Hi Friends! Renae from Rich Mom Business and I had a fight the other day over what was a better way to sell handmade items. I think craft fairs and craft booths are better and she thinks selling online is a better plan…
…you can see the other half of our disagreement on her channel. All kidding aside Renae is a brilliant businesswoman and a wonderful resource for anyone who wants to start or improve their handmade business online. I still lean more toward the brick and mortar method for selling tangible goods. Actually, on that front I stopped by the Schoolhouse Antiques Mall to drop off some product and pay my rent for February thinking there is no way I could have sold anything let alone enough to make rent and the owner gave me money, I made a profit! Woohoo! And the funny thing was that is was all done with handmade greeting card sales. Every sale! That will motivate me to package all the cards I have in my craft room! My plan is to sell my physical products in a shop or craft fair but my digital product online. What do you think? Craft fair or Online? Let me know in the comments! Happy crafting!
The Frugal Crafter Blog 
LOL!!!! That was just too funny! 🙂
LikeLike
I think you are right. IMHO, There are so many online choices, without name recognition, products have a tendency to get buried. I have had much better luck at craft fairs and local shops than online. In fact, due to poor sales, our web site was discontinued. Online classes are good, due to the fact that they are more specific, specialized, and more easily found.
LikeLike
Both videos were funny. Loved it. I will settle the argument right now for people who use stamps and dies. IF you are making something with dies (Like from Spellbinders) and certain stamps, many of them have an angel policy that forbids selling on-line. The angel policies usually allow you to sell locally. But that’s only for stamps and dies.
LikeLike
I thnk that on-line is a more consistent way to sell and available 24/7. That being said, vendors can trick you into thinking that their product is unbelievable for the price they are charging and when you get it in the mail, you are right – it was unbelievable; unbelievably terrible. I generally like to be hands-on with handmade articles, and it’s always good to get to know the vendor. I prefer the brick and mortar.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Such fun videos, Lindsay! I always prefer hands-on, peeking in each booth. You never know what you will discover around each corner! It’s so nice to take things home to enjoy or gift right away. Congratulations on your very successful month, Lindsay! It’s quite amazing that the shoppers were out in all that snowy weather last month. Happy crafting! ♡
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think seeing and feeling products on sale is an honest way to sell your wares!
LikeLike
Lindsay, I totally agree with you I feel that a craft booth is much better or renting a space from a retailer, however it also depends on where you are living. I lived in Portland oregon for 26 years a great place for selling crafts /handmade items. There are so many craft fairs, I loved it! But unfortunately due my health I needed to move someplace warmer. So i moved to Las Vegas NV, what a change, I’ve been here 3 years now. They have some craft shows here and a new one that is pretty new but they are so expensive, and different kind of retail stores. You don’t find very many shops with that handmade, craft like or country feel. This has forced me to open up a online shop that I opened up two years ago, I am just now making some sales but I have spent more on fees then making any money and you are right I end up so much time on the computer just to list my items. But for now this is working me. Both videos were funny. Love your videos, I look forward to seeing more.
LikeLike
I watched both videos, great points made by both of you. Thank you! 🙂
LikeLike
LOL!! well you know me, i love the hands on selling, I like to talk about my crafts as so many are one of a kinds..and well lets face it..I like to be around people..when I want to
🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
lol just so much fun!!!
LikeLike
You are crazy talented, and a juggler too???? Loved this
LikeLiked by 1 person
Plus you can show off your skill at raising Sea Monkeys at the craft fairs/shows as well as your juggling! Heeheeeheeee….
LikeLiked by 2 people
Oh that was a fun way to start the morning 😀 Thanks for the chuckle. I say booth!
LikeLiked by 1 person
OMGoodness! You two are so funny!!! I lean towards online, wider audience. And I have around 14K connections in social media. But with that being said, I want to sell my art quilts at Cowboy Christmas in Vegas…where I live. So the commute isn’t bad and I don’t have to book a room for 11 days at HOW MUCH!
LikeLike
Hey Lindsay, Very cleaver way you both came up with to make your points. In all fairness to both ways of getting your crafts/arts out there, I almost always prefer to visit art and crafts shows, shops galleries, etc. I always look for local things that catch my eye or the unique treasures that you can find. I also get inspired to create something I have not tried before like a different medium or style. It always gets my creative juices flowing when I am in a slump. All that being said, I have on occasion, used a well know website to finds a specific item I am looking for that I cannot find locally. I was recently able to find a hand scrimshawed pocket knife that I had been looking unsuccessfully for. But even then, I was lucky enough to be able to track down the artisan in order to ask several questions about her piece before making my special purchase. So, I see there is a need for both.
Keep up all the great work! Both ladies are talented and have great business smarts.
LikeLike
This is great!!! I actually tried both ways and I do like the booth better. My history tells me that people do like to touch and feel and see your product up close! Thanks for this video…it’s done so well!!
LikeLike
Your plan sounds great to me – best of both worlds!
LikeLike
Just thinking of you way up there in all that snow! We had ice and freezing rain. Schools are delayed, but it is not melting at all. Will take snow over ice any day, but not as much snow as you have! Maryland has dodged many a bullet this year! :).
LikeLike
On line can’t be so great ….. I keep putting in her web site & I can’t get it. 😳
LikeLike
I couldn’t get it either.
LikeLike
I have come to the conclusion that it depends on your resources, your location, and where you want your efforts to go. I prefer hands-on with craft fairs and flee market booths I’ve had for my handmade crafts. But I’m also getting ready to open an Etsy store to sell 100-year-old ephemera, including stamped envelopes from the 1800’s and early 1900’s. I don’t mind putting effort into mailing flat items like that. And they are items that shouldn’t be handled a lot, so Etsy is perfect. But I really don’t want to put a lot of effort into constantly mailing bulkier things, and that’s the difference. Easier just to haul it to one locale and sell. I haven’t watched the “fight” yet–but I can’t wait. Too funny!
LikeLike
I tend to lean more towards the booth style. I like to visually see the product, pick it up and inspect it.
LikeLike
OMG this was too funny! So it boils down to if you want to do it all from home – go online. If you want to get out of the house and deal with people – go set up a booth!
LikeLike
I have had my painted pieces and canvases in The Nichols Building Shalesmoor Sheffield since 1st October and havent hardly sold anything but when I showed some of my stuff on FaceBook my friends all clammoured to buy what I showed them. They are certainly not overpriced. I did do a craft fair stall and sold 4 items standing there from 10am till nearly 4pm the footfall was tragic even though it was in the centre of a town and easily accessible…………..
LikeLike
I do both but have better luck at physical locAtions but I am really wanting to aspire to. Being a designer for some big company so I am just now setting up my virtual image and thanks to you frugal crafter I am also going to try to do YouTube you have really inspired me to follow my dreams as an artist so wish me luck thanks theresa
LikeLike
I would want to wander through the booths and pick things up and look at them. You find all kind of wonders in person. Never know what something looks like from an online bit of information. But I do buy from both.
You two are hilarious!
LikeLike
I wouldn’t mind if you sold some of your cards and crafts online. That way I could buy them from Hawai’i! Can’t afford the trek to Maine, however much I might want to. 😦
LikeLike
when a viewer asks to buy a card or small painting they see me make I will sell and ship so if you see something you like, if still available, I will sell and ship:)
LikeLiked by 1 person
oh that’s good to know. Thanx!
LikeLike
Hi Lindsay 🙂
Lindsay, you and Renae, were hysterical and you both got your points and comments across to us very well.
I agree with you, Lindsay, craft booths are the way to go. However, crafters have to come up with the best system that works for them and wait and see if buyers will come to them.
Take care and keep on crafting your way!!!!
LikeLike
you both are great. for me being somewhat shy it’d rather sell from the comfort and relative safety of me home. I say relative because i’m the one who forgets to turn the stove off, leaves the pups outside where they could accidentally catch a really slow squirrel and that squirrel would then be invited in for a play date…..
LikeLike
I would like to see a picture of your booth and also how you package your cards that are selling. Are you selling individual cards, or in groups? What types of cards are selling?
LikeLike
I am selling individual cards from $3-$7. I plan on shooting video of my booth, I just have not gotten around to that yet;)
LikeLike
After 25 years of selling successfully pre-Internet at art and craft shows and now using both and making my living from it, I find both methods work well together. But please no one tear me apart here but I love the normal Lindsey online-the right mix of super information and playfulness but I can only take a little of Renae’s pitch. Please don’t convert 🙂 (you may delete this if it fires people up-not meant to)
LikeLike
No worries;) We were just having a bit of fun:) Renae’s business is online marketing, my business is fun, crafty, art! Opposites attract as they say!
LikeLike