Coronavirus is effecting handmade businesses already with people spending their spare cash on more important things, you know like 100 rolls of toilet paper and 5 litres of hand sanitizer. So what does this mean for your Handmade business?
It means you need to adapt, innovate and bunker down, cause this ride is far from over.
Adapt:
Do you normally sell at a handmade market or fair? Don’t wait for them to cancel it, it seems inevitable that all public gatherings will be cancelled, so let’s go ahead and think that way. Start contacting organizers to see if you can get your money back before it’s too late. If you can’t get it back make sure you have in writing some kinda or credit for future markets.
Online sales, if you are not already selling online then this is an option for you. Though sales are tipped to drop dramatically in the next few weeks. Literally, because everyone is stockpiling. Once the hoarding settles down, people may actually prefer to buy online and stay away from sick people and crazy people.
Sign up wit Etsy or Madeit.com.au if you’re looking for online sales.
Why Etsy? Etsy is like Amazon, people feel a sense of security when buying with big brand name websites. Of course, there is Ebay and Amazon Handmade too.
So what about shipping? Yep, not only do you not want to be charging massive amounts for shipping your goods, I can guarantee you people won’t want to pay it either. This is where adapting your handmade business really comes in to play.
Ask yourself what can I make that is light? Slips into a small package? Maybe you can reduce the size of the item you currently make? Can it be assembled at the other end? What is the world seeking right now? Re-useable toilet paper would be a good start.
Maybe your items are giant wreaths that weigh half a pig and no way you can charge $80 for shipping? How about selling in your local Facebook groups? I am 99% sure every district area has some sort of buy swap sell page on Facebook, hunt them down, sign up and see if those people are your audience? If they are not your customers, then consider making your own Facebook group for selling your items. Invite people who are local to you that can collect your items or consider dropping them off or send an uber. These might seem like crazy ideas but totally viable.
Start building your audience now, don’t wait for the world to collapse before you make a move.
If you are losing customers faster than toilet paper flying off the shelves, then consider winning your customer over before they go. Give them something for free, show them that when times are tough you are still willing to give a piece of your soul, okay not your soul but a piece of your handmade craft business. Why? Loyalty. Maybe they can afford you now, but when this world virus crisis is over you want these buyers coming to you first. So maybe you can’t give away free handmade dresses but can you share a free pattern? Can you give out free image files that you might use on a greeting card? How can you adapt your business to be able to give something away? Now is certainly the time for marketing. Future-proofing your future business!
So what are we giving away to you? Apart from our creative crafty love we are giving you our business knowledge, Remember our subscription group ? Well we have set up a FREE version called the
Craft Business Mentor Village* The only difference is this one is free, oh and that little asterix. We are still a team of Craft businesses setup to help crafters make money from their blogs, websites and stalls.
What else are we giving away?
Free advertising for your Etsy store or online store. All you have to do is send us a submission via this link and send it to me the IndieCrafts Editor. Drop me a line to say you read about the Free Etsy advertising here on this post
Have some ideas of your own? Carrying on from our Mentor Village Motto make sure to chime into the “Village” and let us know what plans you have put into place to secure your Handmade business.
Are you tapping into items on demand? Found a new way to sell? Comment below with your own tips and tricks to surviving this crazy crazy time. Let’s be sure to support each other!
I never thought it would be a marketable feature – but polymer clay is easily washed in hot soapy water…