Do you sell anything you make? 20 January at 12:40AM in Crafting 16 replies 1.1K views

Auti

Thought about selling things I have made - was asked if I would make a bracelet - but once looked into it could not as so much to think about - public liability insurance, house insurance, permissions from mortgage/landlord, telling income for any benefits received, accounting and it goes on … this is just for selling one item! So I just do for presents for people I care for - I do a big variety of crafts so can do from card to item to presentation box etc but it would be good to cover materials cost sometimes - saving up takes a long time

twopenny

Yes lots in the past.

One stall was a percentage for charity. Another a group of us got together to pay for a hall a few times.

A lovely lady gave the use of her garage in a honey pot village of tourists and the Rectory did a craft day.

I found that car boots, premium craft fairs didn't do so well as smaller events, one very touristy place  people walked in, round and out. But areas of walkers and strollers were best.

The charity room that goes all year didn't bring in a lot but would pay for the car insurance or gym which all helps.

I've sold books of walks, illustrated with maps, painted china, enamelled pebbles, watercolours.

Always meant to make the little walk books into a coffee table book. There isn't anything like that sold with maps, illustrations and history. Perhaps now is the time to start to pay the astronomical bills!

lindos90

twopenny said:

Yes lots in the past.

One stall was a percentage for charity. Another a group of us got together to pay for a hall a few times.

A lovely lady gave the use of her garage in a honey pot village of tourists and the Rectory did a craft day.

I found that car boots, premium craft fairs didn't do so well as smaller events, one very touristy place  people walked in, round and out. But areas of walkers and strollers were best.

The charity room that goes all year didn't bring in a lot but would pay for the car insurance or gym which all helps.

I've sold books of walks, illustrated with maps, painted china, enamelled pebbles, watercolours.

Always meant to make the little walk books into a coffee table book. There isn't anything like that sold with maps, illustrations and history. Perhaps now is the time to start to pay the astronomical bills!

What fantastic ideas twopenny!

Trinalalala

I actually want to sell what I make, though I'm not sure how to go about it or which of my creations to promote. On top of that, the kind of supplies I need aren't that readily available since, if I am planning to make a lot of a certain drawing or plush, the materials need to be consistent. 

Dragonqueen

Hi - I have been crafting in many forms (jewellery, decoupage, glass etching, bottle lights, vinyl cutting, crystal suncatchers and more) over a period of around 30 years on and off, but constantly for the last 15 - so I am hapy to offer any help that I can.

My main advice is something which people get so wrong - so please remember - the minute you start to SELL items, no matter if you are a 'hobby crafter' or more regular crafter, you become a business, so you must have Public Liability Insurance - if only to cover your back, should anything go wrong. My annual insurance is around £50 per year, so a reasonable monthly outlay - but I wouldn't dream about not having it - and most craft fairs and events expect you to have it anyway these days - so please, get yourself insured.

but happy to offer any advice I can

DullGreyGuy

Dragonqueen said:

My main advice is something which people get so wrong - so please remember - the minute you start to SELL items, no matter if you are a 'hobby crafter' or more regular crafter, you become a business, so you must have Public Liability Insurance - if only to cover your back, should anything go wrong. 

Technically giving things away still creates potential liability.

Given here we are talking about making the product then Product Liability insurance is arguably more important than Public Liability but thankfully when you are talking about the small-medium sized enterprise type offerings then Product is embedded in 99% of Public Liability policies.