Secrets to Developing a Good Product Line
Mistakes to Avoid and Tips for Success
A mistake commonly made by beginners is to produce items in several craft mediums that are not related to one another. It’s always better to focus on a particular craft area–not necessarily one craft, but a group of crafts that fall into a family or are compatible with one another. Going to market with a little of this and a little of that suggest you are a hobbyist who can’t make up her mind about what to sell. While it’s important to focus on an art or craft you love and do well, you must always consider the marketplace. Making what you love to make is not necessarily going to be what people want to buy, so you must do some market research before you begin to develop your product line.
Professional sellers quickly learn the importance of specialization. By building on their particular talents and art or craft skills, they develop one or more product lines that complement one another. Many crafters do the same art or craft, of course, but they have each developed their own style, and that makes them stand out in the crowd.
Tips for Maximum Sales Success
* Develop a variety of products in different sizes and price ranges. Specialize in one or two major craft areas and be creative by combining popular craft materials that aren’t normally used together, such as stitchery with ceramics or sewn items with wood.
* Learn to think in general product categories such as home decor, toys, clothing, gifts for men, collectibles, dolls, Christmas ornaments, bath items, etc. Or, concentrate on one or two crafts and create separate product lines within those categories.
* Stay up on colors currently popular. If your product’s colors are not “in tune with the times,” they may not sell well. Newsletters and magazines for professional crafters generally report on color trends each year, but you can get a good idea of what’s hot simply by spending a day in a shopping center and browsing clothing racks. You can also research current color trends from the Color Marketing Organization.
* Name your product lines and individual products. A name gives a product personality, which in turn increases its salability. Use humor whenever possible or appropriate, and be sure to create hang tags for everything you make.
Finally, listen to your customers. Often the best and most profitable product ideas will come from your own customers.
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