Do you sell anything you make?

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 Product Liability Insurance and Public Liability Insurance too if you attend fairs and events - 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. 

CapricornLass

I don't sell my craft work, but my husband does and my mother used to.  Mum barely recouped the cost of the cards she made.  They were beautiful, and very reasonable at £1.50, but some people still baulked at the price.  Others would only buy when they had a birthday in the next month.  Maybe I'm the only person who sees a good card for some one and buys it 11 months in advance!

My husband is a woodturner, and he makes enough to cover the costs of his hobby.  He's very careful to ensure that he charges the proper market rate for his work, as there are professional turners who are trying to pay mortgages and feed and clothe their kids, and he doesn't want to undercut them.  However, he's been selling for over 25 years, and he is known, people look out for him and his work, and he has returning customers, and others who contact him.  The other area in which he sells is by doing commissions - he's done presentation pieces, commemoration pieces, and work for other artists.  He is good at what he does - he's been turning for over 50 years.  Even so, people still try to haggle his prices, or tell him they can buy cheaper at Tescos.  He tells them to go ahead and buy at Tesco, but it won't be the same quality, while the hagglers get short shrift!

He does carry public liability insurance.  Another thing we get asked for from time to time is a risk assessment as well.  You may have to consider getting a card machine too, as most people don't carry much cash.  We sell more by card than we do by cash, but be prepared for times when you don't even make enough to cover the cost of your pitch, or even sell nothing at all.  If you are doing outside events, you will probably need a gazebo.  For most events, you will also have to provide your own table and a covering for it (a sheet and safety pins will do the job)

By all means have a go at selling.  Its a good way to meet people, and it is fun.  You may well find that after a while, customers will look out for you and your stall and come and chat and even buy again, but it can take take a while to establish.  

Good Luck!

Auti

Thank you everyone for your replies - little worried about liability in giving away as presents and wonder if the same would apply if it was cakes, it gets very complicated! I will investigate further re giving away as I give as presents crafty items (no cooking). Thanks again.

Thrifty_Taylor

I make fabric chickens & give them a name & hobbies. Also memory bears & taggy blankets. I have a table at craft fayres in the autumn/winter months. Some are more lucrative than others! I do lots of clothing alterations & repairs, so do take in more than the £1000, so complete a tax return each year. A local seamstress who makes wedding dresses has started to refer people to me that are looking for 'more regular' jobs, so I'm busier than ever!! I have a large stash of fabric & wool that I've collected over the years, so trying to work through that, though it is very slowly as don't always have much time to make stock for the fayres!

nGV

A few years ago I struggled mentally and started pottery courses with my sister. It was a lifesaver for me and now I`m even selling some of the things I make. The support and compliments from family and friends helped me to get started as I was sure that don`t have the experience and creativity to make something worth buying.