Finding your niche in the hand made craft business will help in ensuring your success because if you are passionate about what you do and know all the in’s and out’s associated with it, then your high energy and self- confidence is likely to be evident to your customers. This will help to both attract customers as well as to keep them coming back for more. There is nothing more uplifting in the world of crafts then someone who is passionate about all aspects of their business. That passion transmits well to others and is often infectious. Additionally, many folks have tremendous admiration for those who create something out of nothing with their own hands and those who manage to turn a hobby into a successful business.
A niche is your own special area of expertise and where you feel most comfortable and happiest. This is not the same for everyone and that is good because it gives customers a wide array of hand made crafts from which to choose. Your own specific niche could be the craft you choose but it could also be a particular area involved with the craft. For example, your niche might be the material you use in creating your craft or it might be a particular color scheme that appeals to you. Maybe you use many ribbons in making your crafts, or maybe you are fond of molding clay. These items would then become your niche areas of the craft in question, and the base or centerpiece from which you build your crafts. Alternatively, perhaps you love the mix of the colors pink and purple or maybe you are a blue and green kind of craftsperson. In this case, the colors you choose would be your niche of choice.
Another thing a niche could be is a particular demographics, such as women of a certain age, men of a certain age, children or seniors. Maybe you have discovered that you enjoy making hand made crafts that appeal to a certain group of people. In this case, you need to do research to find out if this group would indeed be interested in purchasing the crafts you make and where best to sell to them. The more you can understand about your own particular niche the better off you will be in marketing your product.
Be aware that making a splash in the competitive market of crafts means being one step ahead of everyone else. You need to have both a unique as well as an original hand made craft that will stand out. Do your research ahead of time to make sure that you are not about to create a craft that is passé or totally unoriginal. Creativity is a big plus in the craft business so think innovative, think different, think cutting edge and most of all, think outside the box.
Some examples of craft niches include –
- Bath products and specialty soaps
- Products custom-made from beads
- Seasonal craft products such as Christmas or Easter items
- Crafts made from knits or crochet
- Quilting
- Needlepoint or latch hook craft items
- Hand made cards for any occasion you choose
- Candle making
- Woodworking craft items
- Cake decorating
- Scrap booking crafts
- Dried flower wreaths and arrangements
These are just a small sampling of niches that people have gotten into for their hand made crafts.
Another aspect of your niche in the craft business is the story behind it. When you set up a table at craft shows or if you make the decision to sell your wares over the Internet let prospective customers know how you can to be interested in your niche. If you have a mentor then tell them about the person and any aspects of your niche experience that could be beneficial to others.
Most people love to hear about the story behind a craft business so indulge your customers and you are likely to make a lot more sales! Just as in all businesses you need to sell yourself as much as you need to sell your craft.
When you create a website make sure to design a page that is dedicated to you the crafter or artist. Give the history of your craft if any and let people know how you came to choose said niche. This also works to inspire others and is likely to bring in other new customers as people tell their family members, friends and so on.