You’ve made your products, you’ve worked on your branding - now what? It’s time to start selling. This blog will talk you through the best ways to sell your products - starting from one off sales to how to get into wholesale (however, I strongly recommend starting with the former!).
Markets
Markets are a brilliant, relatively low cost way to get exposure for your products. The reason why I’ve put this first is because you get immediate feedback on which of your products people are drawn to - selling online doesn’t give you this insight.
Research the market before applying to one - think about the location in which the event is taking place and if this demographic is likely to be interested in your product - also have a look on the market organiser’s socials to see photos and videos of previous events to see what the event is like. Take a time to look at other maker’s market setups - some of these can be really impressive - use your creativity to think about the best way to showcase your products.
SoLo Craft Fair
Online
Online marketplaces are a great way to start selling your products. Etsy is probably the most popular platform to sell from as the initial listing fees are quite low and most people using the website are interested in handmade products.
However, don’t just think it is as easy as uploading your products and waiting for the orders to roll in. You will need to brief yourself on basic SEO (search engine optimisation) . If you’re unfamiliar with this, the simplest way I can explain it is this: imagine you sell a gold necklace with a ruby on it, which you name ‘Midnight Dreams’ - no one on the internet will know to search for Midnight Dreams but there will be thousands of people out there looking for ‘Gold Ruby Necklace’. So title and tag your products with something more descriptive. As well as tags, titles and descriptions, there are lots of other SEO tips and tricks to help make your products visible, and the internet is full of guidance and advice for those just starting out.
In addition to Etsy, you can sell on Amazon Marketplace, Depop, Folksy and Numonday.
Boutique Shops
Many Boutique Shops are interested in selling unique products from small businesses and this is a great chance to get your products stocked in a shop. Follow these shops on social media to see if your products would compliment their store and other stock. Most boutiques will reach out to makers they think will fit in their shop but try emailing the occasional shop - but remember not to spam! Note that most shop will expect to pay 50% of RRP.
Trade Shows
Now, Trade Shows are a big investment, so only do this once you’re very confident in your product and brand. To hire a stand at a trade show you’re looking at least £1000 with lots of additional costs. But if successful, a trade show could get you stocked in some of the biggest shops. But I really recommend doing your research prior to singing up. One of the most popular trade shows is Top Drawer.
To see what trading opportunities we have here at SoLo Craft Fair, please go here.