If you’ve crafted for very long, I’m sure you’ve probably asked yourself, can I profit from my crafts? Or another variation: should I sell my crafts or just give them away? These are great questions, and I’ve personally struggled to answer both. How to approach these questions will vary from person to person and their end goals.
Like me, some of you make and sell crafts on the side or occasionally. We have a good full time job that pays the bills and provides a service. But still, you wonder: could you make a living following your passion for building birdhouses or handmade jewelry or whatever? Don’t get stuck overanalyzing this question, but don’t make a drastic move either.
To me, learning and testing the waters is the way to go. You may discover that turning your hobby into a business could ruin the joy and thrill of that hobby. And depending on the type of crafts you make, you might discover there is no demand for your craft or you won’t be adequately compensated for your invested time. So, don’t quit your day job until you’re fairly certain you have a viable, and potentially profitable craft, product or service. And you must commit to stay the course.
The way I approach these questions—to profit or not to profit—rests on my upbringing: It’s more blessed to give than to receive. Following that wisdom saves me a lot of worries and frustrations. And I’ve discovered that I’m often on the receiving end much of the time. I haven’t become monetarily rich from crafting, but I’m rich with other blessings: family, friendships, new connections, joy of learning something new, the thrill of creating something unique. Helping others fulfill their goals or satisfying their needs are often blessings with no price tags attached.
So if you’re just starting out, be prepared to give your time, to learn the customer’s needs, to work hard, and to exercise patience and compassion. The giving attitude spurs us to action. Getting started is one of the hardest parts of the process, but we must start somewhere. Your results may be small at first and not what you expect. Money won’t begin piling up immediately in your mailbox, but look for other things—knowledge, experience, connections, requests for help, people asking for advice, thank-you notes.
Having said all that, I believe crafters should be compensated fairly for their hard work. The Good Book tells us, “The laborer is worthy of his wages.” There is no shame in wanting to be compensated for your work. So to answer the question—should I profit from my crafts?—I say, yes. But can I profit is the tricky part and it really depends on how you promote your work and whether or not customers find value—or a perceived value—in your work (or you). Don’t underestimate the you part.
I continue to learn that crafting isn’t a “get rich quick scheme.” So keep pressing on and live with the hope that through your creativity, hard work, and giving mindset, the money will follow. It may take time. Time to learn. Time to find your customers and audience. Time to learn the technology and how to sell. Time to learn how to market yourself and your product.
I started this blog to share my journey in this process and to pass on what I’m learning—and to discover new ideas from you. Please jump in here with your comments and share what you are learning about profiting from your crafts.
