Does anyone make and sell their "craft" items?

[CaseyJr]

This is a new area for me. I have a "craft" item that DH has been after me for years to sell. It's one of those things (a piece of jewelry) that I make for myself all the time and have finally perfected all the little "tricks," etc. I think it's what they call a "niche market" item (or something like that).

Do any of you do this (make & sell thier crafts) or know people who do? Just wondering ...... I don't know enough about marketing to know what questions I should be asking you. I have one retailer who has offered to place them in her store "on consignment." I guess I have to decide/figure out how much it costs me to make one, right? Then, where do I go from there? I have a product name and packaging figured out.

I'm excited, yet VERY reserved about the idea. If this works out, this will be my DISNEY TRIP SPENDING CASH FUND (DTSCF).

I would appreciate any input from y'all.

 

[FroggyinArk]

i make wood craft and furniture htat i place on consignment, since its just my hobby and its ussually made out of scrap material or other free stuff,, i dont really care if it sells or not, i think i saw one of my candle sticks in a customers house the other day so.. i might nbeed to check at the store..lol

 

[Serena]

I used to paint t-shirts and sweatshirts. I sold them at a flea market or craft show. My mom and aunt would rent a place for their stuff and add mine to it. I didn't make a lot, but it was fun.

 

[SalandJeff]

I sent you a pm.

 

[CaseyJr]

I love doing little craftsy things! I am always amazed at the ideas people come up with.

 

[FroggyinArk]

Casey, i'm about 3 hours east of you, have you thought about trying a space at one of the craft fairs around first? see what public response is,, That will give you an idea whjat ppl are willing to pay and what the initial sales response is,, i have found that things that sell fast at a fair ussually go well in consignment. They are having an arts and craft fair here next weekend, if your interested, contact the Crossett ar chamber of commerce.. ... and if you try and display, let me know,, so i can look ya up

 

[Feralpeg]

Yes. I started recently selling items I make. I am now a licensed business. Just make sure you know what you are getting into before you take the leap. I'm so glad people like my work, but I think I'm working harder now than I was before I retired. LOL!

 

[ilovepcot]

I make stained glass as a hobby....in a big way. I've had friends suggest to me that I should look into selling some things on consignment in area shops. Thing is, stained glass is high to begin with and to keep prices where they don't soar through the roof, I'm afraid there wouldn't be enough left for me after the merchant got their cut. After all, it's extremely time consuming. Still pondering this idea and wondering if my work really would sell.

 

[DisMN]

I'm on the shop end of it. I had a gift shop for 12 years and I'd often take local items to sell......but I steered clear of the "consignment" area simply because there would always be a few "consignee's" who felt I was marketing or displaying THEIR items incorrectly. To eliminate the "yours/mine" aspect of the shop I bought items outright and sold them for any old price I felt I could get. Common practice is for stores to mark prices at least double to cover their own costs (this doubling is called "keystone or keystone markup" if you hear the word when you go into a store to sell or consign your item). It seems unfair but after heat, rent, bags, tags, advertising, taxes, paying workers......well, you see where I'm going with this. LOL

Doing it this way took a lot of hassle out of my hands AND the hands of the consignee. Once the things were in my hands and paid for, they didn't have to worry about them any longer. Sold is sold. LOL

If you have a jewlery item, have some inexpensive business cards (pretty ones?) printed up and use the business card as a handout card AND as a backing for your item, whether it be a pin or a button or necklace. Find double uses for all packaging/display materials you might be purchasing for your product.

As far as what to sell the item for, that was always tricky. With craft items, you NEVER get paid for the time you put into it. Crafting is often done out of sheer love and joy of the DOING, the producing.......rarely for money I think.

Good luck. I always found crafting and selling to be quite rewarding. It was a fantastic learning experience and a great way to meet some interesting people.

 

[raysnkaysmom]

I've tried...I wished I could.
My mom makes beautiful dolls and sells them on ebay under the username deidra-paragalia. She enjoys it...and others love them! I tried to make a couple dolls...and I did..but really time consuming!
GOod Luck!

 

[momof2OH]

I make candy jars, painted clothes (specifically jeans), tissue box covers. I sell on ebay and at local crafts shows and festivals. The candy jars do really well.
See if you have any local shows and start there. Good Luck!

 

[CaseyJr]

Thanks for the encouraging replies! I haven't decided yet what I'll do. We do have several craft fairs and various "events" in our area periodically, so that is something I can look into. I'm not an artist, and I tend to get discouraged when I see what other people (who do have actual talent) do. DH always tells me that, "Yes, there are lots of other people who do better work than you do, but YOU are the one who came up with this idea and went with it!" My DH is a jewel (but he's not for sale!).