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No I don't sell anywhere in person, except allowing people to pick up in person if they're local. People at craft markets aren't impulse buying $150 items in my
by dangrossman 7y ago
No I don't sell anywhere in person, except allowing people to pick up in person if they're local. People at craft markets aren't impulse buying $150 items in my limited experience, and making $10 trinkets to sell on a table isn't going to generate meaningful income.
I can sell wooden maps, signs, wall art that people buy as gifts for $100-200 a pop every day online. I had 6 orders from Etsy in the past 24 hours, all with good margins. People spend a ton on wedding decor and wedding gifts especially. Nearly every $100-200 wooden map I've sold has been for someone's wedding gift, or occasionally an anniversary or birthday gift.
Just this morning I sold a map of Raleigh on Nextdoor (the local neighborhoods app), to someone in north Raleigh, for $100. It was for a gift, and she asked me about making a map of Pittsburgh to give as a gift to someone else. I hand delivered the map -- just a couple minutes drive in the electric car so no gas used -- and the material cost was $0.95 in wood and a $8 frame from AC Moore. So around 90% profit margin.
I have a seven figure nest egg from my time running software businesses, and I still run my websites part time. The crafting business just started in May when I bought my laser machine, but it's currently earning enough to cover our bills. That's a bit of a cheat since I have no mortgage or rent to pay, just utilities and food and insurance. It's not a six figure job, but it's enough extra that I don't feel like I need to hustle too much on the software side. I might tire of it eventually, but for now I'm enjoying making and selling some physical goods, and knowing that people are proudly displaying them in their homes.
- js2 7y agoBravo. I don't know about other festivals but Spring Daze and Lazy Daze definitely have items on sale in the hundred dollar and up range. I've seen photography and paintings priced anywhere from several hundred to several thousand dollars. I don't know how many of these items sell but they are on display. It also seems like there are a dozen or more folks selling cutting boards and lots of those are selling. In fact, trinkets seem to be in the minority of what's on display. Anyway, just an idea for exposure if nothing else. Thanks for sharing your story.