How To Be a Successful eBay Seller

by Samuel Colon
7 Tips For Selling On eBay

How To Be a Successful eBay Seller I’ve recommended eBay before as a great way to test a new product. For a growing number of entrepreneurs, though, eBay is their sole storefront. The beauty of eBay is that it lets you get into e-commerce without having to go through the trouble and expense of setting up an e-commerce site of your own. These seven eBay selling tips will help you get started selling on eBay successfully and get on your way to becoming an eBay PowerSeller.

1. A picture IS worth 1000 words. It’s old-fashioned, but people still like to see things before they buy them. For successful eBay selling, make sure any products you list on eBay are accompanied by professional quality photographs.

2. Do your eBay research. When selling on eBay, before you list a particular product, spend some time researching other similar products on eBay and following the bidding process. This will help you gauge the interest for your product and help you determine how much your product might be worth.

3. Learn all about shipping. Shipping is under the control of the eBay seller, but some methods of shipping are better than others when you’re selling on eBay. You want to find the best method of shipping for your product in terms of expense and reliability and then specify that shipping method in your eBay listing. (And don’t forget to include the shipping cost in your shipping information for potential buyers.)

4. Pay as much attention to the writing of your eBay listing as to your picture. For selling on eBay, you need a powerful eBay listing. And the trick to writing a strong eBay listing is to combine search engine friendly phrasing with concrete details about the product in a way that will entice people to bid on your product. Take the time to craft your eBay listing just as you would any ad.

5. Offer a full slate of payment options, including credit cards. The more payment options you, as an Ebay seller, offer prospective bidders, the more bidders your product will attract and the more successful your selling on eBay will be.

6. Focus on getting positive feedback first. Feedback really matters when you’re selling on eBay. If you have a consistent record of positive feedback, prospective buyers will both bid more often and be willing to pay higher prices. So you may want to hold back on placing higher priced products until you have a successful track record as an eBay seller established. http://www.realmoneysolution.com.

7. Be business-like. Act professionally, provide the kind of superior customer service that will build your reputation, and make sure that you’re following all the business rules that apply, such as registering your business and properly charging and remitting taxes. Selling on eBay is just like any other business; to become an eBay success, you need to follow the rules and provide the kind of customer satisfaction that will translate into increased eBay sales.

About the Author
My name is Samuel Colon, Online Business Man, the owner of http://www.realmoneysolution.com your online resource to make money at home. If you are searching for a business opportunity so you can work from home, or an online home based job or idea that can help you change your career or generate extra income. Let us help you. We have compiled a comprehensive list of opportunities and ideas for you to investigate.

Add comment April 30th, 2006

So You Want To Sell your Wares

by Carmel Baird

Sewing can be addictive, you start out making garments for yourself and your family and then see many other projects that you would like to do. Every time you visit a fabric store or craft shop you get ideas and sooner or later want to make up these projects.

Some you can use in your home and give to family and friends as gifts, the compliments come and sure enough you want to do more, ….but to do more would require you to have more family or friends you can give them to and then there is the cost of it all.

One way to recoup the costs is to sell these items, but how to go about it.

There are many ways to go about doing this and here are a few ideas..

You can start with your family and friends, let them know that you are wishing to sell your items and if they could recommend your work to their friends and acquaintences. If you are wishing to take on the craft side of sewing or sewing homewares then you make up a sample range and maybe they would like to have a party for you to help get things off the ground.

Selling by party plan is a great way, you take the orders at the party, have a delivery date for pick-up, this gives you the time to get the orders made and you don’t have to worry about collecting the money, the hostess will have done that for you and have it ready when you deliver the orders. You need a good incentive for the hostess so that others will be willing to host parties for you. You can book up parties from one party to another.

Craft markets are anoher good outlet. the first time you go will be the wordt, in most cases that is, mainly because it takes the people time to get to know your products. A good line to sell at craft markets is handbags or scarves, both are popular, homewares like cushion covers, table runners, placemats and matching serviettes and yes there may be others there selling the same but yours will be unique to you. Visit the craft markets and see what is being sold and decide then on your product line. You can find unusual materials at factory outlets, try the interior designers or any retail outlet that has sample ranges of fabrics, these become superceded and can be bought very cheaply.

Many retail outlets will take consignment stock, that means they take your stock and only have to pay you when they sell it. You put your price on the item and then they add their markup onto that. The bags and scarves are good to go into the fashion boutiques, the homewares into the interior decor and gift shops.

Make up a list of your items with the price you want for them, package them or if you have a handyman around then maybe he will do up a display for you to go into the outlet if they are short on display stands, (don’t make them too big as room in these stores is often at a premium).

You will need a consignment agreement that you and the retailer will agree to. Things like the time frame before the item is changed over, who carries the insurance, if your stock will be covered by the retailer’s insurance, how and when you will receive payment for your stock once sold, who keep the display neat and tidy, who is responsible if the stock is stolen.

You also need to leave them a stock sheet with all the items you are leaving in their store. This they can mark off when something is sold and have a good record for you. Consignment stock doesn’t come into a store’s stock records until it is sold, so they will not have the same records as their other stock.

That is a few things you need to work out, I’m sure you will think of others but it is important to get it all on paper right from the start. Some stores do a lot on consignment and already know the ins and outs but you need to know them too.

Don’t be put off by all this, it is just doing the groundwork, setting things in place to cover yourself and once done you will be on your way.

There is another area and that is the World Wide Web. There is always eBay and other auction sites but you could consider your own website. You could make it similar to the party plan idea, take the orders, give a delivery date, they pay when they place the order and include the postage and handling, then you make the idem and send it off.

Making your won website today is very easy. There are places like FreeWebs, where you can design a site so easily and they even host it for you and you can do all that for free too. If you find it works then it would be better to get your own domain name and take their premium version that has more options. To collect the money there is Paypal, again free to get your account and FreeWebs make putting the access to Paypal on you website very easy too.

With digital cameras, taking the photos for your website is very easy and FreeWebs make uploading them and even resizing them a snip. So you would have your very own store on the Internet, get your business cards done, even that can be done on your own computer now. There are packs of business cards you can purchase to print our yourself and they can be done with MS Word too. Have your details on your business card, your email address and your website address and hand them out to all you come in contact with. I know a salesman who, whenever he is introduced to someone, hands them his card as he goes to shake their hand, he always seems to have one in his hand. He’s practised it and has it down to perfection, you can do that too.

So all in all, taking it one step at a time, you could have a very nice little business, your party plan, your craft markets, remember these are often monthly, your consignment stock and your website store.

Now with all of these there are things you should search out first and make sure you follow the necessary procedures to cover yourself. Read the fine print before you sign anything and make sure you get the documantation in place where needed.

Then go have fun as this can be a fun way to make some extra money and pay for your habit, the habit that is,of being swayed by fabric and projects and not being able to stay out of fabric stores and craft shops and above all else, loving your sewing.

About the Author
CTBaird, Author of Sew More For U, a DIY Sewing eGuide. Get great sewing tips and techniques,http://www.sewmoreforu.com/patterns.html http://www.sewmoreforu.com/sewingbook.html

Add comment April 30th, 2006

Lessons I’ve Learned from Sewing Teddy Bears

by Michelle Yau

Normally all of creativity is dedicated to running my jewelry business, Trinity London. However, in recent months, I’ve decided to try my hand at sewing, specifically making teddy bears. Since I only attempted any type of sewing within the past few months, I have learned many things in the process that I thought I would share.

Lesson 1a:
If you think your cat or dog sheds too much, making a stuffed animal is not for you.
Lesson 1b:
People coming into your house while you are making a teddy bear may think you have sacrificed your pets as part of a cult ritual when they see the amount of fur on the floor.
Lesson 1c:
If your significant other is not attracted to hairy chests, it’s probably best to wear something over your clothes.
Lesson 1d:
Even if you bought the fur there in the first place, the people at the craft store will look at you strangely if you don’t use a lint roller (or a vacuum… or just burn the clothes and change into something new entirely) before you make a quick stop at the store to pick up that one piece you are missing.
Lesson 1e:
Expect to find stray pieces of fur in odd places (i.e. - on the light switch, the curtains, the shower, etc.) as it clings to everything.

Lesson 2a:
Slightly furry reversible fleece fabric makes it much easier to see where you are sewing.
Lesson 2b:
Slightly furry reversible fleece fabric is so thick that it will make your sewing machine buck like a bronco in a rodeo.
Lesson 2c:
It is easier to pierce your thumb with the eye of the needle when attempting hand sewing than it is to pierce two layers of slightly furry reversible fleece fabric with the sharp point of the needle.
Lesson 2d:
When your mother suggests using slightly furry reversible fleece fabric to make a teddy bear because it reminds her of the fabric used on bears when she was younger, pretend not to hear her while swiftly walking away from the slightly furry reversible fleece fabric.

Lesson 3a:
If you didn’t need to pin the section of fabric you are sewing, but it is still staying together, it is most likely on a fold and you shouldn’t be sewing there.
Lesson 3b:
The person who designed the pattern put those marks on the pattern for a reason.
Lesson 3c:
It takes a lot longer to remove stitches than to sew them in the first place.
Lesson 4a:
When making a jointed teddy bear, if you use plastic safety joints, be sure they are placed exactly where you want them before attaching the lock washer.
Lesson 4b:
Asking your husband to remove a safety joint after the lock washer has been attached may result in an unexpected flathead screwdriver injury.
Lesson 4c:
It is best not to laugh hysterically at your husband’s unexpected flathead screwdriver injury, as he will probably not find it as humorous as you.
Lesson 5:
If your cat is a bit skittish, she may impale your loved ones with her claws when she sees you walking into the room with a 2′ tall stuffed grizzly bear.

Lesson 6:
If you have a child, take a picture of your completed project before you show him/her because you may never see it again. I hope you have learned a little from my lessons… not that I would have made any of those mistakes myself.

Abouth the Author
When she is not making disastrous attempts at sewing, Michelle Yau is the owner of Trinity London, a jewelry business specializing in awareness ribbon bracelets, rosary bracelets, and other handcrafted beaded jewelry.

Add comment April 30th, 2006

Rubber Stamping And Markers : 5 Fantastic Tips For Making Marker Magic!

by Kathy Williams

Chances are your craft room or child’s play area has a handful of colorful markers. Since markers are available in so many different colors and often come packaged in coordinating shades, markers are the perfect mediums to stretch your color options without breaking the bank. Using markers with rubber stamps is a perfect way to make classy paper craft projects and bright vibrant scrapbooking pages. Here are five great tips for getting the most from your markers and rubber stamps and making marker magic.

1. Mark up those ink jet transparencies! Using any ink jet transparency, ink the rubber stamp for your project with the desired marker color and stamp the print side of the transparency. The glue on the ink jet transparency will bond the marker ink to the transparency film and will dry in a short period of time. You can then cut around the stamped image and mount on your project!

2. Color Metal! Using any silver brads, paper clips, or any other silver metal embellishments, color the metal with the marker of choice. If you are using water-based markers, bond the ink to the metal with a light mist of hair spray or acrylic spray-on glue and allow to dry. This technique will allow you to make many different custom colored metal embellishments coordinated with your current project.

3. Cellophane Crackle Color! Take a piece of clear cellophane and lay it on a flat surface. Tape the edges to hold the cellophane in one place. Using a watermark stamp pad, stamp the surface of the cellophane the desired size according to the stamp you will be using. Using your markers, color the stamped cellophane, blending the colors with q-tips, brushes, or light mists of water. Taking your rubber stamp, cover the surface by gently tapping the stamp to the cellophane. Proceed to stamp your project with this watercolor-crackled look!

4. Embossing Powder Power! Gently dust a piece of vellum with corn starch. Using embossing ink, stamp the vellum and cover with your choice of embossing powder. Using a heat tool, melt the embossing powder. Take a handful of similar colored markers and draw various sized triangles in a random pattern on the reverse side of the stamped vellum. Color in the triangles with the markers in a random color pattern. Gently spray the surface with a light water mist and allow to dry. Using spray-on adhesive, lightly set the ink on the reverse side and cut out around the embossed image. Attach to your next project for an amazing stained glass raised vellum embellishment!

5. Shade These Threads! Markers are the perfect mediums for coloring in the non inked areas of a stamped fabric image. Simply start by stamping the fabric with the desired color dye-based ink pad. Allow to dry. Using markers, color in all remaining areas accordingly. To soften the marker lines, gently spray the fabric with water. You can dry the fabric with a hair dryer or allow to dry in the air. Cut out your fabric and place on the desired project!

Using these simple marker techniques is a fantastic way to gather a large variety of colors and inexpensively fill in the color wheel areas for which you have no stamp pads. Markers are a wonderful solution for vibrant colors on a wide variety of surfaces. Go ahead, try those markers and stamps out today!

About the Author:
Kathy Williams loves rubber stamps and scrapbooking. When she is not working on her online rubber stamping store, Rubber Stamping Fun, she enjoys writing stamping and scrapbooking articles and working with all of her rubber stamp projects!

Add comment April 30th, 2006

The Seven Wonders of the Quilting World

By Pauline Rogers 

Whether you are a beginner or an expert quilter, these tools are essential to ensure you have an enjoyable patchwork and quilting experience.

1. Of the many rulers available, Creative Grid Rulers are brilliant. The white and black lines are easy to see on any colour fabric. The best advantage that these rulers have, are the built in grips that eliminate slipping of fabric.  These two features make tasks much easier. Available in 6 ½ x 6 ½ square, 6 ½ x 12 ruler, 6 ½ x 24 ruler 
    

2.   Clover Flower Head Pins are one of the most valuable tools you can have in your sewing kit. They work exceptionally well for foundation piecing, pin through your papers with ease and they lay flat over your feed dogs as you sew.  If you have problems with your fabric moving when you are cutting, place flower pins through the layers of fabric then place a ruler over the top of your pins and cut your strip. The flower heads are so flat that your ruler will fit perfectly level over the pins. They will take all the stress out of the fabric moving. 
     

3. Clover Desk Top Needle Threader is a fantastic tool that is great for threading any size needle. Just one click of the button threads the needle. It is so amazing it will even thread three strands of embroidery thread at once. 
      

    

4.   Add a ¼ Ruler is the most useful ruler if you are making templates and need to add a ¼ seam allowance. Make your template to the finished measurement. When cutting out your fabric place template on fabric, then place your Add a ¼ Ruler on top of the template. With your rotary cutter cut along the edge of ruler. Presto, you now have your perfect 1/4 exact seam allowance. 
      

    

5.   Kwik Clip is a fantastic tool to save your fingers. Anyone who has pinned a quilt for machine quilting will appreciate this tool. The Kwik Clip saves your fingers from getting sore doing up the 100s of pins. Just simply put the Kwik Clip under the tip of the safety pin and press upwards until the pin is closed.    

    

6.   The Rotary Cutter is the best invention ever for cutting all those pieces for patchwork. Rotary cutters come in many sizes. The medium sized rotary cutter is the most used, as it is great for single or multi layer. The jumbo rotary cutter is ideal for cutting through multiple layers. The mini cutter is superb for cutting around curves and trimming ½ square triangles back to size.      

    

7.   Self-healing cutting mats are specially designed for use with rotary cutters. The mats come in many different sizes. The recommended size for most quilting work is 18 x 24. The mat protects the rotary cutter from damage, prevents harm of the surface where you are cutting and helps keep the fabric from slipping about. 

Add comment April 27th, 2006

Easy Herbal Gifts For Mother’s Day

Mother’s Day is almost here. You can use herbs to make simple gifts that are appropriate for giving for Mother’s Day or any time of the year. Here are some ideas.

Simple Lavender Laundry Sachet Gift: This gift is great for anyone who likes sweetly scented laundry. To make it fill a fabric bag with dried lavender buds. Seal the bag so the lavender can’t come out. This bag can be used in the dryer in place of laundry dryer sheets to add a delicate lavender scent to clothes. Make several and put them into a gift basket to give to the recipient. As an added touch, include some natural laundry soap with your gift basket.

Simple Rose Potpourri Gift: Everyone loves roses. You can make a simple gift using dried rose buds. Drizzle rose fragrance oil onto dried rose buds. Stir well to distribute the fragrance. Store in an airtight container.

Peppermint and Chamomile Tea Gift Basket: Do you know someone who likes to drink tea? This gift is one they will appreciate. Peppermint tea aids in digestion, and chamomile tea is relaxing. To make this gift put dried peppermint leaves (food grade) into a new glass jar, and put dried chamomile flowers (food grade) into another jar. Label each one. Put both jars into a gift basket and include a mug, a tea strainer, and a jar of honey or some stevia (Stevia is a natural herb that is used by many people as a sweetener).

Herb Suppliers:

HerbalCom.com
www.herbalcom.com

Penn Herb Company
www.pennherb.com

San Francisco Herb Company
www.sfherb.com

Copyright 2006, Ololade Franklin. Ololade Franklin publishes Making Good Scents(TM),the newsletter of handcrafted cosmetics, soaps and perfumes. She is also the author of Easy Recipes For Pamper Baskets and several other books. For complete details visit SoapmakingBusiness.com

1 comment April 16th, 2006

Gourd Enthusiasm Growing Around the World

Gourds played an essential role in the daily life of early cultures.  Commonly used as containers and vessels, they were also used for musical instruments. Some cultures used gourds for birdhouses and feeders and this is what most people today think of when they hear the word gourd. Or maybe you can remember a dipper made out of a gourd at Grandma’s house years ago.

Now artists and crafts people have discovered a new medium to develop their creativity. I’m not sure when the gourd craze officially started but it worked it’s way into my life quite a few years ago by way of an article in a gardening magazine. It looked interesting and so that spring I decided to grow a couple gourd plants.

My first creations were, of course, birdhouses. Later, after some research and book purchases, the world of gourds exploded and I have found that the creative possibilities are limitless. Even if you can’t come up with your own ideas there are a multitude of books and tutorials written by gourd artists and crafters explaining different techniques that can be done with gourds.

Gourd craft is working its way into the hands of accomplished artists who have found the gourd to be an exciting new way to showcase their art. They are not just for crafters anymore.

So now that you have gotten a little gourd enthusiasm of your own, what comes next? Well, the gourd of course. Gourd growers and suppliers, once few and far between, are beginning to pop up everywhere. Many can be found on the internet.

Gourds come in all shapes and sizes, from minis to giants. The name of the gourd can give you a clue about the shape, such as egg, cannonball, canteen, basketball, bottle and so forth. You get the idea.

In order to work with the gourd, it must be dry. If you happen to find gourds being sold in the fall at a farmers market they will most likely be freshly harvested. These will have to dry for a few months to a year or more depending on size. I personally don’t like to purchase green gourds, as they are called, just in case they haven’t fully matured. Some growers, new to the world of gourd craft, don’t understand the needs of the gourd artist. They are only concerned with growing gourds for fall decoration. A poorly grown gourd, instead of drying, may rot or have a shell too thin to work with.

I’m in favor of buying gourds that have already dried. This way surprises and disappointments can be reduced. You still may have a few along the way though. When gourds dry they produce a moldy skin that eventually dries on the gourd. This skin has to be removed before art work can begin. After the skin is removed you may discover some holes or warts on your gourd. Or during cleaning you might discover your hard gourd has turned soft once you got it wet. This is the sign of a thin shell. There are things that can be done with a thin shell, but for the most part, we look for gourds with thick, sturdy shells.

To avoid these problems, look for cleaned, ready to craft gourds. These gourds have been cleaned for you. Cleaning is a messy job and you may not have the desire or area in which to do it yourself.

So come and join in the fun and find out for yourself the addicting powers of the gourd.

Martha Bloom: Grower and crafter of gourds. Find gourds, ready to craft when they arrive at your door. Martha’s Gourds

Add comment April 12th, 2006

Crafting With Gourds

Gourds are so versatile and there are so many different things you can do with them. When you think of a gourd, think of a wood product. That will help you when you start asking what type of materials can be used with them.

Gourds can be painted, burned, stained, dyed, cut, or if you find one that is just too beautiful to do a thing with, leave it natural.

There are a few basics to gourd crafting. First start with a dried gourd. Different shapes will lend themselves to different projects, so find a gourd that will be the best for the project you will be working on.

Next you will need to clean the gourd. Why do you need to clean it? Because the dried mold and skin will flake off eventually if you ty to paint over it.

So to clean, you wet down the gourd and then scrub the skin and mold off. A copper scrubber works well, plus a knife and small wire brush for the stem.

To wet the gourd, you can just place it in a sink full of water and turn the gourd over a few times, letting it soak for 1/2 hour or more, depending on the skin. Some skin is harder to remove.

Remember, cleaning is a messy job and you may not want to use the kitchen sink. I am lucky enough to have a laundry tub to use when cleaning in the house. If it’s warm outside you may want to find a large tub to use. Another method you can try on a nice sunny day, is to put the gourd or gourds in a black plastic bag. Spray in some water and close it up. Let it sit in the sun for a couple of hours and then work on cleaning them. The secret is to get the skin good and soft. If you are having rainy weather or using a sprinkler to water the lawn, just place your gourd out in the lawn and let it get wet that way.

When the skin is softened, it is time to clean your gourd. I like to use rubber gloves when I am doing this. I’ve talked to some people that have broken out in a rash because they were allergic to the moldy skin.

Take your scrubby and start rubbing all over the gourds. Use the wire brush on the stem and on the bottom where the blossum was. Sometimes you need to use a knife for stubborn areas. When everything is cleaned off, let the gourd dry a couple days before working on it.

When going through the cleaning process you will sometimes find a gourd that has a soft spot. That means the shell is very thin in that area and may not be worth keeping. Sometimes parts of the gourd can be salvaged and used as pieces in other projects.

Martha Bloom

More information on gourds can be found at Martha’s Gourds.

1 comment April 10th, 2006

How to Master Knitting Instructions the Easy Way

by Louise Nova
I wanted to set out some basic knitting instructions as a refresher so here it is. All knitting instructions use basically two stitches, the knit stitch and the purl stitch. Once you know these two knitting essentials you will be able to follow most knitting instructions which are just combinations or variations of these two stitches.

Knitting Instructions for the Knit Stitch

Once you have cast on, hold the knitting needle with the cast on stitches in your left hand. Push the point of the right knitting needle in between the front of the first and second stitches, pointing the knitting needle to the right to feed the point through the first stitch keeping it under the left needle. The knitting yarn should be at the back of the work. Loop the knitting yarn around the right knitting needle from back to front, letting the knitting yarn rest between the needles. Catch the knitting yarn on the end on the right knitting needle and pull it through the first stitch to the front of the work. Slip the old stitch off the left needle. The new stitch is now on the right needle. Now you are getting the hang of the knitting instructions. It is a good idea to keep the knitting yarn draped over the right forefinger, this keeps it to the back of the work too. Repeat this process until all stitches are on the right knitting needle. Now count the stitches, if they are all there, turn the right knitting needle around and put it in the left hand. This is the first row from your knitting instructions. The knitting yarn will look like it is at the front and you will now take it to the back and start the second row of transferring stitches to the empty right needle.

Knitting Instructions for the Purl Stitch

The Purl stitch will also be in any knitting instructions. Start with the knitting needle with the cast on stitches in your left hand. Your knitting yarn will be hanging in front. Push point of right knitting needle into the front of the first stitch from right to left. Wrap the knitting yarn around the tip of the right knitting needle, crossing over the two needles and hanging once again in front. Slide the right knitting needle down and back taking the new loop of knitting yarn from front to back, through the old stitch. Slip the old stitch off the left knitting needle. If you have followed the knitting instructions you now have a stitch in purl on the right knitting needle and the yarn is hanging, once again, in the front. Repeat this process until all stitches are on the right knitting needle. Now count the stitches to make sure you haven’t dropped any and turn the work around putting the knitting needle with the stitches on in your left hand to start the next row.

I hope you could follow my basic knitting instructions. I have a lot more information about knitting on my Knitting Instructions blog so please join me there to learn more.
About the Author
Louise Nova loves knitting and teaching people how to knit. She also loves to blog. Knitting for 30 years,she has taught many young family members how knitting is fun and easy. You can find more information on her blog at Knitting Instructions

Add comment April 3rd, 2006

Craft Show Profits - Away From Craft Shows!

By: N. Goyette
 
 
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!
About the Author:
Natalie Goyette is the best selling author of Craft Show Success. Her e-book shows you how you can finally make money at craft shows. http://www.craftshowsuccess.com
Source: www.isnare.com 

Add comment April 3rd, 2006