatively inexpensive. While eBay is not exclusively dedicated to crafts like Etsy, they do get more visitors.
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Set up your own website. This involves buying a domain and hosting and getting your site designed. It is well worth it in the long run, and you can sell on Etsy or eBay to make money in the meantime.
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Promote your offerings. You could set up a blog and write about your craft, purchase advertising on other websites, or even purchase ads in national or regional magazines.
Tips & Warnings
Consider starting an email newsletter. Fill it with informative articles about your crafts or crafting in general, and include links to your products.
stephaniek2
Feb 26, 2009
I've thought about selling my crafts online. I may just try it!