If you have a workshop, you may already have the basis for a good online setup. If you’re a craftsman you have a great opportunity. People that can create unique items can offer great online products. One particular item that works well is holiday merchandise.
I know a craftsman who can make unique yard signs for the holiday seasons, most specifically Christmas. He would make very nice Santa’s, snowman and reindeer from plans and make them in larger numbers. Instead of making them one at a time he would cut the wood for 50 in one week. Do some minimal sanding the next, paint and accessorize in the third and do some minor electrical work in the fourth. In one month he would have 50 items ready to go. Start 6 months out before Christmas and you can build quite the inventory. The items are fairly light so they can be shipped out by fed ex and he is ready to go by Thanksgiving. What a great specialty item. There are not many out there, and he sells them at a competitive price to insure that he does not have any left in January.
The opportunities are endless in what you can create and sell. Pick something you like and all your tools can be written off on your taxes.
There are endless items you can make in your workshop. A few things to keep in mind are that if you are making a new item, one you have never made before, there is a learning curve. The first one always takes the longest. After you gain a little experience and learn how to speed things up, your time to assemble will decrease. Believe it or not, I once read a book that stated boxes were the number one woodworking seller. I find that hard to believe but you need to break it down more. What kind of boxes? Who are you catering too? What do they look like? All these questions are answered by research. I use Ebay completed auctions for looking at auctions in the past that have sold similar items. I would recommend making fancier boxes. I have had success with making craft organizers and craft cabinets. But being so interested in tools, these items did not hold much of my interest. Also if you fill these items with craft parts or items, you created a more marketable item.
A friend of mine swears by this philosophy. He always always sells things in kits or sweetens the pot with extra items. Accessorizing items gives incentive to buy your product over a similar one without extras. Computer makers always load lots of software on their computers to increase the curb appeal of their product, and so should you. Having a good supply is important in choosing your products.
Regarding workshop items, workshop tools and accessories seem to do well. Jigs are an underrated item that is often overlooked. I often read Shopnotes magazine and always like the jigs that are featured. I would love to have many of those jigs but don’t spend the time making them or I forget. Simply taking advantage of Shopnotes marketing of the article, you could make some of their featured jigs and sell them. Heck even if you made just two, you could pay for your own by selling the other. Jigs sell well but are not a regular featured item. he main reason is because you cannot buy the jig from a source, you have to make it. Most sellers don’t want to fuss with making the stuff they sell thus creating a niche market.
Original items have appeal among buyers, especially the older generation. Give some thought to specializing in items you can create. The only roadblock to an inventory is your time. I like the idea of creating my own inventory. I know that if I don’t make it, the sale won’t happen. Making all kinds of shop equipment can be very profitable as well as rewarding.
Can you carve? Hand carved items are very profitable. I don’t mean whittling a figurine, I mean hand carved furniture. Creating intricate molded furniture with the use of new power chisels and tools like a Dremel, have a lot of appeal. Buying molds or stencils and then incorporating them into furniture is unique and untouched niche online. Let your creative juices flow. Even embossing fancy papers onto woods and moldings creates a unique inventory that is not offered.
Beds that are embossed, uniquely painted, or carved have tremendous potential because people can’t find unique items like this in any retail stores. They also offer you the opportunity to charge higher prices on unique items. People love originals!
People love their hobbies and buying supplies or finished items online is become very convenient.
How about Handmade clothing? If your good with the sewing machine or can knit high quality items you could easily create a handmade market of your own. The mere fact that someone cannot buy this at any store has a lot of appeal to some people. When we sell our artists premium tables, we have the artists sign and number them!
My point is if you’re creative, you can sell it. It really does not matter much since interests vary so much in the online community. When we say workshop it always does not mean a big area with lots of tools. I could be a room with all your craft supplies. A studio where you do all your painting also would work very well. Even if it’s just a corner of a room, it is a start. The most successful online vendors sell what they love.
Also don’t forget that you can offer a service and sell it online. I have seen many vendors sell their service as an auction to obtain you as a future customer. What a great idea. If you’re a carpenter or craftsman this can be a great way to build a client base.
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