I am looking for crafts that will sell well.
Peggy from Charlotte, NC
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My Aunt used to make her living selling crafts she made. She would work all year, take everything she'd made to a Christmas craft fair and sell it all at once. She told me the trick is not in knowing what people will buy. It's in having good taste. When you see something that catches your eye, run with it. Use the concept or basic idea and then modify to make it your own. Make only a limited amount of a lot of different items, that way you are sure to have something for everyone. ""
Peggy, I think that it may be possible that it would depend on the area in which you live in.
My friend and I have sold items at craft shows for a number of years and we changed things every year. Our big sellers were painted, dried gourds; they were painted to look like santas and elves. We also painted used lightbulbs to look like santa, elves, and reindeer. For the spring shows, we painted the gourds with outdoor scenes, flowers, and birds on them. We also painted clay pots that were stacked upon one another to make a base, and then the clay saucer (or dish) was set on top to make a bird bath: they were very good sellers but were heavy to carry to the shows. One year, the booth next to us had cut white birch logs, drilled one-inch round holes into them, placed tea light candles in the holes, and hot glued dried mosses and flowers to the logs. They sold tons of them! My friend and I were amazed how many people were walking out of the craft show with logs!
I would suggest to anyone that wanted to make and sell crafts to start small. Make a few items in your specialty and sell them at a church bazaar or a school craft show. You can look around and see what other people are making and which items are big sellers, as well as, what your big seller is. One very important thing, price your items so that you are making a good profit; selling your items for too low of money is an expensive hobby! You need to make sure that you are making money, not just paying for supplies, to sell items, to buy more supplies! It would be best to find wholesale suppliers for your supplies because retail just costs too much and cuts into your profit. Also, don't buy items (especially on sale) because you think that you "could" use that someday. You just end up wasting your money and needing extra storage space to store everything! Only buy the supplies that you need to make the items that you are going to make and sell. Also, use freecycle to ask for supplies, free is best!
You know, when I had extra money to spend I still was practical and always searched for an easier way to do something, a better mousetrap, a unique presentation, a way to save items easier. One of the best all time items I ever got was a simple address finder that pulled out from under my landline phone, with a pencil and pen that went through a hole in the ends to prevent them from walking off. I'll bet someone could come up with some streamlined wooden ones that would sell today?
Metal bird cages decorated for Spring with tiny glued flowers, pods, mini-vines, moss and ribbons all over always caught my eye, until I saw the prices.
Miniatures are making a comeback and can be made, displayed, and stored VERY simply until sold. I noticed that mini musical instruments get big prices, and quality doll furniture/linens, woven rugs, etc. still sell.
Quality decorative leather pieces, like desk sets, which are different in design from "office supplies" are always in demand.
Well made silk flowers, like orchids, attached to quality ballpoint pens, stuck in moss covered styrofoam, all inside a small clay pot for a home office still go over well in TX.
Decorating ceramic tiles for around stovetops, sinks, doors, house addresses in frames and in wooden mailboxes still have room for improvement and innovation.
Well thought out new silk-screened or embroidered designs for quality tee-shirts are always appreciated and in demand.
I love a cotton cardigan sweatshirt that has tasteful handmade designs "stamped" all over the edges.
I also saw a cleverly made sweatshirt with the middle front cut out and replaced with a thick lace insert from a kitchen window/valance fabric of the same color. It looked great. It had a busy pattern that minimized the "see through" effect, too.
I also saw on TV how one woman makes nice ladies blouses from vintage tablecloths with borders/prints/fabric patterns up the lapels, on sleeve and bottom edges. They seemed easy to make.
I love loose-fitting feminine cotton p.j.s in very washable colorfast fabrics/tiny stripes and geometrics. They must be generous in sizes, not too thin, and not too thick.
Men still love poly/cotton plaid boxers, especially if the elastic is encased in soft fabric and the size is generous. My grandson suggested someone sew buttons on inside/outside of each leg to hold them down inside jeans better.
Remember that shadow-boxed/framed delicate children's clothing carefully placed/padded with poly, and dust- sealed on back, really are considered treasures and bring great prices.
I saw a husband/wife team on TV who found all the most comfortable soft/washable hats they'd ever seen for men and for women, and who took them apart and began making their own hat mfg. from the patterns of them in great fabrics. They said they were really doing well.
My grandmother and I used to make doll clothes from infant's clothing, and sell them in boxes trimmed/decorated in any remaining fabric. All cherished memories.
"Treasure Boxes" for boys are unique and hard to find. They don't have to be like a Pirates booty box, but can be in good woods, stains, and have decent designs on them. They can be covered in leather, or
vinyls, or herculon washable fabrics, and could come with a matching coin/wallet/watch tray inside. Only companies like Buxton have a market on them but they are all in a rut and look alike.
Hope this motivates someone? I wish I were younger to do some of these things.
God bless you. : )
I make my living (not large) at art fairs... There is one thing you need to remember... TWENTY DOLLARS... Why you ask? Because people don't need to think about it if it's under $20... If it's more expensive, they will usually go home & think about it & decide if it's REALLY worth the money. If the item cost under $20 (or even better yet under $10 or $15) they will buy it on the spur of the moment... These low cost items are your "bread & butter" items... Things you can count on selling week after week.
Here's a URL for how to make a "LIVING WREATH"
these sell for more than $20... you can substitute the herbs for flowers & Ivy, etc. Once your reputation is established, you can just bring a few as samples & start selling Special or Custom Orders. These are WONDERFUL!
www.ehow.com/
Everyone loves to buy things for their gardens:
A copper or wood trellis, wooden planters, etc.
Anything that has to do with babies or kids. Toys, scrapbooks, diaper cakes, baby shower stuff, changing pads, crocheted or knitted sweaters and booties, etc. People always know somebody who is having a baby.
I agree with all of u. It depends a great deal on where you live and what is it you do best. I work with wood but recetly
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