Selling self made products: How to start a new career

Homemade selling – Homemade products are in demand on the market like never before. Because fashion that is not mass-produced gives its wearer a touch of uniqueness. A pinch of nostalgia for the times when everything was handmade also resonates. If you like to make your own clothes and accessories, selling your good pieces could open up interesting future prospects for you. DIY products are now in demand like never before. From jewellery and accessories to clothing – the range of possibilities for home-made items is wide. But how can you sell homemade products? FIV Magazine has summarized everything you need to know about selling homemade products.

Get feedback for your handmade things

For a professional business, it is not enough, if you make the stylish tunic once. You must be able to produce the product in appropriate quantities – and also spend the necessary time. The materials cost money and need space. Therefore, not only should you have enough storage space, but also be able to shop for your required fabrics and other materials in such a way that you still have a profit margin at the end. Unfortunately, it is not enough if the best friend likes the homemade garment. Before you professionally raise your business, you need unbiased feedback. Praise can inspire, but does not help you if there are still things to improve. It’s best to make a selection of the clothes or accessories you plan to sell and give them to selected test subjects. Ask for honest feedback on the materials used, workmanship, design and overall look. Then you have a first impression of how your creations could arrive on the market.

Calculate the profit margin

Many have slipped into the sale of homemade things, step by step. Over the months and years, but sometimes over night, the hobby became a profession. However, if you do not want to bake small rolls right from the start, you can not get around a business plan. Not only do you need materials and tools, you also have to pay for packing material and shipping costs. Keep in mind that the production of your good pieces consumes electricity, water and heating in your workspace. Also remember that you need to invest in labels that comply with the EU Textile Labeling Regulation, homepage, logo, printed matter and advertising. All expenses on your list should be allocated to the single handmade piece. Calculate the sales prices so that you have something left after deduction of all costs. Now you can count how much self-made things you need to sell each month to earn a profit or even live off the sale of your products.

Use online portals for home-made

As good as your products may be, they do not sell themselves by themselves. Of course, you can go the classic way and offer your home-made things at city festivals. However, this only reaches a very small number of customers. On the Internet, on the other hand, there are customers worldwide for your products. There are now several national and international platforms that specialize in the sale of home-made things. DaWanda is the most popular marketplace in Germany for Do it yourself. You can quickly open your own shop and get started. DaWanda earns on the registration fee and sales commissions. Etsy works similarly. Other online marketplaces for handmade are muckout, vondir, palundu and ezebee. Under certain circumstances, there is a niche for home-made even on Ebay. Still relatively unknown is the option “Handmade by Amazon”. To be accepted, your products must comply with Amazon requirements and successfully complete the application process. Alternatively, you can open an online shop on your homepage.

• DaWanda
• Etsy
• Muckout
• Vondir
• Palundu
• Ezebee
• Ebay
• “Handmade by Amazon”

It does not work without advertising

However, it is not enough to open a shop on a do it yourself portal and wait for the customers. Because to attract potential buyers, it now needs marketing and advertising. The social media help you reach as many people as possible. You can use Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and Twitter to drum up your creations. When you advertise on Google, you reach your targeted audience. There will be no cost to you until your ad is clicked. Always make sure that you are legally on the safe side. For example, find out about copyright and get tax advice so there are no nasty surprises. Thanks to the Internet, it is now easier than ever to start a successful business with handmade products. However, if you do not want to stay on a sideline, you will need to spend a lot of time, energy, and financial resources to make a living selling your home-made creations.