Start a Home Based Craft Business

One of the questions I hear a lot is what crafts sell best? The problem with trying to keep up with might be a hot seller today, however, is that by the time you learn what's "hot," the trend may already have peaked and be on its way out.

What crafts sell best can depend on seasonal, geographic and/or demographic influences to name a few. Be cautious when evaluating news about hot selling crafts. For instance, be aware that . . .

* Crafts related to flowers may sell better in Spring months.

* Christmas arts and crafts sales peak for the three months before and leading into December.

* Craft sales are often higher year round in tourist areas than metropolitan shops.

* Seniors and grandparents purchase more toys as gifts than young adults.

Many craft persons say they don't follow what sells nationally because to do so would make them manufacturers, not artists.

There's nothing wrong with being a production business if that's your thing. You just have to have the mindset to handle deadlines and managing a big business.

The popularity of well made crafts is the attractiveness to the consumer of owning a piece made by the artist. This has always been the draw for thousands of customers of handmade craftwork.

Crafts industry experts seem to agree that the real trend is the Internet and how it will affect your ability to sell.