Ep. 016 – Strategies to Increase Craft Sales in a Recession

[00:00:00] Kam: Recently I’ve noticed that there has been a lot of discouragement because of difficult times, low sales. Quite a few of the comments I read on social media are sharing the frustration of decreased sales. I get it. Believe me. Hello, creatives and welcome into episode 17 of the maker-space podcast, where we’re helping crafters build an online business. In this episode, I’m going to share some things.

[00:00:27] Kam: You can do during a recession to keep sales coming in. And you don’t have to be discouraged by times and seasons. Those will always come into your life and they will eventually move on. Will you do in those times is kind of the exciting part. The need is always there. There are so many that don’t know how to do what you do.

[00:00:48] Kam: They don’t have the tools or they don’t have the time. The money is still in the world. You guys it’s just that sometimes it comes to us and other times we have to go searching for it. So here is my suggestion list. So I’ve got offer affordable products, introduce lower priced or smaller priced. Uh, I’m sorry, smaller sized products that are more accessible to customers on a tighter budget.

[00:01:16] Kam: In my flower shop, I have done this with a range moments and that I keep in the cooler. I have small designs anywhere from $10. And go all the way up to 125. With plenty in the middle.

[00:01:29] Kam: I also give away dying flowers, two little kids, one, because they like them too. It gives them something to entertain them in the store. So mom appreciates it. And it also encourages a love for flowers. So I’m kind of sowing seeds. Pardon the pun. And. I can expect that with quite a few of those, they will probably be back later to purchase for mother’s stay or birthday gifts.

[00:01:58] Kam: And I’ve, I’ve actually seen that happen. Uh, on a couple of occasions. But having a few of the lower priced items, give people that same feeling when they buy it. It’s just not going to break their bank.

[00:02:10] Kam: Another thing that you can do is provide value and use emphasize the practicality or functional aspects of your products. If people see how your crafts can be used for everyday purposes or they provide value or serve, uh, a specific problem. They’re more likely to invest in that item. I absolutely cannot craft unless it is serving a purpose. And one of my most recent creations was a rice bag.

[00:02:41] Kam: But it wasn’t just a rice bag. It had to be either a frog shape. And it had to be able to be warmed or cold. Or it was in the shape of a starfish with one leg different than the rest to symbolize adoption. And the joining of one fabric into the others.

[00:03:00] Kam: This was cute, but definitely not my smartest idea. To case know how hard it is to attach a fifth leg out of a different piece of fabric. Into a, a star. Yeah. I don’t recommend doing that at all. I sold both to raise money, not only for our adoption costs, but for a connected hearts, adoption ministry.

[00:03:25] Kam: So I had a dual purpose for the whole craft itself. And that’s just something that I have. Done in my craft courier. And if people feel like they’re investing in something more than just something pretty to look at, and it won’t end up in the garage sale with dust on it, they’re more apt to spend that money.

[00:03:50] Kam: Next you could do limited additions or collections. You could do. Seasonal collections that create kind of that sense of urgency.

[00:04:00] Kam: If customers feel like that product is going to be going away or unavailable for even a small amount of time. That may be that urgency that, uh, would. Convince them to purchase it. In the last episode, I talked about crate joy, and that would be a great opportunity to kind of create those collections or the limited edition. So I would recommend looking into crate joy. And I can Lincoln in the show notes as well.

[00:04:31] Kam: Next would be offering discounts or promotions. Runs sales bundled deals to kind of incentivize purchases. Um, you could offer. Discounts on certain product categories. You could provide shipping free shipping or offer a BOGO deal. But I would only do these at limited intervals and I wouldn’t do them for a large amount of time.

[00:04:58] Kam: You put a lot of work into your business and for the crafts that you make. And I. I would just. Strongly suggest not doing a big sale like that. Except for a limited amount of time. And that kind of creates that urgency as well.

[00:05:16] Kam: You could also collaborate with another crafter with this, maybe one that does mostly printables. So it doesn’t really take too much away from either of you and it gets both of you, uh, kind of that. Marketing that you both could use.

[00:05:34] Kam: Also, you can expand your sales channels, Explorer, additional avenues to sell your cross. Consider selling at virtual craft fairs in person markets. If you’re not already pop-up shops where you can connect with customers face to face. If you know, a business with a space to rent, or you could even contact your local chamber of commerce. If you have one. I’ve even thought about transforming our shaved ice trailer into a pop-up trailer, just for crafts and taking it to different markets or events, or even just into a town, depending on the crafts that you sell. Just go where the people are.

[00:06:17] Kam: You can also consider partnering with local retailers or boutiques just to feature your products in their store. And that’s a good way to kind of get out into the public if you are in a more metropolitan area. Obviously this wouldn’t work if you’re re really rural.

[00:06:36] Kam: Now that being said, if you are rural, a good option for you is social media and online platforms. Maximizing your online presence through social media platforms, your online marketplaces and your own website. Be sure to use engaging content and eye catching visuals. And you can make those on canvas. If you need to, you also need to have a strategic marketing plan to attract potential customers and drive sales.

[00:07:07] Kam: You need to have a calendar. You need to have that plan set in place. Don’t just kind of market, as you’re laying in bed. Have a plan. That’s very important. And you can also find influencers or bloggers in your niche to kind of expand your reach, send them your product, have them try it and review it. Those are amazing sources of building that know like, and trust factor.

[00:07:33] Kam: And that kind of leads me to the next one. You can build customer relationships. Either in person or online. Kind of focus on building those strong relationships with your customers. And one of the ways you can do that is by providing exceptional customer service, engage with them on social media. Offer loyalty programs or rewards for repeat purchases. Put a little note in there. I can’t tell you the amount of times I’ve bought something from a crafter and they had a little thank you note signed by them, like handwritten from them.

[00:08:11] Kam: And I, that was huge to me. I don’t think I kept the note, but I still have the items sitting on my desk or, uh, you know, wherever I have put them, but that says set a lot for them. And I remember those uh, businesses. Satisfied customers are more likely to recommend your crafts to others and become repeat buyers. And that’s another way to get those reviews and those testimonials as well.

[00:08:45] Kam: Another thing that you can do is auth offer customization or personalization. Uh, provide personalized options with your crafts. You can include monogramming custom colors, tailored designs. Customization adds value and allows customers to feel a deeper connection with your products. Making them more likely to make a purchase and to come back. If you tie this into building customer relations on social media I would recommend using video and use your customer’s names.

[00:09:21] Kam: Get their permission first, obviously, but according to Google, when people hear their name at releases, quote, unquote releases, feel good hormones such as dopamine and serotonin. These are released into your brain when your ears and code that your name has just been said aloud. This burst of excitement makes people happy. And sends unconscious signals such as empathy, trust, and compassion to the unconscious brain. And they will relate that to your craft.

[00:09:52] Kam: So there you go.

[00:09:55] Kam: Another option that you could do is diversify your product. Exploring new product categories or expand into related areas to diversify your offerings. This can kind of help you tap into different customer segments and niches. And adapt to the changing preferences of your customers. If you make upcycled mittens, let’s say for the winter, learn to use the scraps that you don’t use on those and make dog toys, something that sells all winter or I’m sorry all, all year long.

[00:10:33] Kam: So that is, plus it uses up your scraps.

[00:10:38] Kam: One suggestion that I did write down. And I do think that it is a viable option, but I don’t know a whole lot about, and that is wholesale. I probably need to just find somebody to interview about the, so if you know of somebody or if you are somebody who knows about wholesale and you’d like to be on the podcast, absolutely reach out and let me know.

[00:11:01] Kam: So look into this one, but definitely do your homework before committing to it because it is not a retail price that you will be getting, but it is a for sure sale. So there’s the pros and cons to weigh.

[00:11:16] Kam: So there you go. My friends, my suggestions for how to navigate a recession. But the biggest thing to remember is to keep a positive mindset. God gave you this creative talent for a purpose and you also have to be adaptable. Look for opportunities, try to implement some of those strategies. Let me know how they go.

[00:11:40] Kam: We can navigate the challenging economic climate and continue making sales for our crafting businesses. I believe in you now go light your world.