Making handicrafts is a great way to combine passion and profit. If you’ve got a talent for making creative knick-knacks, then you might want to consider pursuing this as a full-time career. Not every entrepreneur can sell their products in a physical store in their first go though. Here are some alternative places to hawk your goods:
Mobile Store
Got a truck, camper, or RV that isn’t being fully taken advantage of? Why not turn it into your own personal mobile retail store? This method is an easy and effective way to launch your entrepreneurial passions. Overhead costs include gas, RV repair and maintenance, and parking. Not having a permanent location to settle in makes it easier to reach a wide variety of clients since you can go to wherever they are.
Online Marketplace
There are plenty of online marketplaces where you can list your items for free. Sites like Etsy, eBay, and Craigslist are excellent places to look into, especially since these websites already have a large user base and are incredibly intuitive to use. You won’t have any trouble figuring out how to maintain and upload your listings.
Social Media
Social media is one of the most effortless ways to sell your handicrafts since you’re probably already using it on a daily basis. All you have to do is set up a social media account that’s dedicated to your products, upload the necessary pictures and details, and list down all the methods people can place an order and payment options. It doesn’t cost a thing to use and it’s very easy to get accustomed to. The most difficult part is standing out from the deluge of everyone else’s posts.
Trade Event
Trade events usually require you to pay a reservation fee which could be quite expensive depending on how established the event you’re going to is. However, you’ll easily earn back what you invest since you’ll receive tons of foot traffic. This is also a great way to network with other merchants and learn from them.
Physical Marketplace
Much like trade events, traditional physical marketplaces require you to put up a small fee to reserve a stall for yourself. The difference between a trade event and a marketplace is that typically trade events have a specific kind of customer looking for specific kinds of items. This means that you’ll have to compete with other vendors who are selling similar products. In a physical marketplace, you might be the only one selling your type of product which allows you to stand out.
Kiosks
Kiosks are small booths you can set up in various locations such as malls and public parks. As with trade events and marketplaces, there are upfront costs that you have to cover, but it’s the closest method there is to actually have your own physical store minus the expensive overhead costs.
Personal Website
Having a personal website to sell your products is a great way to build your brand. You can use this method in conjunction with your social media accounts to broaden your online presence. Make sure that the website is intuitive and easy to navigate so that people are more inclined to spend lots of time there.
These days, you don’t even need a brick and mortar store to jumpstart your entrepreneurial pursuits. This list of alternative places to sell your products offers accessible solutions for you to consider.
