For many people around the world, knitting is a relaxing and creative hobby. Whether it is knitting in front of the TV, on the bus, at the beach, even some stolen seconds at a party - knitting is the ultimate transportable artistic indulgence! However, the value of knitting does not have to stop at just being a hobby. Knitting for profit means a keen handcrafter can make money from their favourite pastime!
When a handcrafter has established their ability to knit well and quickly, and has built up a number of items to be sold, they can begin marketing! There are various options available to the knitter: on the world wide web, at markets, through reputation, and boutiques.
Selling via the internet means the handcrafter can move stock from their own home. This does not mean it is necessarily easy at first, because dealing with product enquiries, shipping and doing buyer follow-up does take time and organisation. Taking good quality photographs of the item in good light, and making sure the product looks attractive will help sell the piece. Composing a couple of sentences describing the product - what it is made of, the tone, size, how to mix and match - will enhance buyer perception. The browser will stop to take a second look, and find ready-made reasons to purchase.
Choosing the right price is important too: too low, and it will not reflect the talent and time invested by the knitter or the value of the item; too high, and the item may not attract attention of those shoppers looking for a bargain. Factoring in the time spent making the product and the expenses incurred is an essential first step in pricing, but as the seller may be competing with inexpensive mass-produced knitting available in stores, it may be valuable to err on the side of lower pricing, at least in the first couple of months.
Meeting buyers and selling directly happens at markets. The seller can pitch the sale according to each customer, and display their range according to taste. Describing how the product is made helps the buyer become emotionally invested, and hopefully help them reach for their purse!
Word-of-mouth is an easy but unreliable method of selling. It depends upon the subject of hand-knitting to come up in conversation between friends and friends-of-friends. Still, it is always a good idea for the knitter to keep friends updated on the business, and to show them pieces from the collection, in case the opportunity does arise.
Selling pieces through boutiques is a cost-effective way of marketing handcrafts. Boutiques cater to customers who have more disposable income, which usually is the target market for hand-knitted products. Many boutique owners welcome sellers directly supplying them product: the owners does not have to order it in or take responsibility for it, and may only request a small commission for having the products on their shelves. In exchange, the knitter receives display space and the opportunity to show their business card or logo, usually with a website address, for the customer to take if interested in the full range.
To keep expenses lower and income higher, it can be worthwhile using found, second-hand or recycled materials. Wool from charity shops or estates mean that the overheads are lower, and the environment benefits too. Vintage is forever popular, so reinventing antique pieces is not only thrifty and sustainable, but excellent marketing as well!
When a handcrafter has established their ability to knit well and quickly, and has built up a number of items to be sold, they can begin marketing! There are various options available to the knitter: on the world wide web, at markets, through reputation, and boutiques.
Selling via the internet means the handcrafter can move stock from their own home. This does not mean it is necessarily easy at first, because dealing with product enquiries, shipping and doing buyer follow-up does take time and organisation. Taking good quality photographs of the item in good light, and making sure the product looks attractive will help sell the piece. Composing a couple of sentences describing the product - what it is made of, the tone, size, how to mix and match - will enhance buyer perception. The browser will stop to take a second look, and find ready-made reasons to purchase.
Choosing the right price is important too: too low, and it will not reflect the talent and time invested by the knitter or the value of the item; too high, and the item may not attract attention of those shoppers looking for a bargain. Factoring in the time spent making the product and the expenses incurred is an essential first step in pricing, but as the seller may be competing with inexpensive mass-produced knitting available in stores, it may be valuable to err on the side of lower pricing, at least in the first couple of months.
Meeting buyers and selling directly happens at markets. The seller can pitch the sale according to each customer, and display their range according to taste. Describing how the product is made helps the buyer become emotionally invested, and hopefully help them reach for their purse!
Word-of-mouth is an easy but unreliable method of selling. It depends upon the subject of hand-knitting to come up in conversation between friends and friends-of-friends. Still, it is always a good idea for the knitter to keep friends updated on the business, and to show them pieces from the collection, in case the opportunity does arise.
Selling pieces through boutiques is a cost-effective way of marketing handcrafts. Boutiques cater to customers who have more disposable income, which usually is the target market for hand-knitted products. Many boutique owners welcome sellers directly supplying them product: the owners does not have to order it in or take responsibility for it, and may only request a small commission for having the products on their shelves. In exchange, the knitter receives display space and the opportunity to show their business card or logo, usually with a website address, for the customer to take if interested in the full range.
To keep expenses lower and income higher, it can be worthwhile using found, second-hand or recycled materials. Wool from charity shops or estates mean that the overheads are lower, and the environment benefits too. Vintage is forever popular, so reinventing antique pieces is not only thrifty and sustainable, but excellent marketing as well!
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To read more about knitting for profit and get started making money with your passion for knitting out our blog knitting for profit thanks for reading and enjoy your knitting!
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