Selling handmade crafts is a very popular side hustle, and one that is also timely, given the resurgent enthusiasm for crafts found amongst the general public. If you, too, have experimented with selling your own craft products online and at craft fairs, then you will have been able to surf the wave of this trend and hopefully increase your income as a result.
If your side hustle has flourished and your products are selling well, then you will likely start to wonder if you could transform your side hustle into a full-time income. The good news is that many artisans have followed this route in the past, and there’s no reason you can’t do the same – and here’s what you’ll need to do to make it happen…
#1 – Plan and finance
The fact that you have been selling crafts as a side hustle will really help when it comes to writing your business plan – you already have an insight into what customers want, the costs involved in making your items and the prices you can sell for. Use this insight to create a business plan that upscales your existing side hustle into something more conducive to producing a full-time income.
You will then need to finance that plan. Crafting businesses are usually bootstrapped – i.e. you invest your own personal funds – but you may want to consider outside investment if you would prefer. The fact that your side hustle has proven successful will usually go in your favor in this regard.
#2 – Increase production
If you are making crafts for a side hustle, then your production numbers will probably be low. If you are hoping to sell full-time, then you’ll need to increase your output significantly in order to ensure you earn enough to replace all other forms of income.
If you are currently crafting predominantly by hand, then it’s worth exploring options that could save you a significant amount of time. The exact machine you will need depends on your chosen materials and the products you make; if you use vinyl in your crafts, then the VinylCuttingMachineGuide’s best vinyl cutting machine guide can help you to select the right machine for your needs, while a small handheld sewing machine could be beneficial to any crafter who works with fabric. Research your specific crafting needs and then see if there is a product that can help cut your workload significantly – in most cases, there will be.
#3 – Increase visibility
Marketing is one of the most significant differences between a side hustle and a full-time business. While a side hustle can manage with relatively minimal marketing, as the sales are a “top up” fund rather than being relied on for all income, a full-time business will need a marketing budget to suit.
You will also need to create your own website if you do not have one already; you can use this to sell products directly to customers rather than selling through third-party sites (and thus retaining more of the profit) and also to post updates on your next crafts fair appearances or new product lines. Social media accounts will also be important, and you may find it helpful to join local business community groups so you can network, promote your business, and even connect with potential mentors who can guide you through your next steps.
Final thoughts
A successful crafting side hustle can indeed be transformed into a successful business, but if possible, make the shift slowly by reducing your work hours rather than leaving entirely. This should give you the opportunity to increase production numbers and work on attracting new customers to your business, but without placing the immediate pressure of generating a full-time income onto your young business.