my purse making business...?

Question

I make cute purses and bags. It's a fun hobby of mine, and I would really like to sell them. I've done 2 craft shows, and they have been good experiences, but not very profitable.

My bags are getting nicer and nicer with each one I make--I keep learning new little tricks. Oh, and I make up my own designs--no patterns here.

I have a neat old dress dummy, a pretty little t-stand, and a post (a 4 x 4 painted, dressed up) to display my bags. I also have a "bargain basket."

My plan is to keep hitting craft shows, but so far the ones I've done have not been very good. (Nobody's really moving a ton of stuff; not a huge number of exceptional items.)

I'd really like to do some bag parties where people can "design" a bag that I'd make for them.

I'd appreciate any constructive feedback and advice on being successful at selling bags, interesting displays, where to find really inexpensive yet hip and cool fabrics and other bag supplies, etc.

Thanks so much!!

Answer 1

I've dabbled in bags and there's not much interest there. Most bag devotees want a hard bag, so they gravitate towards factory made. I think if you concentrate on trendy fabrics, do lots of larger totes, and stress that they are your own designs, your sales should pick up - though you won't be able to pay your bills with it. Get yourself a nice website with paypal or some other way for impulse buyers to pay. Ebay might work very well to drive traffic to your website. I used it a lot early on, then went to the website exclusively, though I never did move many bags.

I get lots of fabric from factory mill-end stores. I find that dragonflies are still hot, as well as retro kiddie prints.
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Answer 2

i've got dabbled in baggage and there is no longer lots pastime there. maximum bag devotees want a no longer consumer-friendly bag, so they gravitate in direction of production facility made. i think of in case you communicate approximately renowned fabric, do a brilliant form of better totes, and tension that they are your man or woman designs, your revenues ought to p.c.. up - even with the shown fact which you is merely no longer waiting to pay your expenses with it. Get your self a effective internet site with paypal or some different way for impulse clients to pay. Ebay could artwork o.k. to force site visitors on your internet site. I used it lots early on, then went to the internet internet site completely, even with the shown fact that I never did circulate many baggage. i'm getting a brilliant form of fabric from production facility mill-end shops. i discover that dragonflies are nonetheless warm, as properly as unfashionable kiddie prints. .