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8 Ways to Make Money in the Craft Community without Selling Products

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There have been a number of Cutting for Business readers who have started small businesses making and selling products – and then decided that it really wasn’t ‘their thing’. (And that is totally ok!)

One reader reached out to me on Facebook and asked if I had any ideas of how she could stay involved in the handmade community (and make money) without selling handmade products. Of course I have ideas on how to make money in the craft community without selling products.

I gave her a whole list of things she could do, and today I’m sharing it with you.

8 Ways to Make Money in the Craft Community without Selling Products - cuttingforbusiness.com

8 Ways to Make Money in the Craft Community without Selling Products

Sell Supplies

Whether you choose to sell blank products to embellish or craft supplies themselves, selling supplies can be profitable.

Host a YouTube/Tik Tok Channel

If you are good at explaining how to create projects, video yourself and put them on YouTube or Tik Tok. Both YouTube and Tik Tok can be lucrative once you hit a certain number of views and start getting paid advertising revenue.

Social Media and Marketing

If you are good at social media, allow other crafters to hire you to manage their social media and marketing efforts in their craft businesses.

Become an SEO Expert

SEO stands for search engine optimization. If nit picky things like keywords and search functions interest you, become an SEO specialist and help craft businesses get found in search engines.

Host an Instagram Feature Account

If you love Instagram, you can start a feature account and have crafters pay you to feature their business on your account. First, of course, you’d need to build up a solid following on Instagram. You can learn more about feature accounts in this post.

Write a Blog

If you are particularly knowledgeable about a particular craft, machine, or aspect of working in the handmade community, put your expertise online and start a blog.

Teach Classes

Whether you prefer Silhouette or Cricut, Glowforge or xTool consider lending your talents to teach craft classes. There’s always new machine owners looking to learn how to use their machine. You could teach online through webcams or in person.

Be a Designer

Working as a designer can mean so many things. Some designers design cut files or patterns; while others work directly with clients on websites and logos. If you’ve got a knack for creating digital goods, consider freelancing as a designer.

Do you work in the handmade community but don’t sell handmade products to customers? Tell us what you do in the comments.

Tim

Monday 22nd of July 2024

Helllo Christine. I love your work that you do for us in this competitive industry of arts and crafts. I agree with you on this showing ways to sell items that I don't craft. My followers are so intrigued by the way I use vases/vessels to put my hand rafted floral creations in. So, I'm now in the process of doing a Free class and a paid class. These 2 classes are about the same idea. The free class will have 5 Free ways to place your handcrafted floral arrangement in a vase or vessel. The paid class will have 25 ways to place your handcrafted creations in. This will be a start to finish class. I'm looking at a price of $9.98 for the paid class. I'm sure that I can sell 100+ classes. This revenue will help with the website advertising, my biggest event of the year which is the Arizona State Fair (1.7 million fairgoers in a 24 day period. I'll be Demonstrating the Cricut Maker, my skill/talents, and to have the opportunity to sell my Items to the fairgoers. Last year sales were unbelievable GREAT, and the normal everyday payout) Watch my website for further details. artisans-studio.com Keep up the great work. Thanks again, Tim McGinley

Christine Schinagl, Cutting for Business

Thursday 25th of July 2024

So great, Tim! I'm going to follow along on your social media. Good luck!

Joanne

Thursday 7th of November 2019

Where would you sell blanks if that’s what you want to pursue? eBay? Etsy? Fbmp?

Christine, Cutting for Business

Monday 11th of November 2019

Any/all of the above, plus your own website.

Nichole

Tuesday 30th of July 2019

Oh my gosh this was so meant for me . First off I live on my phone pinning, YouTubing 24-7 quiet literally. I have an entire craft room upstairs stocked as if it were a gift shop or small business or rather or even a craft teaching studio ready to ready to go but I’ve lived with juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis since the age of 4 and now that I’m 41 it’s so hard for me to physically do much of anything. But my heart desires to live a life just like everyone else . So I just feel so stuck . I still enjoy being productive but it just unfortunately has to be done from my bed a majority of the time. Those of us whom suffer with chronic pain find so much joy and relief through crafting but often sometimes just the process of getting all of the supplies out and we begin stressing about getting everything together which honestly shouldn’t sound stressful often can be a bit overwhelming at times and a lot of the reason is because we have so many projects that we want to do all at once when we do have the energy that we end up starting several and never completing one. So then we end up depleting ourselves of that good energy we had and we fastly begin to ache and become very fatigued and tired . I’ve Cricuted for about 14 years and have loved it more than anything and it has been my outlet . It saddens me so bad because I could be the biggest advocate for a brand and advertise for someone via telephone if I believe in a product I can promise you I will sell you on a product. That’s only because when I believe in something I’m going to vouch behind it wholeheartedly. Can you think of anything I can do or should I just sale all the blanks I have and just focus on being a mom when I feel good. I have a 12 year old little girl that is truly a miracle and has an amazing testimony like no other and a 16 year old son .

Shane Green

Friday 8th of November 2019

Start a blog devoted to crafting with chronic illness! I gave up weaving years ago because of the arthritis in my hands. It would have been wonderful to have a resource where others offered advice on how to continue creating.

Christine, Cutting for Business

Sunday 25th of August 2019

Hi Nichole! You could always start a website, blog, or YouTube channel. These things wouldn't keep you tied to specific hours. Best of luck!

PaleDaffodil

Monday 21st of May 2018

Hi Christine! I did sell (and will again) craft supplies ...and just a few handmade items (among other things) on eBay... all starting in 1998. I also gave Etsy a short lived whirl. Photographs are KEY and so is a detailed description. Communication is important as well. Shipping costs are high, so it’s necessary to be aware of the package weight. If it is heavy and not highly sought after, you’ll eat the shipping and profit on your item. ...get a scale and choose what you sell carefully. For me, Pinterest and Instagram are my main social media resources. I don’t do Facebook, *gasp*, or Twitter. I follow and comment on YouTube craft/diy videos but, have not made any videos of my own. Blogging is good. ...focus on your craft. The more social media outlets, the better, BUT it is a preference. Choose your own level of success. Do what works for you. Cheers!

Christine

Tuesday 22nd of May 2018

Thanks for sharing!

Adrienne

Monday 21st of May 2018

I would love to sell supplies, especially fabric since I usually have an idea of what I want in my head but then can’t find the actual fabric! Now I’m trying to figure out how to sell supplies.

Christine

Tuesday 22nd of May 2018

I have that problem of not knowing what I want, too!