How to make more of your craft skills – Craft Business Ideas

1. Make and sell home accessories

Make time and space to research the market and to anticipate trends in home decor. Instead of making a version of what is already available, use your inspiration and flair to create something quirky, personalised or inspired by the local landscape, it’s the start of your unique brand.

You want customers to see, admire and buy your products. If you haven’t got a retail outlet, think about where your products will be placed in a home, for example, accessories in downstairs rooms or bathrooms get more exposure so start with those. Have some fabulous pictures for PR and make sure you label your products with your logo and web address if possible, it’s the longest lasting business card.

See also: Rural business ideas for kitchen table and craft businesses

Time tip – an evening to spare: Make simple but high-quality accessories that you can produce easily. Spend an evening sewing and the rest of your precious time selling. It is better to have lots available than having a waiting list of frustrated customers. Offer bespoke services, which are often more time consuming, on the back of popular accessories to demonstrate your more intricate skills.

2. Run crafting classes from your spare room

Design courses with the customer in mind. Provide everything they will need to ‘turn up and craft’. Customers want to create something tangible even if it takes a few weeks, it gives a feeling of fulfilment and a desire to return to learn more and recommend. Upholstery classes or knit and natter are great examples of this. Insist that customers pay for the full set of sessions in advance though, your time and resources are precious.

Be practical. You must ensure the space for your courses is clean and safe with plenty of parking. You will definitely need public liability insurance and may be liable for business rates. Sometimes renting a village hall or local school, although more expensive is a better option when you start.

See also: How to turn a hobby into a business

Time tip – an hour to spare: Try taster sessions lasting just an hour as a way to engage with new customers, highlight your skills and test which crafts are most popular as long courses.

3. Set up an online haberdashery

Start with an appealing easy to use e-commerce website with beautiful pictures. Customers will probably find your website when looking for something practical such as zip or thread, but by using clever design and product placement you can encourage additional purchases from your haberdashery treasure trove.

Always be consistent with your stock. Basics at a good price will keep customers returning.

See also: Business start up guide - Greeting card maker

Make the most of social media tools to talk to your customers and let them talk to each other. Encourage them to display finished creations and those in progress, it’s a good way to anticipate future purchases and stock accordingly.

Time tip – ten minutes to spare: Be organised with your stock, automate as much as you can and simplify your postal procedures. Be creative, you can easily run a website to fit in with your lifestyle and commitments, you just have to Tweet & Blog while you are waiting at the school gate.

Top tip for those who have a creative flair:

Network with other craft and creative businesses, your work is interlaced and interlinked so you can make life easier, save time and build better businesses by sharing resources, skills and recommending each other.

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