As you gain experience selling your crafts at craft shows,

you'll be planning your schedule a year in advance. Although a

business plan isn't essential, a marketing plan is a good idea

to have as you plan your shows. You'll want to keep your

customers on your mailing list informed of new products, special

sales and upcoming shows. You may need to update your marketing

materials from time to time as well. In addition, between shows,

you may decide to pursue other paths to selling your products.

Some of these are: the Internet (your own Web site or eBay),

retail (your own store, space in a gallery or retail store),

wholesale (trade shows, distributors or sales reps), trade or

consumer magazine ads (extremely costly), mail order, catalogs,

TV shopping networks and home shows.



Selling wholesale at galleries, stores, trade shows or through

reps or distributors cuts your profit in half. The only way to

make it up is through large quantity sales—and then you may find

yourself in a bigger production mode than what you feel

comfortable with. Selling wholesale has other drawbacks, like

return policies, cancellations and late payments. And some shops

and galleries will only take you on consignment.



Although billions of dollars are spent by consumers buying

products over the Internet, online sales for craft items has not

been spectacular—and nothing compared to craft show figures.

However, it's relatively inexpensive to sell over eBay and for

under $1,000 you can have a decent Web site designed. Check out

eBay for yourself to see if anything like your items are being

marketed there. If you have to sell way too low to match the

competition that you won't make a profit, it's not worth it. Put

up your own Web site and let it be a virtual shop for you—for

existing customers to see what you're up to and to attract new

buyers. You can post your show schedule, have information about

yourself and your crafts and sell whatever items photograph well

and ship safely.



Research other Web sites selling similar products, decide how

you would like your electronic store to look and find a

competent Web designer. Make sure you are quoted all costs up

front including monthly maintenance so you can keep your site

updated. Design your Web site with the same care you designed

your booth—so it represents you and your product in the best

light. Make it easy for people to buy and to contact you. Have

your phone number and e-mail address so they can ask questions.

If your Web designer is not marketing savvy, have someone help

you submit your Web site to search engines and do whatever you

can to make it visible to potential buyers.



Another way to promote yourself online is to join craft forums

or chat groups, where buyers and sellers gather to discuss

crafts. If you position yourself as an expert answering various

questions, people may visit your Web site to gain more contact

with you. Also consider having links and resources on your site

so people will see you as a source of knowledge about crafts. As

a creative person, you'll probably have so many ideas to enhance

your Web site—just don't become obsessed so it takes you away

from your first love—making crafts! Once you have a Web site,

put the address on all your marketing materials—from business

cards to show schedules.



If you are doing well selling your crafts at craft shows, that

may be all you need to do. The more avenues for sales you take

on, the thinner you spread yourself, and the less you're doing

what you love most and what you started this business

for—creating crafts!