5 Harsh Truths Craft Business Owners Need to Hear

Are you a handmade artist or maker struggling with sales? This video dives into 5 controversial opinions about the current state of the handmade market in 2024 and offers actionable tips for success.

In this video, you'll learn:

• Why "handmade" might not be enough to sell your products anymore
• How AI is impacting the market (and why it might be good news for handmade!)
• Should Etsy only allow truly handmade items?
• The dark side of popular "selling tools" and how they encourage copycats
• The surprising truth about "more is better" marketing (and what to do instead)

Bonus: Learn about a FREE 5-day Sell More Work Less challenge with actionable tips to boost your sales!

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Timestamps
00:00 Introduction, why I made this video
00:26: No one cares about handmade anymore
02:53: AI is only adding more noise to the market
04:30: What should be allowed to sell on Etsy?
05:40: The dark side of our favorite tools for our shops
06:46: You don’t need to do MORE
08:05: Join the Sell More, Work Less Challenge

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Enjoyed this video? ⭐ I teach a FREE workshop that deep dives on How To Create A Profitable Handmade Business Without Keeping Up With Social Media.
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🎥 WATCH RELATED VIDEOS:
Handmade Crafters - ❌ GET OFF OF ETSY ❌ | Here’s Why!

What Not to Do In a Handmade Business: Mistakes I'll ❌ NEVER Do Again In My Handmade Business 😲

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[CreativeHiveCo]

🚨NEW FREE WORKSHOP FOR 2024 🚨 Learn how to create a PROFITABLE handmade business online without keeping up with social media

[penneyreed]

I am a creator/maker, and the biggest thing I have heard from buyer is disappointment. People buy something handmade, and it turns out to be junk. I have seen other booths at shows & markets, it's true. So much of the time handmade items are made by inexperienced, or uncaring individuals. The goods are shoddy, poor materials, and not cleaned and presented well. I seen "makers" who have hot glue strings on the finished piece, on display. Anyone who buys from someone like that is left with a poor opinion of hand made. When i started a majority of craft shows had a quality check, before you could sign up. I have seen such garbage for sale as handmade, it gives me second hand embarrassment

[CreativeMouse]

Etsy should create a spin-off business - Etsy Commercial which would be non-handmade items. Which they would be able to segment the market easily.

[lx]

I sell on Etsy as well and I had to make some changes. Instead of dealing with price conscious customers I started to target customers that don't mind pay higher prices for an item that is more custom to their needs. With all the mass-produced product on Etsy....this is the only way I was able to get away for the making many units for a small profit margin. It's more about the customer experience and their satisfaction with the product. Many of us think in order to make a sale we need to sell true. Make what people want and charge a fair price. If the item is 100% custom then charge a much higher price. If they don't want to pay then this is a customer you don't need.

[marshalepage]

I think it's ok to separate the hand made from the digital, but not ok to tell digital artist they aren't allowed to sell.

[cyndisays]

I do not think handmade will ever end. Crafters will have to up they game (which if you got it you go it).

[WeirdSnakeGal]

I absolutely predict a resurgence in handmade product popularity due to the overflowing impersonal AI produce products. It might take a few years but a lot of people will get sick of it and will value quality work more.

[gracemakeslace]

You have some excellent points, but I really don't think getting rid of digital altogether is the way to go. Lots of us creators sell things such as digital patterns in categories such as crochet, sewing, knitting, lace making, etc. It lets those of us who like to create have accessible places to sell and buy and download well-made patterns.
I just searched on Amazon for "tatted lace pattern" and "crochet blouse pattern" and only got books back as a result.

I can easily see a one-off pattern being high quality at $4(that's what I and most of my lace-making peers charge for our lace patterns), but a whole book of patterns for $6 makes me question if it'll be executed well.

[OG_Beckie_Leigh]

I totally agree with the hard truths you talked about! I don’t even like shopping on Etsy anymore because of all of the junk that is clearly not handmade or original digital designs that were made by an actual person. I see SO many products for sale on Etsy and Amazon that are literally the EXACT same products I can buy from Temu, AliExpress, Banggood, etc. for pennies on the dollar, especially silicone molds and jewelry. The only time I still buy from Etsy is if it’s a direct link from a seller who I know has made the product or digital file themselves.

[coffeebreak]

Why are digital products being attacked? There’s a lot that goes into thinking up the product and using your ‘hands’ to work to bring it to life. Just because a computer is used to create that image or that product does not mean no work has gone into it or that it’s not handmade. I’m not talking about AI generation, I’m talking about having a creative idea and bringing it to life making a product that can be sent electronically. Like a planner, or an excel template, or educational printables, digital illustrations.

[KittysFiberArt]

I spin yarn. The company Louet my spinning wheel is from, there is no dealer in my state. I’m forced to buy parts online. The big company’s like The Woolery and Paradise Fibers have limited stock. Drop shipping is the only way I was able to receive my footman connector for my two year old spinning wheel. I prefer to support small dealers than big retailers. Dealers on Etsy have been a huge help for the fiber art community.

[ebonymochi]

Yup I made a berry charm once for an online swap and the woman claimed I didn’t make it. I used polymer clay and Crystal glaze to give it a shiny coat. That woman said I bought it and then I had to do a demo to prove it since it was handmade only swap. I didn’t mind because I did a lot of tutorials in my teen years on crafts. She shut up and the host blocked her from future swaps.

Am I agree with you on AI posts and fake craft pics. I’m tired of it because it isn’t handmade.

[inkyapron]

I’m particularly frustrated with the flood of POD listings as someone who hand screenprints my products. I’ve had my shop since 2014, and I have witnessed the impact that it made on Etsy. I model my shirts on my own body and refuse to use the generic mock-ups. I do own a direct to garment printer but they are so prone to breakage, cost a fortune to maintain. Screen printing is still the standard, and I don’t see that changing any time soon.

[barbarareeder]

I agree about Etsy to a point…..I live in a tiny town and the “big city” has a Michael’s only. I make scrapbooking journals and I have loved the digital papers…..I can use them when I need them instead of storing which takes up space. Now I will agree on all the other products that are “machine made”. I recently started to learn digital design so I can make my own digital papers …….its very time consuming which is fine in the beginning but delays my work if I relied on my own digital papers it would take me a month or more to get one journal done instead of 3 days.
Pricing the handmade items is difficult from both ends. Your art and time is worth money. What I face is that if I wouldn’t buy it for the price it’s worth there is good chance no one else will or very few. Etsy could make 2 stores on their platform……handmade gifts and then the other is for everything else. That would give the customer easier access to what they really are looking for.

[alyssamurphy]

Yes! Copying is so gross with handmade products for sale.

[yootoob]

No, it's not dying. It depends upon what people make. I have a feeling it will eventually go on the upswing at some point because people still appreciate unique items/crafts/art and think eventually the mainstream will get tied of mass production cookie-cutter items.

[calieandco]

Discussing what should be on Etsy could be it's own video... I get where they're coming from with offering the variety they do. As someone who makes things entirely by hand though, it hurts my business competing with people who do print on demand. If you see a POD mug for $15, then my handmade mug for $40, it can be confusing to buyers why they should pay more for one over the other when both were "handmade".

I really appreciate your videos by the way! Keep it up! <3

[msblondeasian]

Homegirl pulled out the DICTIONARY! 😂. You’re so good at concisely saying what I’m thinking.

[awlthatwoodcrafts]

You make great points and I don't see them as anywhere close to controversial. They are, as you said, hard truths.

I especially like your point about making your listing grab a buyer's attention by demonstrating how our product is exactly what they need and then educate them on how it's handmade. I need to take a look at some of my products through this new lens. Thanks.

[onlysewingventure]

We are a itty bitty sewing company and we have found that using terms like made for you, unique, one of a kind and limited edition helps. As we are catering to a niche of a niche we knew it would be hard. Thankfully we haven't quit our day jobs... probably never will 😢