Do you make handmade clothes, accessories or other products and are you interested in how to sell your handmade creations? Entering the world of handmade business does not have to be difficult if you know how to do it. Here are my five easy practical tips to help you get started.
My name is Helena Lachowiczová and I have been an entrepreneur for 6 years. I sell my own designs, clothes, patterns and I am an instructor in courses for beginners. My business has supported my whole family for several years and you can do it too.
Will anyone want it?
How to proceed if you know how to do something? Can you sew clothes, crochet slippers, or model mugs? You might not even realize it, but you know how to do something that many people don't. That's a great start. But unfortunately, that alone is not enough for success.
So let's read 5 tips that can definitely help you take your first steps towards selling your own handmade products.
1. Choose your niche
First, clarify what products you want to offer and who your target audience is. Think about what you enjoy, what you're good at, and what might be in demand on the market. If you choose a niche in which you feel confident, you will more easily gain customers in the market.
Ask yourself:
- What do I enjoy doing most? Am I really confident in it?
- What am I really drawn to making, sewing, creating?
- What style is closest to me? Modern, crazy colors, magical patterns?
- Who would likely buy such a product from me? A woman? A man? Young people?
- How much competition is there in the market?
- Who is my inspiration?
2. Choose a sales platform
Decide where you will offer your products. Having products is essential, but it is not enough on its own. During Covid, all activity moved to the online space, and it continues to grow and expand there. If you want to succeed, you have a unique opportunity to use the same tools as the big players in the market. And that's truly incredible! Because a few years ago, setting up your own website was a matter of hundreds of thousands of crowns. Today, it's a matter of hundreds of crowns. This is a huge step towards creating conditions for small creators and tiny brands, which are now getting much more space than before.
There are several options where to start:
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Online marketplaces (e.g., Fler, Etsy, Sashe) are a great start for handmade creators. But you have to give them a portion of your profit! Therefore, it is important to calculate prices well and have enough room for a margin.
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Your own e-shop created on the Shopify platform or in the Czech Republic, it's Shoptet, E-shop rychle and similar platforms. Having your own e-shop is now a matter of a few clicks and payments in the order of hundreds of crowns. The advantage is that you don't have to share web space or margin with anyone.
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Social networks like Instagram or Facebook can be used not only for promotion but also for direct sales. Social networks today account for more than 40% of the turnover of small creators. Marketing on Instagram and Facebook has changed, and people are more willing to follow their favorite creators and consistently buy from them.
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Shared stores – if you like to interact with customers in person, try to arrange cooperation with shared stores. You can become a supplier for a local clothing store, have your own little spot in shared stores like Place store. Or share a space with others in a common shared store Rukodělka.cz.
- Brick-and-mortar stores - most small creators don't realize this at all, but everyone who has the capacity and equipment has the potential to gain their firm place in the Czech manufacturing scene. Every day, people on the internet search for keywords such as: Custom sweatshirt sewing, custom t-shirt sewing, custom t-shirt printing, custom sportswear sewing, custom dress sewing, etc. And imagine that most manufacturers have a big problem finding a suitable processor who has the capacity, and so they often have to outsource production to other countries.
3. Prepare a professional presentation
Quality photographs and product descriptions are key to success. Invest time in creating attractive images and detailed descriptions that clearly explain to customers why they should choose your product.
Keep in mind what target group you want to reach. More expensive custom production requires high-quality photographs, many details and nice compositions.
- Find interesting photos on Pinterest or Instagram, for example, and try several different photography styles.
- Use textures and repeat colors.
- Take many photos and try different angles.
- Don't forget to show products in action, this is called Lifestyle photography and it is arguably the most important.
4. Set the right pricing
The right price is a combination of material costs, time, energy, and a profit margin that will allow you to make a profit. Compare the prices of similar products and find out how much customers are willing to pay. But be careful. Definitely do not set your prices according to the competition and do not try to be the cheapest at all costs. Do not be afraid to set a price corresponding to the quality and exclusivity of your work.
What all belongs to pricing?
- direct costs of product manufacturing
- packaging costs
- overhead payments for the business
- a margin that should reflect your own profit needs
- how to price intelligently will be shown in my course for beginners Božena
5. Promote yourself and build a brand
Without promotion, people won't know about you, and it won't matter at all if your products are better than big brands. No one will know about your meticulousness and attention to detail. Therefore, think about your strategy right from the start. Where are your customers and where do they look for your products?
Utilize social media, email marketing, and collaborations with influencers. Share your brand's story, creative process, and engage the community.
Conclusion
Selling handmade products can be a great way to turn your talent into income. Key to success is a clear strategy, professional presentation and active promotion. Don't be afraid to experiment and learn from customer reactions. With these five tips, your start will be much easier!
If you still don't know what to do, the online course Božena, which I created for beginners, is here for you and will help you get oriented very quickly!
Thanks for reading, and if you have any questions, please leave them in the comments. I'd be happy to share more tips. Best regards, Helena
