Items that don't sell

[jamieline]

Just wondering what everyone does with items that don't sell.

I know different areas sell different items. What sells in one area may not sell in another. What sells online may not sell at a show. If we had that figured out we would only make what sells. I made a bunch of clocks out of the puzzle patterns that everyone is using. I know others have had good luck with them but I have maybe sold 1. I have been to several shows with them. Still have good luck with  everything else. The clocks take up room and storage/transportation space. Might be the time to get rid of them all.

How do others sell or get rid of items that just aren't selling?

If you discount an item does it have an impact on prices of other items at a show?

What I charge at a show it the price. Despite being asked, my prices are what they are and never change during a show and pretty much the same for every show. I feel my prices may be lower than what a lot of others get for their items. 

[barb.j.enders]

I ahve no great answer.  I have items that aee 6 years old!

[kmmcrafts]

I'm sort of in the same position, Those clocks sold real well for me for a while. I'm seeing a slow down in what people are buying.. not so much a slow down in orders but how much they're spending.. Clocks and the other higher priced items aren't moving as fast as they was 2 years ago and are way slower than 3-5 years ago.. I've been considering running some sales and promotions to maybe help move a few things. I don't like to do that but I also have always priced my item on the higher end of the scale due to what once was a supply vrs. demand pricing.. less demand now so I could either drop prices or run a sale.. I think running a sale would work better because then ( Etsy etc. ) they slash the original price so folks will see they are getting a discounted price from what they was originally. Many folks like to see they're getting a bargain price.. we all know that person that gets a great deal and shows it to friends and says... " i got this for 40% off.. it was marked from $XX.XX to $X so I got a great deal, LOL.. If you're already selling at a bargain price it's hard to run a sale and do that.. partly why I price higher, but for the most part I've not run many sales..

I seem to be selling a fair amount of the lower priced items so people are buying.. just not spending the larger amounts. Some of it could be just all the changes Etsy seems to be making too, since my Amazon sales are slightly up.. 

I have seen Etsy shops run a clearance section in their shops where they show a very big discount.. that could be an option for online selling if you're online, I'm not sure how to handle that stuff in crafts events. In the past I have listed things on eBay for much cheaper prices just to move products that do not sell in my main stores.. since my eBay has no references to my business a customer doesn't know it's me selling the items IF they've seen my shop on etsy.. Use totally different photos etc.. But to be honest I've not had to do that much at all since most things move fairly well in a good economy. 

I started selling crafts online back in 2007 right during the downward economy of 2008 etc.. but just starting out at the bottom sales was always going up because I was already at the bottom, LOL. Now mostly this year is my first time with a slow down.. I've been creating a lot of new designs for smaller lower priced items in hopes of gaining some sales over the holidays. 

[BadBob]

I only sell online. You're asking a tough question.

I keep items in my shop that don't sell but get many views. It gets potential customers into my shop, and they may buy something else. I don't have any hard evidence of this.

I have tried lowering prices to move slow items, which has never worked.

My sales have been in a steady decline since February 2021. Two months since then I have not sold enough to pay the fees. The only thing that is selling for me now is very low-priced items.

 

[kmmcrafts]

Just a thought, IF you're selling online and stuff isn't moving... make sure you're items are being seen because running a sale on items that are not being picked up in searches is still not going to make things move... Having good SEO and a good idea to have social media for your business to show off your products helps get items in people's view..

You did mention going to shows but not if you are selling online also? As you mentioned, sales of items are better in some locations and not so good in other locations.. Online sales can be worldwide if you choose to ship internationally.. I've found that most anything "I like" there is another group of people that will also like it.. I have some items that sell real well but it's things that I'd never want or like let alone pay a hefty handmade price for it, LOL.. But others love it and I hardly can keep it in stock.. 

Getting those clocks in front of the eyes of the people that would love to buy it is the only way it's going to sell... honestly in many peoples eyes the price isn't the issue so much as it is just getting it seen by the right group of people. 

[jamieline]

I was referring to craft shows, not online. My issue is continuing to transport items that are not selling. I have had these items in numerous shows and they just don't generate much interest. I would be able to evaluate the item is a lot of interest was given and maybe it was a price issue, but that's not the case. I may have over committed to the amount I should have made to judge interest. Might just have to tuck them away until another time

What is the potential impact to having a sale on a particular item and how that might affect other items being sold. 

[Wichman]

The craft shows that you reference, is it the same venue or is it multiple venues.

Different cities or just a single location?

Do you see the same faces or not?

Different classes of people (broad categories)?

And, yeah I get you with transporting the same item(s) to show after show, even with kid gloves items will get scuffed and nicked, or outright broken.

 

[Joe W.]

Hmmm,
I've had a few items that didn't sell for over a year after having been on display at several farmers markets.
Then, just as I thought they'd never sell, someone comes along and buys them.
In hindsight, it seems the variable was the location was different.
I have noticed, at least in my area, that many (most?) of the people that go to the farmers market I was selling at were regulars.  So initially, the sales were good.  Then, as time passed, sales dropped off, as the ones who initially bought something didn't want anything else later on.

Oh, but wait.  There was one item I just got tired of looking at that wasn't selling.  So I made it a gift for our family Christmas gift exchange.  The gifts are meant to be inexpensive, fun, and light-hearted.  Which fit the bill and was well received.

A variation of that for craft sales would be to "bundle" it with another item for a lower price, just to move it and at least cover your material cost for the item.

That's my 2 pennies worth.
 

[dgman]

10 hours ago, jamieline said:

I was referring to craft shows, not online. My issue is continuing to transport items that are not selling. I have had these items in numerous shows and they just don't generate much interest. I would be able to evaluate the item is a lot of interest was given and maybe it was a price issue, but that's not the case. I may have over committed to the amount I should have made to judge interest. Might just have to tuck them away until another time

What is the potential impact to having a sale on a particular item and how that might affect other items being sold. 

In the past, I have had several items that didn’t sell over a couple of years. Instead of lowering the price, I actually raised the price by about 20%. They sold!

[kmmcrafts]

I've also done the same as Dan, by raising the price you appeal to a different crowd.. Not sure that'd work with craft shows because they greatly limited to the people in the particular area.. and if it's a dominate middle class area then that probably not going to work. 

I only did around a handful of craft shows in the beginning of my selling ventur.. I'm sure glad I don't have to lug totes around and do the whole set up take down crap.. That said, I still have crap I hate to do but I think every job has something we all dislike having to do so it is what it is I guess. 

I wish I could help answer your questions but they are tough to answer type questions.. Sometimes in life we just have to chalk up some learning experience.. in your case it might be donating them to a charity.. or it could be persistence and maybe they'll catch interest of someone.. 

Could it be possible to have a raffle and raffle their choice of clock you have available? If the item has interest but price is to steep for your location.. many folks are willing to through in a couple dollars for a chance to win something.. sometimes it might be a something they themselves are not interested in but maybe someone they could gift it too at Christmas or? anyway just a thought.. and probably something like this would be easier online than in person but could be worth a shot.   

[BadBob]

I have some items that I rarely sell. When I first listed them, it was two years before I had a sale and one person bought four of them at $35 each plus shipping.

One place I get into trouble is when I will list something new and it sells right away, so I make several and then nothing.

[jamieline]

I might be the odd person here but I like craft shows vs selling online. Don't mind the set up tear down. Like to interact with everyone. I also give away some military puzzles when I see a veteran in a shirt or hat. 

I have thought of the idea of raising the price but not sure will work. Others have had good luck with it.

Kevin, I like the idea of the raffle item. At some shows they ask for a donation for a silent auction to benefit some organization. I like giving a couple of items so I might donate the more generic items.  

[Wichman]

You are not the odd person out here. I REALLY dislike online sales! Online sales is like adding another business on top of your existing business and trying to follow all the rules and regs (that are different for each platform) seems to be a royal PIA. I'm not a big enough business to have a legal department to keep me from running afoul of all the different laws.

I've been associated with the local Farmers Market for 20 years (started with veggies, four years with crafts), This is my last year at this market, the sales don't justify the time at the market let alone the time spent making things. I going to transition to local craft show/events (1 per quarter) and see how that works. 

[Gene Howe]

Several years ago, before I even knew what a scroll saw was, I  was building fancy boxes, some from the band saw and some from the table saw. We took them to a particular craft show that was open for two days around Memorial Day and Labor day. We participated for 5 years before we moved from that area. We usually did quite well each outing. A small, rural area in the mountains north of Phoenix.  Being much cooler, moneyed Phoenix folks came up for those holidays. 

We've since moved from the mountains to the Tucson area and I'm A LOT older. I'm nowhere proficient enough with the scrollsaw and, lack the stamina for production runs of the stuff from the TS and BS, craft shows are no longer an option. Now, the shop is truly just a place to have fun with no thoughts of selling anything. 

[BadBob]

I don't do shows.

There is only one juried show in my local area, and I'm not interested in farmers' or flea markets.

Several years ago, I considered setting up for a show. However, when I did the math, the buy-in was more than $700 to start. I don't have any of the required equipment and would need to buy it all to set up for a two-day show. Then I would have to make stock for the show. When you sell online, you can make one, take photos, post your listing as made-to-order, and give the first one away if you like. I'm slowly switching to made-to-order because having lots of stock on hand is a major storage problem.

[John M]

I sell online and at several craft shows a year some of which require a raffle donation. So  items that don't seem to sell become raffle donations.

 

[kmmcrafts]

7 hours ago, BadBob said:

I don't do shows.

There is only one juried show in my local area, and I'm not interested in farmers' or flea markets.

Exactly, Most ( but probably not all? )of the flea markets and farmers markets around here bring the wrong type of shoppers in that'll "make you profits".. It's hard to get your worth from these type of shoppers.. Heck even most of the crafts shows around here is tough to get your worth from.. There are a few high end juried shows in my area and they all charge a nice chunk of change to get in and they're also a long waiting list to get into them too.. about the only time you get in is if someone died or moved, LOL

 

[kmmcrafts]

Both shows and online have their good and bad.. I started in a time 20 years ago when I was a stay at home dad looking to move products I made and make a little extra cash to help wife with bills etc. She works every Saturday and Sunday 12hr shifts and is paid full time with benefits so it was a no brainer for me to stay at home with the kids since I'm a shade tree mechanic and autobody guy I worked doing that stuff for extra cash until I found I like scroll sawing etc. Anyway, most craft shows are on weekends so it just wasn't working in my favor to do them so I took it to online.. I could work on website stuff late at night when the kids was sleeping etc.. just worked well for me and I got a following so I stuck with it after the kids was bigger.. I get all the business I want online even though it has slowed up the last couple years ( in part because I stopped doing international sales which dropped about 20% of my orders and now the economy is in a slow down ) I get plenty of work doing car work and my crafts has slowed up some but I'm plenty busy with other things. 

There was a time when I wished I had a different business name that was more specific to what I sold.. now I have a decent following and am glad that it is kind of generic because I can put my CNC and laser stuff to the same website.. or any other craft hobby thing I may get involved in.. 

So back to the topic, things that don't sell turn into promo pieces for me.. I can go to certain groups to do a giveaway prize for anyone that follows me on a page or do raffles etc.. So items that are not sellers or very slow movers are still profitable through promotions.. this is why I mentioned raffle.. IF you was at a dog event of some sort you could easily raffle off a dog clock..maybe not so much at a farmers market but, for me I can just go to a forum or group of particular dog breeds and say I'm raffling this off this dog clock and could say maybe a portion would be donated to a local humane society etc.. There is a lot of ways to move a product that may not be 100% profit but gains a few followers that may buy at a later time... all while being a tax write off for  ads / promotions etc.. so it's never a total loss to give something away or take way less money on..  

[jamieline]

This was never meant to be about online vs shows. I don't do flea markets or farmers markets. I try to avoid any shows that charge an admission (doing my first this year due to another show being canceled). I also limit shows that have a lot of commercial vendors (just seems to bring in a different crowd). I appreciate that everyone enjoys selling in a different way.

I'm not in this to make money. I enjoy scrolling and have limited my shop to more specific for scrolling. Gone are all the big tools for building furniture, etc.  If I pay for my material, and other expenses I'm happy. Retired so I look at this as something I enjoy. Yes it can be interesting when i have a good show and then have to restock for another show in a short period of time.

Thanks for the ideas of donating the items. I'm always giving or donating other items at shows or other times. 

[BadBob]

17 hours ago, kmmcrafts said:

There are a few high end juried shows in my area and they all charge a nice chunk of change

Last I checked several years ago the only juried show in my area charged $100 minimum for a 10x10 spot. 

[JTTHECLOCKMAN]

On 8/10/2023 at 1:24 PM, jamieline said:

I was referring to craft shows, not online. My issue is continuing to transport items that are not selling. I have had these items in numerous shows and they just don't generate much interest. I would be able to evaluate the item is a lot of interest was given and maybe it was a price issue, but that's not the case. I may have over committed to the amount I should have made to judge interest. Might just have to tuck them away until another time

What is the potential impact to having a sale on a particular item and how that might affect other items being sold. 

I know this is an older post but thought I could add something. I have done shows for over 40 years and I have seen the rise and fall of the craft show circuit. I can tell you that people just shop online more now than ever because of the ease and not having to go through the hassle of travel. just way of life today. Now I will leave the online sales talk to the pros here because I never did it and will never do it. In fact I sold all shipping boxes and and equipment that I was going to use for this. Just not worth the hassle to keep up with the rising costs and maintaining a viable site to get traffic and compete with others. When doing shows it is all right in front of you. You have the hands on feel of what is happening and yes it changes from show to show and year to year but I am not debating what avenue is better. I have also sold through 6 stores in huge malls throughout NJ and at those times did well. But again malls have become just a hangout for kids these days. 

To get back to question at hand I did show my last setup at my last show on another thread here called Saying Hi. I lugged things back and forth to shows and just dealt with this because it was the way I chose to do sales. The thing that made things worse is or was the Pandemic. It shut down many shows for a couple years and the shows I did do and would still be doing are not there any more. The attendance was dropping anyway so I guess they figured a good way to end. I too have now alot of inventory. What I plan on doing and started to do last summer was sell through FB marketplace and just to unload I have lowered prices to basically cover costs. I am getting out of the scrollsaw hobby because I have seen the decline and it is not worth the effort any more. When I was doing shows I never changed prices doing a show but what I did was talk and chat with customers and offered deals especially if it was an item I wanted to phase out. That is the beauty of doing live shows. You have total control of all aspects. I never saw a drop off in clocks. Everyone needs a clock. The key is to vary product line and have something for everyone. Theme clocks were always the way to go for me. I made clocks with all kinds of job related themes. I tried zeroing in on people's hobbies such as pool playing, fishing, hunting sewing and so forth. Desk clocks always outsold wall hanging clocks. Will show ever return to prepandemic, who knows but I doubt it. Good luck. 

By the way I should mention I did find a new hobby and that is lathe work. Mostly pen making. It is more lucrative and easier to do shows if I go that route again. Lot less to carry and easier setup and take down. Scrolling just takes too many resources to do well. I still give away a few items as donations to raffles and things but I now give away more pens than ever because it is easier to do. But doing pens I even went down the one of a kind avenue and gear myself to the never seen thought in them too. Just my creative mind I guess.

Edited September 7, 2023 by JTTHECLOCKMAN

[Roberta Moreton]

I make what I like, mostly. If an item doesn’t sell, I don’t list or show that item anymore for a few months.  I will NOT discount anything.