Selling Crafts Online: How, Where and What to sell

Have you always had a creative passion and wondered how to turn it into a profit? Then starting a craft business might be the right choice for you. With the growth of e-commerce and the increasing demand for handmade products, now is the perfect time to set up an online store and sell crafts online.

But diving into the online craft marketplace raises a lot of questions. Where should I sell my crafts? How can I stand out in a competitive market? and What types of products to sell? are common hurdles for beginners. In this article, we give you the answers. By the end, you’ll have a clear roadmap to develop your craft business.

How to Sell Crafts Online

Before you start to sell your crafts online, it is crucial to identify your niche, work on your brand, choose a suitable selling platform, and think about the pricing. Let’s look at each point in detail.

1) Identify your niche

What are the specific crafts that you enjoy making? Is there a niche for you already, and if so, what could make you stand out? Sometimes it takes a bit of research, honing your skills, and expanding your interests in order to respond to market demand.

You might even consider doing a survey online or a quiz on social media to see what crafts might be in demand at this moment or in your area. Once you combine what you are passionate about with what the market needs, you are on the right track.

2) Establish your brand

When your niche and your range of products are set, it’s time to select a company name, logo, and brand colors to give your future shop a distinct character. Building a brand is crucial—think of it as your visual business card. It’s how you present yourself and your products to the world.

Look at your competitors—analyze their approach and think about what would make you stand out. Your brand should reflect your story, your unique approach, and your values.

3) Create an Online Store

Now it’s time to choose the best platform to promote and sell your products. In deciding which platform to use, consider how easy it is to use, the options for customization, and the price. 

When you create your online store, make sure you have high-quality product photos and appealing descriptions. Your customers should feel inspired right away to click on your unique products. Not sure which provider is best for you?

Let’s have a look at Webnode’s advantages:

1. Interface that is easy to use: Regardless of technical proficiency, anyone can easily develop a professional-looking website for their craft company with Webnode’s user-friendly platform.
2. Options for Customization: Webnode makes it simple to alter the look of your website to fit your brand identity and best present your distinctive crafts. 
3. Integrated E-commerce services: Product catalogs, easy store management, and the ability to apply discounts are just a few of the integrated e-commerce services that Webnode provides. Additional features like product variations, site search to locate products, and secure payment gateways make it easy to sell your products online. View our premium e-commerce plans.
4. Tools for SEO: Regarding search engine optimization, Webnode has you covered, offering resources to assist you in making your website more search engine friendly so that prospective clients can quickly locate your company online.

4) Pricing Your Crafts

In order to price your products, it is crucial to take into consideration the cost of materials, your own work, and a potential profit margin. Don’t forget to add any other costs, such as shipping, packaging, and other overhead costs.

Before you settle on a final price tag, look at your competitors with similar products and their pricing to make sure your prices are competitive.

Where to Sell Crafts Online

Now you may be wondering where to sell your products. If you have an active social media account, like on Instagram or TikTok, you might start off right there. Let your online community know that you’ve delved into a new business. This way, you can also directly connect with an existing potential target audience.

Online Marketplaces

In addition to promoting your products via social media channels, you may want to venture out to online marketplaces such as Folksy, Etsy, or ArtFire. Certain features and restrictions come with the territory when joining some of these platforms, such as the way the products are listed, the payment options, and customer support.

Your Own E-shop

If you’ve started selling online but feel like you still aren’t reaching your full potential, online might be a potential way to expand your reach. Your own online store would also allow you to have full control over how you promote and showcase your products. 

When optimized for SEO, it could bring you substantial traffic. This is a piece of cake with Webnode. As we mentioned earlier, Webnode is extremely user-friendly and intuitive, allowing you to add products, a blog, and more to your e-commerce website for reasonable prices.

Tip: Check out our post on how to create an online store if you need additional help

Online Marketplaces vs. Own E-shop

With all the different ways you can sell your crafts, you might be wondering what the advantages and disadvantages are for each option. The advantage of online marketplaces, for example, is that you get to join an already existing community. This might make it easier to attract customers, but it has its limitations as well.

However, your own e-shop will allow you to build your own brand; you can optimize it for search engines, add new content, and even have a blog about your products, which will allow you to grow long-term.

Feature	Online Marketplaces	Own E-shop
Advantages	* Reduced initial costs * Easier to attract customers * Customers Trust in Platform	* Professionalism  * Building Own Brand  * Building Relationships with Customers  * Long-Term Solution * E-commerce SEO
Disadvantages	* Cannot Build Own Brand  * Short-Term Solution  * Dependence on the Sales Portal	* Own Promotion

Social Media Platforms

While having your own e-shop is great, combining it with social media channels is even more crucial if you want to target the young generations that have a knack for handmade products and support sustainable materials.

Connect your e-shop to Instagram, TikTok, or even Pinterest, where you can share photos and videos of your products. You can also give your audience a sneak peek behind the scenes—share your savoir-faire, how you pick the materials, or make a tour video of your studio. People love to share and see the unique creative process that is connected to your inspiring products.

Another option is also YouTube, which has become increasingly popular with Gen Z for seeking tutorials, product demos, and vlogs. You can create, for instance, how-to tutorials and become a credible source in your sector. This will allow you to establish your online presence, build brand awareness, and drive traffic to your e-shop. It will also allow you to build a strong, loyal customer base.

Most Profitable Crafts to Make and Sell

What craft products are the best-selling and in-demand? Get inspired by trends and ideas.

Trends in Crafting

When you are in the craft business, it is always crucial to be open and available to respond to the trends. Trends are ever-evolving, yet when you get ahead of the curve and offer your customers what they are looking for, you will find success. Whether it is eco-friendly products or products crafted from sustainable materials, the sustainability trend is here.

People often buy handmade products because they feel they symbolize a unique part of themselves, and from there stems the desire to customize the products. Custom-painted mugs and embroidered pillows are examples of personalized presents that are highly sought after since they showcase the recipient’s distinct interests and preferences.

Craft business ideas

• Jewelry 

A profitable niche for people who are passionate about materials and design is jewelry creation. Jewelry that is built to order, according to specific tastes, is especially popular.

Another favorite option is beaded jewelry, which offers countless variations in terms of color, texture, and style. A genuinely unique object can be produced by hand using materials such as metals, jewels, or even natural elements.

• Home decor 

Since the pandemic, people started paying more attention to their interior design and the objects they surround themselves with. Home decor is a growing market, and from creating wall art, paintings, or hand-woven tapestries, there is a target audience for everyone.

Handmade candles, often with the possibility to customize designs and scents, have been very popular recently. As with jewelry, reusing materials, for example, for furniture, is trending as well, as customers search for originality and uniqueness in every piece while adhering to sustainable living.

• Accessories

In the spirit of upcycling and eco-friendly fashion, among popular accessories are bags, scarves, and other knick-knacks made from recycled materials. Upcycled accessories are experiencing growth with a projected “annual growth rate of 7% over the next five years.”

When looking for accessories from a variety of materials, such as hats, belts, or jewelry, customers seek the synergy of functional and fashionable.

• Health and wellness

In line with customized accessories or home decor pieces, health and wellness products are also a growing market. People gravitate towards vegan and eco-friendly products even in this market niche. You can offer handmade soaps that are infused with special essential oils or fragrances for baths.

Aromatherapy is also a growing market, as are natural skincare products that use, for instance, shea butter and coconut oil. Customers prefer natural ingredients with no animal testing as a sustainable alternative to commercial products.

• Personalized gifts 

Personalized gifts are on the rise as people seek genuine ways to connect with each other. Not sure what crafts could be personalized? The platform Etsy has a whole array of examples. Whether it is printed bags with your name or a quote that characterizes you, handmade jewelry, towels, or mugs, you name it, there are no limits to the artistic imagination.

Very often, personalized gifts are crafted for special occasions such as birthdays, weddings, or anniversaries. In case your company gifts are lacking inspiration, you can also consider customized gifts for clients and loyal customers.

• Seasonal crafts

Christmas is just around the corner, and what better way to celebrate than with handmade decorations, crafted ornaments, wreaths, or stockings?

During Easter, there are a myriad of ways to decorate eggs, bunnies, and any additional decorations to welcome the spring season. Seasonal crafts are a recurring market, and every year you can add new product lines and expand your product portfolio

Conclusion

Selling crafts online can be a very rewarding journey and a great way to channel your artistic talents. You may realize that customers are often willing to pay extra for customized items. It is crucial to define your unique selling point and offer special craft products.

Online marketplaces offer an easy way to get started. However, as your business grows, relying solely on these platforms can limit your potential. Creating your own e-shop offers an opportunity to take full control of your business.

Take the next step in your journey as a craft entrepreneur. Empower yourself by creating your own e-shop, and unlock the freedom to grow your business on your own terms. Your creativity deserves a platform that’s as unique and limitless as you are.

Take Control of Your Craft Business with Your Own E-Shop