The Morning Crafter

Crafting is more a hobby for so many; it’s a set of skills that can be transformed into a profitable side hustle (ONLY IF YOU WANT IT TO BE.)* With the rise of AI and the growing popularity of handmade goods as a result, there’s never been a better time to start selling your crafts in some capacity. In this post, we’ll explore the journey from hobbyist to entrepreneur, discussing the pros and cons of various selling methods, including markets, custom orders, and digital sales.

*I want to caveat this entire post with this: You do not have to sell your work to be an incredible crafter or artist. You can simply make for the sake of making and that makes you just as relevant, passionate, and talented as those who are turning a profit from their work. Please, do not lose your motivation just for the hope of making money.

My experience in building a side-hustle

The first step in turning your hobby into a side hustle is deciding what to sell. Do you want to focus on finished products, custom orders, or digital offerings? Each option has its own set of challenges and rewards.

Early beginnings: The market days

When I started my business, I was initially focused on selling finished items, like cross stitch art, fun embroidery works, crochet garments, and random handmade home decor. The process was exhilarating—I loved seeing my creations find new homes. However, I burnt out, quickly. it’s important to remember that this approach requires a significant investment of time. Each item is handmade, which means that production can be slow, especially if you’re juggling other responsibilities.

At the time, I did not yet have kids, but I was still working full time in an office with a 45 minute commute. I would spend long days out of the house at work, and then would come home and work on my crafts to fill inventory I needed for my monthly market booth. I was also simultaneously battling an undiagnosed autoimmune condition, so exhaustion was perpetuated by the constant grind and my body failing me. It was… a time.

From in-person to online

I then switched to selling digital patterns and building my online presence. It proved to be more lucrative, but also a lot of work outside of making finished products. I still find myself putting in the time at my full-time job, hanging out with my two kiddos and family, and burning the midnight oil to work on my website, pattern development, and social media content.

I wouldn’t trade it for the world. I’ve been so honored to have built the community I have, and to serve those folks with fun cheeky crochet patterns. And I’d love to offer up my experience on how you can make money selling your work. (I’ll say it again… only if you want to!)

Selling at markets: The pros and cons

One of the most exciting ways to sell your work is by participating in local craft markets or fairs. Markets provide a fantastic opportunity to connect with customers face-to-face, meet other makers and artists, get instant feedback, and build a local following. Plus, there’s nothing quite like seeing someone fall in love with your work in person.

Pros of selling at markets:

• Direct interaction: You get to meet your customers, hear their thoughts, and build relationships. This can be incredibly rewarding and can lead to repeat business. It also becomes really exciting to see familiar faces and have return customers come back for another piece. To this day, over a decade later, I still have customers who first met me at a market following my journey and supporting my new endeavors. (To those amazing humans, thank you.)
• Immediate sales: Unlike online sales, where customers might take time to decide, market sales are often immediate. Shoppers are looking to buy on the spot, and often for gifts around the holidays. My best markets were always in the late November, early December time frames because people were there to shop.
• Exposure: Markets often attract a diverse crowd, giving you the chance to reach people who may not have discovered your work online. Offering up ways to stay connected like your social media handles and email can help you build a local list very quickly that you can keep in touch with and promote your whereabouts to.

Cons of selling at markets:

• Time-consuming: Preparing for a market takes time—both in terms of creating enough stock and setting up your booth. You have to build enough inventory to fill a 10×10 space, which doesn’t sound like a lot, until you realize that there is A LOT of space in a 10×10 booth. You don’t want to show up to a market already seeming empty, so having enough variety to entice shoppers all day or all weekend in some cases is the key to success. But, filling that inventory is a huge challenge, especially with other priorities knocking at your door. On top of the inventory strain on your time, market day itself is a whole-day endeavor. You are typically there 2 hours before doors open, and staying until an hour after close. That ends up looking like anything from a 10-15 hour day.
• Weather dependent: If you’re at an outdoor market, bad weather can seriously affect your sales. I live in Florida, so the weather is highly unpredictable from May-October. It’s predictably hot, but the storms rolling in always seem to be a surprise. Many markets are also seasonal as a result, so they only offer options to vend from October-April. In other states, it’s the reverse, where the winter months put you in a market hiatus.
• Uncertain sales: Some markets may not be as busy as expected, leading to lower sales despite your efforts. It also may be the wrong crowd. I remember one of the markets I sold at had a much more… conservative crowd. The pearls that were clutched at the mere sight of a curse word on a framed cross stitch still give me a bit of a cringe to this day. Unless it’s a repeated market that you’ve been to, you never really know what you’re going to get until you’re in the thick of it.

Custom orders: Tailoring your work

Offering custom orders is another way to monetize your skills. Custom orders allow you to create personalized items based on your customers’ specific needs and preferences. This can include anything from custom color choices to entirely unique designs.

Pros of custom orders:

• Higher profit margins: Custom work often commands higher prices due to its personalized nature. You can work with the customer to determine how many extra hours or supplies you may have to put in to achieve their ask, and in doing so, charge a premium. You can also determine the time frame in which they want their finished product and charge based on a rush request.
• Creativity: Custom orders allow you to collaborate with customers, which can be creatively fulfilling. You can often get the opportunity to work on something you may not have had in your queue yourself, which helps broaden your horizons.
• Loyal customers: Providing excellent custom service can turn one-time buyers into repeat customers. They will likely keep you top of mind for anything they need for upcoming gifts or needs.

Cons of custom orders:

• Time-intensive: Custom work requires more communication, planning, and production time. You’ll need to manage expectations carefully with your customer and only take on the amount you can reasonably fulfill. You run the risk of creating a bad relationship if you can’t keep up with demand and delivery your work in a timely manner.
• Potential for miscommunication: If expectations aren’t clear from the start, custom orders can lead to dissatisfaction or requests for revisions, which can be frustrating for both you and the customer. It’s important to stay in touch throughout the process so you don’t get too far down the road on something they don’t want.
• Potential plagiarism: Customers may come to you with an example of something they’ve seen that they want you to recreate. It is important for you to clearly communicate that you will not plagiarize another artists work, and instead offer up suggestions of unique work you can do that may help your customer achieve a similar vibe they’re looking for without copying someone else.

Passive income: Selling digital offerings

If you’re looking for a way to generate income with less ongoing effort, consider selling digital work. Once you’ve created something digitally, you can sell it repeatedly without much additional work, making this a great option for passive income. However, it’s not without its own sets of challenges and things to consider.

Pros of selling digitally:

• Passive Income: Once the digital offering is created and listed, it can sell indefinitely without much effort from you. It does require maintenance and updates as needed, but you can typically see sales rolling in regularly from platforms like Etsy or Ravelry.
• Scalability: There’s no limit to how many digital items you can sell, and you can reach a global audience more quickly. It gives you the freedom to create something for everyone, while still staying true to your work and your point of view.
• Creative freedom: You can design whatever you like without worrying about production time, shipping, or material costs. The only costs you typically need to put in are for your initial supplies to make the thing you’re designing, and the time it takes to set up your listings.

Cons of selling digital work:

• Initial effort: Creating a well-written, easy-to-follow pattern takes time and attention to detail, and it’s imperative it’s tested, reliable, and repeatable. It’s also vital you do not plagiarize from another maker by copying their format, language, and layout of their patterns or offerings. Try to take a zoomed out approach and think about how you personally like to consume digital patterns. What are things you like and don’t like. How can you make yours unique that solves those likes and dislikes for your own customers.
• Market saturation: There are many, many, MANY digital patterns available, so standing out can be challenging. It’s important to have unique designs and excellent marketing, which does take time and persistence.
• Piracy concerns: Digital products can be easily copied and shared without permission, which is a risk in the digital marketplace. Copyrighting all of your work is important for legal purposes, and explicitly stating it on your work is a good way to protect yourself. Even with that, there are sites and people who will still steal your work, images, and efforts for their own gain. If you notice them, report them to the FTC and make it public that they are not operating with your permission.

Tips for success

1. Start small: Don’t overwhelm yourself by trying to do everything at once. Focus on one or two products or selling methods to start, and start to get a lay of the land.
2. It’s not one and done: Taking one approach doesn’t have to be the only approach. In fact, I highly recommend diversifying your selling portfolio to broaden your customer base, get more experience, and find your niche.
3. Build Your brand: Develop a strong brand identity, including your shop name, logo, and product photography. This will help you stand out in a crowded market or online. Even if it doesn’t seem to be taking right away, these things take a LOT of time. Get tenacious, be bold, and don’t give up too early.
4. Market yourself: Use social media, especially platforms like Instagram and TikTok, to showcase your work and attract potential customers. Find out the appropriate hashtag strategy and lean into your local community to build a strong engaged audience.
5. Customer service matters: People want to buy from good people. Treat every customer interaction as an opportunity to build a loyal following. Prompt communication, quality products, and attention to detail go a long way.

Keep it legal

There’s a less fun part of turning your hobby into a side hustle. The legal stuff. Before diving headfirst into selling your creations, it’s crucial to address the legal aspects of turning your hobby into a business.

1. Register your business name: Depending on where you live, you may need to register your business name, especially if it differs from your legal name. This step is important for establishing your brand legally. You set up your LLC or can operate as a sole proprietorship, which can be cheaper to register, but you lack some protections an LLC gives you.
2. Understand tax obligations: As a small business owner, you’ll need to keep track of your income and expenses for tax purposes. Depending on your income level, you may be required to pay self-employment taxes. It’s a good idea to consult with a tax professional to understand your obligations.
3. Get the right permits and licenses: Some areas require small businesses to have specific permits or licenses, even for home-based businesses. Check with your local government to ensure you’re compliant with all regulations.
4. Consider liability insurance: While it might seem unnecessary for a small operation, having liability insurance can protect you in case of any issues with your products. This is especially important if you’re selling items like clothing or home decor that people will use regularly.
5. Set up a separate business account: Keeping your business finances separate from your personal accounts makes it easier to track income and expenses and simplifies things come tax season. It also protects you more if something were to happen, where you can point to that specific account as needed.

The legal stuff can seem unnecessary and frankly boring, but it’s really important you consult with a professional just to ensure you’re covered legally before selling your work. Make a plan for when you meet the threshold for taxes, even if you feel you aren’t close yet. That way, you’re covered from day one.

Conclusion

Turning your hobby into a side hustle can be both exciting and rewarding. Whether you choose to sell finished products, offer custom orders, or dive into the world of digital patterns, there’s potential to grow your passion into a successful business. By understanding the pros and cons of each selling method and taking small, strategic steps, you can create a side hustle that not only brings in extra income but also fuels your creative passion.

So, grab your crafts, and start your journey from hobbyist to entrepreneur! Comment with any tips or tricks I forgot to mention!