How to Make Crafts From Home and Get Paid for It
Making crafts at home and being paid is one way to turn your hobby into some extra cash. How much cash will depend on what you are selling and how much time you have to make and sell your projects. Once you have decided to go into the craft business, there are two main avenues for selling crafts: local fairs or shows and online.
Other People Are Reading
Things You'll Need
- Finished crafts
- Business cards
- Receipt pack
- Boxes
- Packing tape
- Packing materials
- Paypal account
- Website (optional)
- Cash box
- Credit card machine and account
- Cash in small bills for change
- Bags
- Wrapping material to package crafts
Instructions
-
-
1
Choose the type of crafts you want to create. Select a craft that is cost effective to produce. If your project takes you several hours to make and you can only sell it for $5 to $10, it is not worth your time. Consider the cost of the materials, the cost of selling your product, as well as fees associated with your sales prior to selecting your craft.
-
2
Select a marketable craft. If you go to a craft show and there are 15 vendors with wooden ornaments, you might want to consider selling something else. To much competition will limit your sales.
-
-
3
Determine where to sell your crafts. To sell at a craft show, take into account the type of show, what fees are charged for space, whether display tables or shelves will be provided and how the show is run.
-
4
Set up a credit card account so you can accept credit cards as payment for your crafts if you are selling at a craft show. According to Rosalind Resnick in a 2005 article in "Entrepreneur" magazine, "Credit cards are the common currency of shows and fairs, and if you don't accept them, you're going to lose sales to vendors who do. "
-
5
Establish an online presence to sell your crafts. Options include auction sites, sites that strictly sell crafts and handmade goods, and sites that allow you to sell your crafts by posting ads. You can also create your own website to sell your crafts, but be prepared to advertise to get visitors to your website.
-
6
Set up an account to receive payment for crafts sold online. A PayPal account is a good option for online vendors because it is a secure way for your buyer to purchase your crafts either directly from their checking account or with a credit card. It offers both you and the buyer protection if something goes wrong in the transaction as well.
-
7
Make your crafts. If you decide to sell your crafts at a show, then you will need to have lots of pieces made up prior to the show to display. If you have decided to sell online, you can make your items as you list them for sale.
-
8
-
1
Tips & Warnings
It is a good idea to have business cards made up with your contact information. Whether you are selling in person or online, always include a card with each sale and have them available for people that are just looking as well.
Be friendly and open with your customers.
Be patient; if you do not find the right venue to sell your items, keep looking and trying other sites or shows to find the right market for your crafts.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit arts and crafts image by Gina Smith from Fotolia.com
