Hobbyist selling

[WolfmoonCT]

So, I really like to make stuff on the saw. I'm not a business, as I have a normal full time job, 3 dogs, and a house to take care of by myself.  So I don't get down to the shop to do a lot of cutting. I really enjoy making stuff, but overall, it gets expensive to buy wood and blades. I tend to find patterns I can cut too just give to friends, but sometimes I want to TRY to make something back, to pay for the wood and blades..   I tried Etsy years ago when I was turning pens, but found that it was nearly impossible to sell any there because people just kept listing or relisting and my items always ended up back on the last pages within a day.  I don't do craft fairs or anything like that, because I don't have the time to cut that much inventory. My spots don't like me down in the garage cutting for more than an hour a day if that, and I'm not a fast scroller, so I don't get a large number of items done.

 

Any suggestions?

[Joe W.]

With the details you provided, it seems you have a couple of options.

Accept the limitations you have imposed on you and categorize/rationalize the expense as entertainment/recreation.
Or, see it you can find someone who will sell your creations on consignment.  Naturally, there is a fee for that, but still, you would likely get something back to help offset the expense for the materials (blades/wood/etc.)

My two pennies worth.

[kmmcrafts]

Pretty much agree with Joe, selling isn't the fun part for me and probably most others. When I started the hobby I was still raising little kids and my wife had a job that was 2 days a week ( weekends only ) and was considered full time with full time pay and benefits.. Most shows are weekends so the shows didn't work well for me.. I was a hobby wheeler dealer of car / tractor parts on eBay and other sites.. mostly just for fun so I had some experience with selling online, just not crafts. It's hard to put a value on crafts if you want to make money and it's hard to sell it for just what the materials cost online, because people can't pick it up and feel it touch it etc.. you rely on great photos to sell your piece's. IF you put too low of a price people don't seem to think there is any value in it. Selling online also poses issues of having good SEO for your titles and descriptions so it can get picked up on searches and make it within the first few pages of a search. It's more work than most really want to do. So what I'm saying is.. selling online is like having a job because you need good photo's, titles and descriptions etc. etc. 

I think we all would love it if it was easy to just make it and have the buyers right there to take it off our hands.. There has been many times I thought about speaking up on these topics and saying. Hey, if all you want is to make enough to cover cost I'd pay shipping if you all send me your pieces.. I'm happy to buy finished pieces at raw materials cost, LOL But when it comes right down to it.. deep in your hearts you really are looking for more than just that.. and I wouldn't know what type of quality work each person does.. I might be buying campfire wood, and I make enough of that on my own without the help of others. I've also thought in the past when I'm swamped with work that I'd offer to send patterns and wood to someone and they can cut them for me if all they want is to cut wood.. most want to make whatever they want to make though and what I send might not be what they'd like to cut, LOL 

[BadBob]

To sell on Etsy, you have to have excellent photos. The more, the better. People can't touch your items, so the photos are what is going to make the sale.

Customers must find your products. Keywords in Tags and titles are where Etsy search takes place. Figuring out Etsy SEO is quite a challenge, but you have to do it. People will search for some of the craziest things. I was shocked to discover the "gift for mum" and similar were common search terms.

Some people do well on Etsy without doing much work. I have a friend that makes bases for antique sewing machines. His Etsy shop is empty much of the time because he sells them about as fast as he can make them. He breaks all the rules except photos. He is one of the exceptions.

If there is a lot of competition for your product, you have to figure out how to stand out. For example, searching for "wood toy cars" in Etsy search today returns 6,535 results. If the only keyword I have is "wood toy cars," what do you think the chances are that one of my toys showing up on page one? Just in case your curious, I am on page three today.

Selling online is hard work for most of us.

[new2woodwrk]

I think your best bet is to find a local crafts fair/farmers market or other type of event that  you can set up a table and sell a few items

Here's the thing which I disagree with you about...

You do not need a lot of inventory to set up and start selling!

Some events will rent a tent if you need as well as tables if you need

The event I do every Saturday has 25-30 vendors weekly, There are about 5-6 wood workers, and 3 scrollers.

1 scroller sells Crosses, portraits etc. and does very well. His table typically has less than 20 items - he's a vet and has been doing this event for 7 years with this setup

Another scroller does magazine covers - he has less than 15 items on his table

I do puzzles and wall hangers but have the most inventory of any vendor at the event - we get a lot of traffic to our booth. So much so that they put us in front to draw the crowds to the event.

With a few items, you could easily set up at an event in your area.

Hope that helps

[WolfmoonCT]

Thanks for the replies.  I'll have to see if there are any places locally that may want to just take stuff on consignment.  I think for me, that might be the best option.  If the spots would let me cut stuff in the garage, I could do a lot more. but they come and lay down right under the saw practically, then want to chew on the small cut outs that fall out, or they sit there and literally stare at me and start whining..  But I can't trust one of them to be upstairs alone... she can be a monster when she knows I'm home but she can't be near me.

[lawson56]

I have been going to a few flea markets for 20 yrs, I try to have little bit of everything, now I do have a lot of time on my hands' so I am able to spend more time in my shop. I do very well the 1st 2 weeks of each mht. after that it seems that no one has that much money to spend.

[Puzzleguy]

Many times you might find the smaller church shows are way less exspensive ,

non-serious and just plain fun . Thats how I and my wife got started way back when .

Alot of people who just do a show or two do that and maybe a local farmers market -

a cheap easy up canopy, a table or two and an old table cloth - and your up and running .

 

 

[ike]

I have done most of what has been suggested. the consignment shop is a good oe if you can find one that is been in business for several years, I have had 2 skip out/ on me with no forwarding address and no body knows where thy are. T i am trying farmers market this yrar but It has been raining about every one, so that isn't very good this year. and for the Church craft sales I like them best I have 2 and sell about $400 at each for a 4hour show for some people that's not much but for me it is a great sale. and they are a joy to work at. and they are always on Saturday one day event. about the craft sales there is always somebody to talk to  Venders and customers.

IKE