Selling Knit or Crochet Items Makes a Great Teen Business
If you’re a teen who enjoys knitting or crocheting, you have an amazing business opportunity at your fingertips. Knitting and crocheting are great pastimes that you can do while you’re watching TV, listening to music, or visiting with your friends. Whipping up knit and crochet projects are easily portable making it something you can take with you wherever you go.
To begin, you’ll want to have an inventory of items for sale. Some items that are easy to stock up on are:
• Bookmarks
• Christmas Ornaments
• Decoratively Edged Towels
• Dish Cloths
• Doll Clothes for Barbie, Cabbage Patch or American Girl Dolls
• Dolls
• Fashion Scarves
• Hats
• Mittens
• Pot Holders
• Purses and Totes
• Simple Stuffed Animals
• Vests and Other Quick Clothing Items
Of course, you’re free to make whatever suits you, but these are proven sellers. Having a large variety of items to sell that work up quickly and easily is the most important part of running your knitting and crocheting business.
As you begin making your items, think about the different places you can sell them. Some areas have a local street fair or similar event that readily lends itself to setting up a booth or sharing a booth with a friend to sell crafts.
Holiday bazaars are also a great way to plan to sell your handicrafts. You may even want to create a special holiday collection showcasing a specific theme and room of the house. For some this might be a set of dish cloths with matching pot holders and place mats. For others it may mean Christmas tree ornaments that work up quickly and easily.
You can also do wedding accessories as a specific collection. Brides are always looking for new and unique gifts for their bridesmaids or even for party favors.
To price your items, take a look online at sites that sell similar merchandise. Remember, you want to be competitive and still make a profit. You might also look at what other booth or bazaar stall owners sell their similar items for. Price your items similarly, allowing enough to cover your materials and still make a profit in order to get the best customers and get your sales started.
Spread the word. Chances are, as you’re working on your projects people will comment about what you’re doing. They might mention that they haven’t seen anyone knitting or crocheting in a long time or that it’s a “lost art.” They may be especially surprised to see someone so young doing this craft.
Take advantage of these comments! Share with them that you make these items to sell and give them a business card or flyer you made up on the computer. Let them know when you’ll be at the next annual street fair or holiday craft bazaar. Tell them that you also take custom orders. This is your chance to get some free advertising so take advantage of it!
If you’re having trouble coming up with good ideas for what to make, take a look online at hand crafted items. Be specific, looking at hand crocheted items and hand knit items such as scarves, dish clothes, and other things you’d like to sell. Pretty soon you’ll have a great idea of what’s selling and what’s not. Be sure to check out online auction sites and etsy.com as well.
Give business to your friends and family and invite them to order gift items from you. Ask them to hand out your cards to people they know as well. Be creative and let your business card provide plenty of information so people can get in touch with you easily whether it be by phone, email or even a blog or website.
Check local shops in your community. Many of them love to carry handcrafted items, and the fact that a teenager made them is an added benefit. Again, take advantage of it!
Shop owners will generally ask for a small percentage of your price as a commission, so raise your prices slightly to reflect amount. Ideally, get them to buy your inventory, but if they’re not willing to do that, opt for them selling some pieces on consignment for you. Just be sure you have a signed agreement in advance so you know what happens if your items are damaged, stolen, or—ideally!—when they sell.
Use whatever methods you have available to get your products out there so people can see them and buy. Just be sure to provide a quality item with pleasant customer service and dependable delivery, and before you know it, you’ll be well on your way to building a great teen business selling your knit or crocheted items .
