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Needling your Competition - Three Ways to Promote your Needlepoint Crafts
1. Local Craft Shows
The best way to get out there and meet your customers is at local craft shows. This gives you a chance to sell your products, but even if you don’t see a lot, you can gain a lot of exposure.
Be sure to talk to everyone who stops at your booth. A warm smile and some pleasant words will make a good impression on potential customers and they will be much more likely to examine your products and even buy something. You also want to have plenty of business cards and flyers on hand. Even if someone does not see a product they want to buy that day, they will often hold on the card and call you when they have a special gift they need to purchase for someone. You’d be amazed how long some people hold on to business cards.
If there isn’t a craft show in your area or the fee is too much for you, then you can consider hosting a craft show in your own home. If you have enough space, you can rent out space to other local crafters. This will cover all the money you spend on marketing and refreshments for your customers and the only work you’ll have is a bit of set-up and clean-up. This show may even develop in an annual or semi-annual sale that your customers come to expect over time.
2. Demonstrations
The majority of people who buy hand made crafts do so because they are interested in the uniqueness of the objects and the story that is behind the craft. Most are fascinated by the artistic process and enjoy witnessing it whenever they get the chance. That’s why demonstrations are a fabulous way to promote your needlepoint crafts. Set-up a demonstration anywhere you are able to rent a booth, such as the local malls, community centers or even libraries. Try to figure out what kind of places people in your target market frequent and go there as well. You can also approach groups in your area and offer to demonstrate your craft at one of their monthly meetings. You can also bring products to sell at these demonstrations if you clear that with the location ahead of time. If people see the work that goes in to creating these products, they are much more likely to make a purchase.
3. Online
Many crafters are still hesitant about taking advantage of internet technology to promote their products. Don’t be one of them! The internet offers you a way to reach more customers than you can even imagine. People from all around the world can stumble across your website and see all of the fantastic products you have on offer.
With the web building tools and programs available today, it is easier than ever to create your first website. You could start off with a website that just gives a general introduction to your products and you as the artisan. You could describe your needlepoint process from design to the finishing touches and even include photos of that process so those browsing your site will feel more connected to your artistic process. You can also take your website a step further. If you (or someone close to you) have the internet savvy, you can set up sales right over the internet. You can keep record of your stock and have an online order forms for customers to fill out.
When starting out with your website, you’ll need to make sure that you have good product shots of your needlework projects. The only drawback to online craft selling is that customers do not get to see the actual projects before the sale goes through. It is sometimes hard to capture the detailed work that goes into a needlework project in a photograph, so you need to be sure that your product photos are of super quality and you might even consider have a picture of the whole project and then a few close-up shots so the work you have put into each piece is clear.
You can also join online craft communities. This is an excellent way to get to know crafters and network with them. These kinds of connections can be very useful in the long run.
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