How To Make Money At Craft Fairs?

Crafting items to make money, but what do craft?

• i'm not that good at crafting but would like to learn. money is tight so i was going to do some craft items, like making pillows, and stuff like that. what kind of craft items sell fast on craigslist? i will be selling them on craigslist. and what art/craft items sell pretty good no matter where you sell them at. and what prices do those items normally sell for?

• Answer:

  An industry that seems to be wavering the current economy is the crafting industry. As people look for new jobs, it is great to see many are turning their hobbies into a for-profit small business. Selling crafts that are locally made, such as pillows, candles, incense, etc. are actually doing good because of its sustainable, locally made theme. As far as what to sell, many ideas come from attending craft shows themselves. It is a frowned upon practice in the arts and crafts trade, however, so use other people's ideas only as a jumping off point. At a recent show I attended, handmade burlesque masks were a hit. Also, organic, all natural soaps were being snatched up. Add your own twist to these items, whether it be fragrance or style and remember to keep in mind your target customer as well as their region. Rather than selling at craigslist, might I suggest starting an e-store at Etsy. It's Free, and the exposure is exponentially greater because of its targeted audience. Here are a couple tips to get your started at Etsy.com: ---- Have a very strategic, catchy, and attention-catching account name. When you register for an account at Etsy.com, you will be responsible for creating and comprising your own name. What’s in a name? Prospective buyers can easily find you and will take initial and abrupt confidence and belief to what you are selling. Your account name should also suit the types of artwork you sell. ---- Find the best angle for your artwork and take beautiful pictures of it. Of course, you need to post photographs of your masterpiece for prospective buyers and shoppers to see. Experts assert that if your artwork is really effective and appealing to buyers, every angle will be good enough for a picture. However, it will still work if you can be more creative and affective in taking photographs. You can ask professional photographers to do the job just to make sure you will not spoil the overall appeal and potential of your artwork. Once you have gotten used to selling your crafts for profit, the real money is at craft shows themselves. I personally use an craft fair events calendar membership, specifically listing craft shows - FairsandFestivals.net. Using their craft fairs and festival criteria, their membership allows me to clear $2,000 per show! In regards to your pricing, it begins before a craft is even made. Pricing your crafts is a business decision independent of your creative work and is critical to your business plan. This includes considering your marketing expenses as well as your financial projections. You must clear enough profit to cover your materials cost, time, and craft show fee. Different items sell for different prices and once again, to get the best feel for what your craft may sell for is to attend craft shows themselves. Remember that often times a craft will sell more if it's priced higher than "discount". Meaning, don't price your craft as though you're selling them at Walmart.