Have you ever wanted to sell your handmade crafts or artwork at local craft fairs, but have no idea where to start? Or maybe you've taken the first step and have tried selling your art at a craft show or two, but now you're looking for ideas on how to sell more, how to make your booth more appealing to customers and where to find more venues to sell your handmade goods? You've come to the right place! I've been selling my own handmade creations, as well as the work of other artists, at a variety of craft shows and other events since 2004. I've learned a lot of lessons the hard way, and now I'm sharing them here with you so that you can learn from my experiences! In this book, I'll cover the basics of getting started selling at craft fairs, as well as how to design a great looking booth, how to give outstanding customer service & sell more and even how to find and create additional events at which to sell your handmade work. WHAT IT INCLUDES: - how to define your target market - where to find good shows - how much should I spend on a booth fee at a show? - how to make your booth look great - promoting your show & getting your customers there - my craft show tips & tricks - dealing with crazy weather & unexpected events - theft prevention - craft show supply checklist - how to give great customer service - how to use craft shows to create after-the-show sales - alternative venues to sell your work, beyond traditional craft shows - how to create your own events to sell at - tracking your inventory - how to create a personal & business spending plan - big hunkin' list of craft show resources WHO THIS BOOK IS FOR: This book will be most useful for someone new to selling at craft shows. I do cover more advanced topics as well though, including how to define your target market, visual merchandising, inventory tracking, and creating a business spending plan. The book includes worksheets along the way to help you. The information in this book is based on my experiences, selling in the United States, mostly in Louisiana. However, most of the information contained here is useful to anyone around the world who is interested in setting up a booth at craft shows, festivals or conventions. WHY I KNOW WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT: I did my first craft show in 2004. It was the Alternative Media Expo, put on by Antigravity Magazine here in New Orleans. I sold a few things, and learned a LOT of things. And I haven't looked back! I've done all sorts of events since then. I have sold regularly at the Frenchmen Art Market, and have done festivals around the New Orleans area including Bayou Boogaloo, Gretna Heritage Festival, Freret Market, New Orleans Earth Day Festival, and many, many more. As one of the founding members of the New Orleans Craft Mafia, I've even organized a variety of events, both with the group and on my own. As a group, we've created a monthly art market and the annual Last Stop Shop holiday market. On my own, I've also hosted home shopping parties, trunk shows and pop-up shops. In 2007, as one of the winners of Etsy's Upcycling contest, I even traveled cross-country to San Francisco to participate in Bazaar Bizarre at Maker Faire!

Since 1973, Storey's Country Wisdom Bulletins have offered practical, hands-on instructions designed to help readers master dozens of country living skills quickly and easily. There are now more than 170 titles in this series, and their remarkable popularity reflects the common desire of country and city dwellers alike to cultivate personal independence in everyday life.

"Using the workspaces, shops, salons, and 'through-the-keyhole' profiles of some of the world's most successful crafters, readers will learn the best ways to merchandise and sell their items online, at craft fairs, markets, pop-up events, exhibitions, and in shops. Plus, you'll learn how to build a personality-driven brand, create a ... blog or website, improve your photography skills, and analyze your results to help move your business forward into the future"--

SELLING YOUR CRAFTS ONLINE Sell your handmade crafts and artwork worldwide on the Web! Do you sell your own handmade crafts or artwork? There’s a whole world of customers beyond what you find at crafts shows and malls. For the first time in history, there’s a great way to reach them: the Internet! In Selling Your Crafts Online, Michael Miller guides you step by step through succeeding in the world’s biggest online crafts marketplaces and attracting new customers where millions of them already hang out. Miller offers crafts-specific tips and advice on everything from creating listings to getting a fair price, processing payments to providing outstanding service. No matter what you make or where you already sell it, you can earn a better living if you also sell online. This guide will help you get started, get successful, and stay successful! -- Create a quick “mini” business plan that improves your chances of success -- Discover what sells best online–and what doesn’t -- Predict your costs, see what competitors are doing, and set your best price -- Write compelling listings and take great photos, even if you’re not a professional writer or photographer -- Create an attractive online presence on Etsy, eBay, and other sites -- Discover and compare growing online marketplaces you never knew existed -- Decide whether it makes sense to create your own craft-selling website -- Set yourself up to accept credit cards, PayPal, or other payment services -- Pack, seal, and ship your merchandise safely without overspending -- Answer questions, handle complaints, and offer guarantees -- Track your inventory -- Promote your business on Pinterest and beyond -- Measure your success and learn from experience

Get started selling handmade! This straightforward book walks you through the process of preparing your goods for sale, pricing and bookkeeping, finding venues, marketing and promoting your products, and working with customers both online and off—all without quitting your day job. Clear, concise instructions explain everything you need to know to sell crafts effectively in your spare time, and help you decide whether to take selling to the next level. Learn how to: • Find out whether you—and your crafts—are ready to start selling • Set prices to cover your costs and make a profit • Establish a bookkeeping system • Manage dual inventories of parts and finished goods • Discover the best places to sell your crafts in person or on the Internet • Identify the right people to market to • Accept credit cards and process other forms of payment • Start selling wholesale • Stay out of tax and legal trouble • And much more!

Drawing upon profiles of established artisans and the helpful insights of small-business entrepreneurs, this unique guide not only gives tactics for promoting and marketing crafts, but also provides the necessary forms for getting a business up and running. The book details how to network effectively and build a customer base, listing organizations, business associations, and crafts publications that offer further sources of information. Filled with easy-to-understand examples and sample forms and contracts, this book provides the essential tools for prospering in the crafts business, as well as the resources needed to keep savvy as business grows.

Provides information about merchandising, selling and advertising handicrafts at craft fairs and shows.

From writing a business plan and financing an idea to choosing the most cost-efficient production method and best-suited sales approach, Creating a Successful Crafts Business provides a sound blueprint for turning a beloved hobby into a lucrative career. Written by two experienced craftspeople who have been through the trials, tribulations, and triumphs of running a crafts business, readers will learn, step by step, how to negotiate with bankers, choose the ideal retail location, promote the business on-line, expand into lucrative new markets, and much more. Filled with the infectious spirit of people who have “been there,” this down-to-earth book will bring fledging craft businesses to new levels of profits and success.

An exciting moment for any crafter is when they are able to take the love for crafts and turn it into real money. Selling your crafts enables you to make money doing what you love, along with the convenience of setting your own hours and working from home.