been advised to ask your advice

winniepooh

Hi O/s ive not been on here much for a month or so been extra busy at work,
Anyway I posted a thread on the small business board about an hour ago and one member has suggested that I ask your opinion.

I wont type it all again, but do you think I'll do ok, we really need the extra income

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4782925

good_advice

Haberdashery = the selling of sewing materials.
I am not so sure about selling on market stalls in winter.
How about taking a stall at Christmas craft fares? more indoors?
Our indoor shopping centre sometimes has a cart/table out that people sell things from.
Ebay?
car boot sales?

The craft shop in my town has closed. Just not making enough profit.

It is sad to say with the house keeping getting tighter as the bills go up, crafters are spending less.

I craft most days and give my projects away as gifts.
At the monent I am doing patchwork bags that cost pence for the new wadding. The material is old cotton clothing and a lilac sheet I had.

winniepooh

good_advice wrote: »

Haberdashery = the selling of sewing materials.
I am not so sure about selling on market stalls in winter.
How about taking a stall at Christmas craft fares? more indoors?
Our indoor shopping centre sometimes has a cart/table out that people sell things from.
Ebay?
car boot sales?

The craft shop in my town has closed. Just not making enough profit.

It is sad to say with the house keeping getting tighter as the bills go up, crafters are spending less.

I craft most days and give my projects away as gifts.
At the monent I am doing patchwork bags that cost pence for the new wadding. The material is old cotton clothing and a lilac sheet I had.

Theres a hobbycraft and a craft central opened up 10 miles away from me me in the last month so they are spending but probably using the big names, independent shops just cant compete with there prices. The craft fairs only really like you to sell handmade items which we do as well also infact we sell a lot of quilts but we cant sell the new stock. Ebay and amazon fees are crippling and after you've paid for paypal to its a wonder how anyone makes much profit on new stock. We enquired about a cart in the next town but the waiting lists are long and I cannot afford to wait. Ive also put my name down on a unit that may come available next year its on a national forest site and has 12 craft units but Im not sure the footfall numbers thru the winter months but great in summer

-taff

You might think about doing some courses instead of only selling haberdashery stuff.
There are lots of people around who have no idea of one end of a sewing machine from the other. You could do make do and mend courses, or simple intros to sewing/embellishing/cushions etc. Do a couple of weeks of evening classes etc.
Longer couurses if there are takers.
Then you can also sell your items to the people who come on your courses.

Advertise in your local library, provide materials and hot drink/cake, and see what happens.