Expert: - 8/20/2011

Question
Hello Ms. Button I am Mark and I make wrought iron furniture.  They are usually one of a kind pieces but I can duplicate anything I make.  To date my wife and I have tried selling these pieces outright, on consignment, pretty much every way we could think of. I cannot afford a website due to money problems( hence why I need to learn how and where to sell the metalwork)  Do you think there is any demand even in these hard times for handcrafted pieces ??  any advice good or bad would be greatly appreciated.  We also had a yard sale and seems people loved the furniture pieces but only wanted to spend a few dollars on items that could probably fetch 100.00 or more.  I'm very confused.  Thank you Ms. Button...Mark

Answer
Hi Mark,

Yes, there is a market for these kind of pieces. Sales of handcrafted items are very much in vogue.

It sounds as though you have a marketing problem. You have stated you have "tried" selling - but I can't really figure out how you have "tried" without spending any money because in the same breath you state "I can't afford a website due to money problems".

One of the biggest issues I find in cottage industries is the mindset around money. Now I don't claim to know anything about your pricing or your actual product - but I hear your words coming from a place of lack not abundance.

Part of product creation and a profitable company is creating a serious marketing plan. Without marketing and targeting it towards your ideal consumers, how can they possibly find you so you can make the sale and get top dollar for your products. It doesn't happen by magic that these people show up at a garage sale. Garage sales are where people are looking for bargains and discounts!

I believe you need to concentrate on marketing - but if you are not willing to invest in your business or yourself I think you are likely to come up with the same results as you have been. You need to work on your belief around money - why would you create a wonderful product and then not find a way to create a website. There is something here that is not congruent.

Think about what I have said with an open mind, there is a deeper issue to your question than whether handcrafted items sell.

Best regards,

Jane Button
http://design2marketsuccess.com
http://janebutton.com