SHOP SETUP TOOLS

Create a simple website

The website is very important to represent who you are as a maker and the services that you provide. It helps potential customers to find you without you even looking.

They are a lot of simple website solution that doesn't require any technical knowledge and also provide some value in helping you list and sell products as well as keep track of inventory and your customers.

Once you have your domain name, head over to Shopify, Squarespace, or Wix. Set up a simple page using available templates and tie your domain name with the service. You can always call these service providers for help. Make sure to include an email capture field that would allow you to capture email addresses from interested customer.

Take a good photos o your products

Have you ever heard of the expression a picture is worth a thousand words?

When taking a picture of your product, paying attention to the surrounding. Try to place the product in an area clear of clutter and place it in contacts so that the customer can imagine the product in their home.

It is also very important to consider lighting. We recommend using neutral lighting either early in the morning or early in the afternoon. Avoid harsh lighting from the sun or gloomy days.

For photo editing to make sure that the photo half good color or high contrast, consider using phone app to easily edit your photos.

Pricing your products and services

It's really important to price your work so you feel good about the compensation that you were getting and your customer feel good about the value that they are paying for.

Pricing is always subjective based on you're on determine value of the service. However, we suggest that you start from calculating the materials and the time it will take you to create the item. Then, we recommend doing a bit of research across some of the other selling platforms such as Etsy, Task Rabbit + To get a sense of how much other makers are charging for items similar to yours.

In the end, it is a delicate balance of pricing the product or service in a way that would attract new customers but still uphold the perceived value and quality of your services.

Listing your items

When listing items on your website or any selling platforms, be sure to stay organized. We recommend using a spreadsheet or a document to keep track of all of your inventory and your products / services.

When you are ready to list them, create a title that is descriptive of the service or product that you were offering because it will really help the customer to understand at first glance do unique value of the item but also help to find you / search for the find from Google.

In the same vein, include attributes and detailed description of the product or service so that your website and your product rank even higher on Google search and any selling platforms.

Packaging & shipping

Packaging is crucial in protecting and delivering your creation. When deciding on packaging material, consider your brand values and what matters to you. Do you care about efficiency and cost? Are you more of a sustainable and upcyling business? The choice of packaging says something about your brand.

If you are in the US, US PS supplies a lot of the packaging material with their flat rate options. However, these pricing are a little bit higher than the average shipping cost and would only be worth it if you are sending heavy items or high value items with insurance.

On this note, always ensure your items at the same level or higher of your products value. Communicate the delivery time estimate with the customer and always, ALWAYS provide tracking number.

Create an Instagram account

Take your business and domain name which hopefully is the same one and try to clean this name across all social media platforms.

Instagram is great for sharing your latest creation, connect with other makers and potential customers, and half direct sales conversation with your customers. The platform is visually appealing and it is image-based With a lot of active users who are looking for handmade and craft products.

Create a Pinterest account

Take your business and domain name which hopefully is the same one and try to clean this name across all social media platforms.

Pinterest has a subtle way to help customers discover new inspiration while quickly link to the makers selling channels. Make sure that you upload your best product pictures on Pinterest and don't forget to include a link to your website.

Create a Facebook account

ake your business and domain name which hopefully is the same one and try to clean this name across all social media platforms.

Facebook is famous for having communities and hobby groups Such as sewing groups, knitting groups, crafts and handmade groups. Joining this group's will help you build a relationship with a lot of like-minded makers but also potential customers.

Create a Yelp account

In this day and age, Yelp it's still see us a directory for local businesses. Customers go to Yelp to look at reviews and to find services that are close to them. As such, make sure that you have a profile on yelp which less your website address, your services, and a way to contact you directly whether by email or through messaging.

If any of your circle of friends or pass customers are on yup, don't be shy to ask them for a review.

Create an Etsy account

Etsy is a great market place to connect with new customers in the craft and vintage space. If you are ready to test out your products or services and you are just starting out, Etsy might be a great place to find the first few customers.

Photograph by Igor Miske