7 Crafty Business Ideas for Creative People

The popularity of selling crafts has grown, thanks to websites such as Etsy.  Crafting and selling products through an e-commerce store has grown easier thanks to technological advancements. During the pandemic, many people had extra time to learn a new trade, which led to the boom in business when it comes to hobby side hustles. Here are seven crafty business ideas for you to take into consideration if your craft-creating hobby has evolved into a passion.

1. Candle Making

From Facebook to Pinterest to Instagram, candle businesses are almost everywhere. In the U.S., candles are a staple in nearly every household, as they’re known to bring a sense of peace, comfort, and calm into our lives — as well as a great scent, too. For those reasons, they also make terrific, thoughtful gifts.

Aside from learning how to make candles, which you can easily learn through YouTube tutorials or by purchasing a book on candle making, you will need to your gather materials. You must have a strong sense of smell. To make candles, you’ll need paraffin or soy wax, wicks, candle molds, a saucepan or double boiler, and essential oils (or fragrance oils). The retail price of candles varies greatly.  It ranges from 75 cents for simple candles to $100 for luxurious ones. The pricing should depend on the material you are using and whether you want to create budget or luxury candles.

2. Jewelry Designing

There is a huge market for handmade jewelry, which makes it a perfect industry if you enjoy working with beads, metals, gemstones, or even unusual materials such as leather, resins, ropes, and special dyes. Jewelry is a form of fashion that allows us to express our individuality.

Make contact with wholesalers who sell materials for making jewelry. Make your jewelry and ask friends and family for their feedback. Experiment with various materials, as well as your comfort zone, to determine your aesthetic. Decide whether you prefer selling chunkier jewelry or minimalist pieces. Determine who your target market is, and then set your rates accordingly.

3. Knitting or crocheting

Knitting and crocheting have perhaps the lowest cost-incurring business venture on this list.  That’s because the material it requires is only yarn and needles. Find a reliable vendor to get high-quality yarn in bulk. Once you have it, you may need to take some lessons. If you are a beginner at knitting, start by making simple items such as small purses and hats. Once you get good at these, you can start making more complicated items such as sweaters. However, we suggest you try to sell smaller items first so you can invest more time and effort soon as your knitting business starts flourishing.

Tip: With your knitted products, you can also sell guides that include your instructions with patterns to make perfect items.

As long as you know at least the basics of knitting or crocheting, you can start this business with little investment.

4. Pottery Making

It is preferable if you have a studio where you can focus on your work, but don’t worry — you can still make pottery in any spare room, or even a garage. Some cities even have pottery studios that you can rent for an afternoon or for a set period of time. If you choose to make high-quality, fired and glazed pottery, be aware of the steep up-front costs and the specifications needed for kilns, as they require a unique setup depending on temperature and voltage.

In addition to a kiln, you’ll need a pottery wheel.  You will also need some modeling tools, paints, and decorative materials to create the look you want out of your pottery. If you can’t afford the fees associated with starting a pottery-based business, consider making smaller pottery items out of modeling clay, such as a ring holder or small bowls for jewelry and smaller trinkets. This type of clay can be purchased at any craft store, and doesn’t require a pottery wheel or kiln. 

5. Gift Baskets

Consider putting together themed gift baskets for occasions such as going back to school, baby showers, summer camps, holidays, anniversaries, bachelor and bachelorette parties, graduations, and retirements. Additionally, you can create specialty baskets for particular foods or drinks, such as a wine-and-cheese lovers’ box, an all-chocolate basket, or a basket that uses products from nearby vendors. Start with making a portfolio by selecting photographs of your best work. Make a website or open an account on social media platforms to start selling.

6. Flower Arrangements

Millions of flowers are purchased annually for various events. This business can be operated from home because it doesn’t require a lot of startup capital. You can progress from selling flowers to individuals to collaborating with interior designers to create floral arrangements for huge events. This business also has certain downsides. The market for flowers is competitive due to a large number of well-established florists. This job can get particularly exhausting due to the high volume of orders during holiday seasons such as Mother’s Day and Valentine’s Day. You can expand quickly if you have a solid understanding of this type of business. We advise you to collaborate with websites that offer flowers both domestically and abroad.

Remember that flowers only last a limited time and that heavy water sprays and refrigerators are necessary to keep them fresh. For that, you need to know the basics of flower care. Despite all of that, flowers eventually die, so they need to be sold quickly.

7. Refurbishing Old Furniture

If you enjoy basic carpentry and painting — and have space in your basement or garage to store tools and furniture — a furniture refurbishing business is ideal for you. Find low-cost furniture in dumpsters near furniture stores. You can also ask friends who require help with their furnishings. Or, try attending thrift sales or visiting secondhand stores for used furniture items. Begin by offering services at a low price, and work your way to higher prices as your work becomes more established. You must be familiar with fundamental carpentry techniques for this business, such as fixing dents, tightening joints, replacing damaged screws, etc. 

The next step is to refinish the furniture. This requires sanding and painting. You can create an Instagram page, post the furniture for sale on Craiglist, or open a local shop.

Conclusion

If you want to convert your passion into a profession, consider selling your crafts. Etsy is one option, as well as eBay and maybe even Amazon! But, start small by selling your crafts to family and friends, then invest in a website or open a store as your business gets more established. Good luck selling your unique crafts.

Pirbhat Haddad

Staff Writer: Pirbhat is a digital content creator and a writer. She began her small venture at the age of 16. Although she had to quit it, she ended up learning a lot about the entrepreneurial lifestyle. Her educational background in Business administration has provided her with an adequate amount of knowledge on a vast variety of subjects. She now likes to talk about developing productive habits, succeeding with people by studying people skills as well as applying marketing strategies.