3 Ways to Market Your Arts & Crafts Locally

No matter what your craft or art medium, you can market your business on a more global level online, but this doesn't mean you should neglect your local market. Online marketing can be done from the convenience of your home, but getting out in your local community to share your talents can boost your business too.


1. Network with other crafters. Meeting and getting to know other crafters and artists in your community can be beneficial to your business. The hard part may be meeting these individuals. Check out local websites for crafting or artist groups. Meetup.com is a resource to help match you with local groups that fit your needs. Also, visit local craft stores and art galleries. Many of these places offer classes you can attend, hold networking events or events where you can mix and mingle. Bring samples or pictures of your work and plenty of business cards.

2. Attend and participate in local craft shows. Before you decide to participate in a local arts and crafts show, attend it as a shopper first. Visiting the show first allows you to evaluate the crowd. Talk with the participating vendors to find out how sales are going and if it is worth the cost for a booth space. This is also an opportunity to introduce yourself to other crafters and artists. There may be an opportunity for you to partner with one of them to sell your items in their store or another marketing opportunity may present itself.

3. Consignment. Art stores, craft stores and gift shops are but a few of the local places you may be able to sell your items on consignment. If you're not familiar with the concept, you make a deal with store owners to display and sell your items for you and then you pay them a percentage of the sale. This is a great way to get your items on store shelves without the expense of opening and running your own shop. When you find a shop where your items would fit, contact the owner and inquire about a consignment opportunity. It allows them to freshen and vary their product offering and an opportunity for you to boost sales.

Ideally, a combination of online and offline marketing methods is the most effective way to market your business and sell your arts and crafts. Use one or all three of these offline methods in combination with what you're already doing online and you will see a difference in your business sales.