Today brings us to Part Two in our crafting for profit series- How are you selling it? This covers everything about your product presentation, from color, variety and yes, even your own salesmanship, which is a subject all in its own but we'll touch on it here.
How you are selling your craft is important. Maybe that's an obvious statement but it truly is an important aspect in achieving sales. Your packaging should be an accent to your craft, not the focal point, tags should be clearly marked and products should be displayed so that customers can easily view them.
As for the craft itself, make sure people know what it is and, if possible, offer variety. Whether selling online, at a show or in a store, you have just a few seconds to make an impression on a customer and grab their attention. Some products have clear uses such as t-shirts and earrings but other crafts are more difficult to decipher. If you happen to have a product that needs an explanation, try promoting them through demonstrations or examples.
Variety is also important to meet the needs of your customers. You will never have everything for everyone. No matter how much you make, there will always be someone asking for something you don't have, but that's ok, with some experience you will be able to determine what your most popular products are.
Salesmanship is also a large part of your products. Jewelry, for example, is a common craft item at shows but sometimes the sale has more to do with you than your products. Customers are attracted to positive, friendly and productive sales people, not ones that sit in corners working on puzzle books or playing games on their phones. Be friendly, but don't hover, and helpful but not pushy.
Sometimes we need an outsider to take a look at our product and offer tips for selling it. If you need any help please feel free to contact me at raeanne@handmadespecialties.com and I will offer any help I can give.
