How to Market Your Handmade Goods

Market Your Handmade Goods Online

With the world of online shopping growing at a steady pace every single day, it can be a daunting task if you are a crafter to find ways to promote your handmade goods and get them in the hands of people who can become forever customers. And with non handmade goods being easier to buy online the craft world can get lost among the mix.

Running a small business of any kind can be difficult due to the big name businesses all having online stores, and offering huge discounts or free shipping. Being a small business it is hard to compete with that. Having online stores to sell all your handmade items is a must. Learning how to market your handmade goods is a must for any small business.

Online Marketplaces

There are many great ways a handmade artist can promote their products for a low cost or free. Online marketplaces offer low cost advertising. One of my favorite ones is Prim Mart. My friend Kathy is the owner and Prim Mart has been around since the beginning of time. Not really but it is the oldest online marketplace for crafters of all kinds to promote.

If you have a handmade business with an online shop you need to be listed online in great marketplaces. Finding the best ways to market your handmade goods is a top priority for your business.

Bringing your products to craft shows and setting up at local vendor events and fairs might be a great way to get your products in front of customers. This is helpful as they can touch, smell, taste, and actually see things first hand and will help sell your products. But, that is only good for local sales.

Social Media

There are many social media platforms where you can promote your products for free, or even run ads on them for a low cost. Places like Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter or even advertising on Craigslist.

Putting flyers up all over your local town is a good idea too. Again, only helps for local sales, but sales are sales.

Hand crafted products are things that take a certain type of online shop and promotion because not everyone is really searching them out. Finding ways to get them in the hands of your potential customers is a key ingredient in having a successful business.

Product Promotion in Sampler Boxes

Being an ex candle maker and one who has been in the crafting industry for years, the best way I have found to sell your handmade crafts in by contributing to sampler boxes like Out of the Box Sampler.  Out of the Box Sampler has been in business since 2006 and is the oldest and original sampler box that promotes only handmade businesses. No big cartel, or big chain stores, nothing mass produced. All handmade by very talented people.

Out of the Box Sampler works like this.

• You send in your handmade goods samples
• Boxes get packed each month with samples from all companies who contribute that month
• Boxes go on sale the first Monday of every month
• Customers buy boxes, boxes are shipped, customers go crazy over samples and if they love things they become YOUR customers

It’s very simple, and very effective. Being in business since 2006, Out of the Box Sampler has hundreds of happy contributors and customers. As a handmade business you might be looking to sell more products and get your business name out there. That is where a sampler box gives customers who might never have found you a chance to see what you have.

Advertising Expenses

No matter what business you are in, you will always have some type of advertising expenses. In my experience over the years of being in many different kinds of business, I have found that the best kind of expense is one where a customer can actually see my products.

Running ads on places like Google or Facebook for handmade crafts might work, but why spend money on people just seeing an ad, mixed with thousands of other ads.

Putting your products in the hands of people who buy sampler boxes is the best form of advertising and you get the best bang for your buck.

Of course, you want to make sure you make a good impression when someone opens a sampler box so keep in mind to send products that are top quality. Scents that are not to over powering, things that are not old or broken, items packaged cute and a size that is something one can get a good idea if they like the products.

Conclusion

Promoting your handmade goods is very important and finding the right way that works for your business is key. Do check out Out of the Box Sampler.

Out of the Box Sampler was born in 2006 by me (Sheila), and when my life took a turn (my Mom passed away), I sold it and now I have it back. Super excited to have my baby back and can’t wait to grow it to the next level.

Introducing you to the handmade market one fabulous sample box at a time. My goal when I started the business was to help small crafters get their handmade products promoted and that is still my goal.