Managing an online craft store can be a fun way to turn a hobby into a career. If you are particularly good at making something that others would love to buy, why not do it? To start, think about what kinds of crafts you might sell. If you already have an online craft store, how are you making it better? Whether you are just starting out or already have a strong customer base, these tips can help.
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1. Use a Niche-Specific POS System
With online craft stores, there are many possible directions to go. For example, jewelry, knitted blankets, picture frames, and candles are all popular online craft niches. After deciding on what kind of crafts you are going to sell, it can be very helpful to invest in a niche-specific POS system to help you organize and process transactions. For example, if you sell quilts, there is quilt store POS software that can organize fabrics, sewing machines, and other quilting inventory.
2. Present Beautiful Photos
Another key factor to think about when managing an online craft store is how you present your products. Although you can save money by simply taking quick pictures and uploading them to a website, putting time and effort into product photography can have a major impact on your sales results. With crafts especially, aesthetics matter to many consumers. Keep this in mind when you create your online product listings.
3. Be Friendly but Professional
When you are interacting with customers or potential customers, always remember to be friendly but professional in your words and actions. While you want to be an approachable business owner whom customers can reach out to with concerns, you need to remember to keep all interactions professional. Sometimes, customers might become upset due to an order mistake or another accident, and it is important to remain calm and polite while also handling things in a professional manner that prioritizes customer service and satisfaction.
4. Price Crafts for Profit
One of the biggest issues that exist in the craft store industry is pricing. This is especially true for new business owners who are still unsure of what their products are worth. Think about the time and effort you put into creating your craft merchandise. Going back to the quilt store example- how much time does it take you to create a full quilt? Think about that with pricing, but also remember you need to make a profit on top of an hourly wage. Do not underprice your work.
5. Never Stop Learning
As with any type of industry, the craft business industry is constantly changing. Some niches such as quilting and knitting remain solid classic niches, but others come and go. Whatever type of online craft store you manage, one of the most important things you can do is never stop learning. Keep an open mind when talking to customers and researching different business ideas. Craft stores are about being creative; do not be afraid to apply some creativity and learning to your online store!
6. Sell Items That People Want To Buy
While you definitely want to sell craft items that you enjoy making and are good at making, you also want to think about what people are buying. Do some research by searching through online craft hubs such as Etsy and see what is currently popular. Read the reviews and comments to gain more insights. Then, go back to the types of items you are good at making. With online craft stores, there is plenty of room to learn more crafting techniques to make a broader selection of future goods, too.
7. Develop Your Brand
With any type of online business, you need to develop your brand if you want customers to remember you and return for repeat purchases. Some key ways to do this include creating a user-friendly website and social media presence, connecting with your audience online and offline and being intentional and consistent with all of your communication across platforms. In addition, put some time into thinking about the design behind your brand.
Opening and managing an online craft store can be a great way to make a profit with a creative outlet that allows you to enjoy hobbies such as sewing, quilting, drawing and more. Following these tips can help you make your online craft store entrepreneurial endeavor a success.