Crochet can be such a fun hobby but some people quickly realize they can turn that hobby into a full-fledged business. It doesn’t matter if you set up your business fully online, just in person, or a mix, as long as you do it right, you should be able to go from a hobbyist to a side hustle.
We will look at how to start a crochet business on Etsy so you can make a little cash off your crochet projects.
What You Need to Sell Crochet on Etsy
Before we get into the Etsy and business side of things, you should have a bit of a background in crochet. It’s fine if you want to just sell a few projects on Etsy but ideally, you should be comfortable making projects at speed and have a good handle on all your basic stitches. Knowing some advanced crochet stitches doesn’t hurt either!
If you have crochet skills then you need to think about what you will sell. As we mentioned, speed is a factor or else you will have to list your products as out of stock while you are making them. This will only cause buyers to close your shop and head to a different Etsy shop.
What Type Of Crochet Sells Good on Etsy
Just open up Etsy and you’ll be able to do a little due diligence on your competition. You will see a lot of the same items being sold. Think about how you can be different. Some general crochet items that you can sell on Etsy include:
- Washcloths
- Scarfs
- Hats
- Kids Toys
- Amigurumi
- Plush Animals
- Coasters
What do all these items have in common? They are easy and quick to make, while appealing to a large market.
Once you figure out what you will need to make, you should know a few other things before starting up an Etsy store.
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Get A Logo Made and Think Of Your Brand
What message do you want your crochet products to convey. They could be homemade, expensive or using natural yarns.
One of the easiest places to get a logo created is Fivver.
Many people will quit before setting up their Etsy shop because there are a lot of hurdles for small business owners. If you are stuck, ask someone for advice or get help.
Designing a logo can be tricky but you don’t even have to do it yourself with a service like Fivver. Knowing how to tackle problems and overcome obstacles will set you up for success with your online crochet business.
Write down your 5 most creative brand names and sketch out some logos before deciding on one. Remember, you’ll be stuck with it for the long haul.
Make a Business Plan: It Doesn’t Have to Be Long
It doesn’t matter if your crochet business is on Etsy on in person. Both should have a business plan. When you go to put your actual money in the business as an investment, you should be able to have an idea of how you will get a return. Your business plan should touch on the following areas:
- Money required/budget
- Products you plan to sell
- Branding
- Marketing strategy
- Accounting
- Time to profit
- Expected profit
Without a business plan, you might spend your time crocheting and taking photos for Etsy, only to learn your items don’t sell. Then what do you do? Use marketing or pivot, of course!
Think About Your Marketing
While selling crochet on Etsy can get you a lot of sales, it can be also tough to get them unless you are marketing. It isn’t an easy task to stand out until you have lot of glowing reviews.
Just because you are selling online doesn’t mean you have to be marketing online. Don’t overlook word of mouth and if you have the budget then you can try some online paid advertising.
The drawback to using paid advertising with crochet is that it can quickly eat away at your profits. You’ll want to find somewhere where the advertising is cheap for a lot of eyeballs. One place to start is small Youtube and Instagram influencers in the craft or parenting space. Many times the rates will be cheaper for paid marketing with them vs using Google ads or Facebook ads.
Why Should You Use Etsy To Sell Crochet
Etsy is a great platform to sell crochet. Once you get set up, you can make your shop in minutes without having to worry about website design or payment processors. It is best for an individual or small business who is looking to go from selling physically, to selling online.
Knowing Etsy is one of the easiest places to set up and sell your crafts online means, as we mentioned, there can be a lot of competition. Don’t let this discourage you. If you stick with it, set up a good shop and market, you should see sales of your crochet items.
Beginner Mistakes to Avoid Selling Crochet Online
A common mistake we see beginners make when trying to sell crochet online is picking the wrong marketplace or platform. Two popular options that beginners seem to flock to are Facebook/Meta Marketplace and Craigslist.
Can you get sales from both? Sure, but we’ll tell you why they shouldn’t be the only place you go and it is simple. Not everyone has Facebook or knows how to use it. You can make some great sales in Facebook groups and the marketplace but you are only reaching a select audience. The same goes for selling handmade crochet on Craigslist but it gets even worse. You are then limiting yourself to certain locations.
The beauty of selling on Etsy is that anyone can access it, it is easy to access and people can buy from anywhere in the U.S.
Getting Started on Etsy
To get started on Etsy, you’ll need to head over and set up an account. Hopefully, you already have your business name thought of, from when you were making a business plan. You’ll also want to have a few crochet projects already completed so you can take pictures.
Next, you’ll be guided through the setup process on Etsy and will have to set up your shop name, along with entering some personal details so Etsy knows who is setting up a shop on their marketplace.
Lastly, once you are all set up with your store, you will need to create individual products to sell. This might be the first taste of being your own business owner. You get to choose what you want to sell and you get to set the price!
Making Your First Sale
There will be a time when you get a notification. The much-awaited notification of your first sale on Etsy. Take a moment and celebrate. It’s real, selling crochet and amigurumi online! Now is your chance to impress your customer and make them repeat customers.
Make sure you have your packaging materials and know-how you are going to ship ahead of your first order. Think about including something like a handwritten note or a coupon so your customer will come back and purchase from your store again.
Final Thoughts on How to Start a Crochet Business on Etsy
A lot of people can start a crochet business on Esty but few people take action. Which will you be? All you have to do is know how to crochet to get started. We’re here to help you with the rest of the process. If you follow the step-by-step process above, you can be making your first crochet sale on Etsy in just weeks.
Get started, stick with it and you’ll be sure to see results!
