The Comfy Crafting Cafe Challenge

cazmanian_minx

Primarily jewellery making, but a bit of knitting, crocheting and tapestry as well.

Monkeynut

I think with regards to selling, it can be really random sometimes whether you hit or miss.
For example someone I know vaguely through a friend of a friend, started a business last year, sort of by accident really!! But now she's so popular and has an amazing loyalty base, to the point where she'll do stock sales sometimes and everything is sold in minutes. Most stuff is personalised, and she is currently having to take orders for 2013 because she is so busy.
Her trademark things have been sleepy owls, she does cushions, doorstops etc, and also fab camper van cushions, and amazing fabric advent calendars for Christmas. I think having these trademark things make it more desirable as she's built a brand out of it almost.
Started as making things for friends, then selling a few bits to people she knew, and went from there. Obviously the more she started doing, the more money she could invest back in to it so has extensive fabric etc to choose from which helps it to snowball!

muxtonman

Thanks for the replies, most interesting, I have to say that it does seems hit and miss ref selling craft stuff at the moment.Good Luck to all people who try I say, :j

Toric_2

hiya

my first post in this thread. i love crafts. i mainly knit but i also crochet make jewellery and do a few different needle worky things.

i would love to sell some of my bits but i've tried etsy and have zero interest one there and i'm starting to try facebook but i'm a bit nervous about the idea of firstly showing my stuff to my friends (i'm 25, my friends who know i do crafts already think i'm a bit odd) and secondly i hate the idea of pushing my stuff on my friends, i hate to think that i'm forcing my crafts on people. i've not done my own craft fairs yet but i've helped friends who do and i've seen how they barely cover the cost of their table let alone made any money.

i'm interested in hearing if anyone has any other ideas but until then i'm happy working away making things for myself. at the moment i'm solely working on a wrap to go with my dress for my step sisters wedding. its neither done and i cant wait to finish so i can go back to working on other projects

kiss_me_now9

Toric wrote: »

hiya

my first post in this thread. i love crafts. i mainly knit but i also crochet make jewellery and do a few different needle worky things.

i would love to sell some of my bits but i've tried etsy and have zero interest one there and i'm starting to try facebook but i'm a bit nervous about the idea of firstly showing my stuff to my friends (i'm 25, my friends who know i do crafts already think i'm a bit odd) and secondly i hate the idea of pushing my stuff on my friends, i hate to think that i'm forcing my crafts on people. i've not done my own craft fairs yet but i've helped friends who do and i've seen how they barely cover the cost of their table let alone made any money.

i'm interested in hearing if anyone has any other ideas but until then i'm happy working away making things for myself. at the moment i'm solely working on a wrap to go with my dress for my step sisters wedding. its neither done and i cant wait to finish so i can go back to working on other projects

Not quite the same but I recently set up a blog about nail art/fashion and I was incredibly nervous about linking it to my facebook (I was convinced people would turn around and go 'Her?! Why is she doing that, she's the least fashionable person ever! Such an attention seeker!') and the response so far has been really, really positive. Set up a business page and just have it hanging around - maybe mention it in a few statuses, but don't be too in your face - and you'll probably be surprised.

If you love it - then sod anyone who thinks it's odd!

fairyclicks

Toric wrote: »

hiya

my first post in this thread. i love crafts. i mainly knit but i also crochet make jewellery and do a few different needle worky things.

i would love to sell some of my bits but i've tried etsy and have zero interest one there and i'm starting to try facebook but i'm a bit nervous about the idea of firstly showing my stuff to my friends (i'm 25, my friends who know i do crafts already think i'm a bit odd) and secondly i hate the idea of pushing my stuff on my friends, i hate to think that i'm forcing my crafts on people. i've not done my own craft fairs yet but i've helped friends who do and i've seen how they barely cover the cost of their table let alone made any money.

i'm interested in hearing if anyone has any other ideas but until then i'm happy working away making things for myself. at the moment i'm solely working on a wrap to go with my dress for my step sisters wedding. its neither done and i cant wait to finish so i can go back to working on other projects

Its quite difficult to get the balance right on fb at times - i find posting pictures of this is what i have just made what do you think? type posts much better on my personal page - friends don't feel pressured into buying but they sometimes come back saying oh can you do one for me? or recommending you to their friends.

To any of you selling on fb (or wanting to) please feel free to join my fb page fabulous online craft fairs where i am doing an online craft fair for all of July (tis free btw!) xxxx

Kepp

fairyclicks wrote: »

.

To any of you selling on fb (or wanting to) please feel free to join my fb page fabulous online craft fairs where i am doing an online craft fair for all of July (tis free btw!) xxxx

Have you got a link Fairy? x

fairyclicks

beccie wrote: »

Have you got a link Fairy? x

lol i was trying to be good and not post a link.....never mind i can delete later its https://www.facebook.com/craftfaircentral

Sugar_Coated_Owl

'Liked'

Kepp

fairyclicks wrote: »

lol i was trying to be good and not post a link.....never mind i can delete later its https://www.facebook.com/craftfaircentral

Thanks Fairy! Can't look at FB at work but have emailed the link to myself so I can check it out at home should it get removed