Selling Crafts - Production Crafts vs. One of a Kind Crafts

When you are selling crafts, at some point you will likely make a choice between creating production work and creating one of a kind pieces. If you choose to become a production craft artist, you will develop a line of items that you make over and over, if you create one of a kind pieces, you will rarely repeat the same design twice.

Following are some considerations to help determine whether production crafts or one of a kind items are a good fit for goals for your craft business.

Creating and selling crafts on a production basis:

1. You'll need to ensure your product is marketable and influenced by current trends and customer preferences. That means you may make design decisions because a particular style sells well.
   
   
2. Because you'll be making the same items many times, you'll give up a certain amount of artistic expression that you would have if you made one of a kind items.
   
   
3. You must be happy doing repetitive work and enjoy the production process. You'll spend a lot of time creating the same design. If you don't like the production process, rather than rejoicing in a big new order, you'll dread the though of a huge order coming in.
   
   
4. You will most likely sell your crafts primarily at retail and wholesale craft shows, and perhaps online.
   
   
5. Once you create some effective routines, you'll be able to create a predictable work schedule for your time in the studio and your time spent marketing and selling crafts at art shows.
   

1. There will be plenty of room for creative expression, and you will be engaged in less repetitive work in the studio.
   
   
2. You won't repeat your designs, so you'll need to have no shortage of great ideas if you go this route with your craft business.
   
   
3. You'll need to be comfortable with exploring new ideas and techniques for creating your work.
   
4. You may have a fairly erratic work schedule in which you work long hours to complete a specific project, and then have slower periods.
   
   
5. You will most likely need to network and build business relationships with galleries to have success in this venue.
   
   
6. You income may be less predictable and you may need another source of income to supplement your earnings.
   

Craft business writer, Lisa McGrimmon writes about selling crafts at her site, inspiri-art-and-craft.com. For more tips on starting a home based craft business, visit her site.

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