Being able to make a living while working from home is a dream for many of us. Many people that start wreath making hoping to quit their day job are not successful. Most start without a plan, nor the knowledge to make it work.
The truth is that for most people that are able to make a living selling wreaths it has taken years of hard work to get where they are. Sure, at first all our friends and family are willing to help. They buy a wreath for every season. But eventually the newness wears off. Now who is left to buy your product?
When I started my wreath making business, there were only a handful of resources available to learn about the business side of the craft. My journey has been riddled with trial and A LOT of error. I have compiled this list of tips, hoping you can be saved some of the bumps I have had along the way!
Here Are My Best Tips for Selling Wreaths Online…
Stay in your own lane!
This is probably my BEST TIP I can give you. Put on those blinders. Don’t waste time and mental energy comparing yourself to others. Some will be ahead of you, some will be behind you. Don’t stress over it!
If you need to, use that “unfollow” button on social media. Folks will be clogging your feeds with all the wreaths they are selling. It’s impossible not to start the mental games. Since I have unfollowed all but a few wreath makers, who also happen to be my mentors, my life is so much more peaceful .
Don’t feel like you must follow the ALL the current trends.
Over time you will develop your own style to the point that people should be able to glance at your design and know who has made it. Example, if you look on Etsy right now, there are a sea of red truck wreaths. Do you realize how hard it will be to be seen? Being different might be the very thing that makes you stand out!
Have a range of prices on your items available for buyers to choose from.
Have items that are higher, medium and lower priced available for sellers. You will have many buyers that come to Etsy looking for a gift for their loved one or even that Christmas office party. Not everyone has the disposable income to spend on a wreath for their home. You will have some who have a higher budget that shop looking at higher priced wreaths first. And that leads me to my next tip…
Don’t underprice yourself!
If you want to be successful in the long run, don’t price your wreaths too low. You have to be able to make enough profit to buy supplies, pay for business expenses and make a profit to take home.
Many buyers will look at a lower price item and wonder what is wrong with it.
There is less competition in the higher priced range, so it is more likely you can be seen.
Stay away from trademarked items!
Do people request and do they buy these? Yes! Should you sell them? No way! Don’t take a chance. Disney and several other companies are actively pursuing those who make and sell items with their trademarked items! Shops have been shut down and some people have had to pay restitution. And no, it is not acceptable to market an item using the terms “in the likeness of…”
You can however buy the trademarked item and use for your own personal use, just don’t use it for profit.
Do not deactivate seasonal items that don’t sell. Keep them listed for sale.
There are several reasons to keep these items listed in your shop. You never know what someone is looking for when they go to Etsy. I have sold Halloween items in February and Patriotic in December.
Most times my items listed from last year are the first seasonal items to sell this year.
Keeping these items increases your number of items for sale in your shop. The more items you have listed, the more you look like a legitimate business. It also helps you to rank higher on Etsy.
Get out there to be seen!
Social media can be a great free way to drive buyers to your Etsy shop. I recommend at least Facebook and Pinterest. People buy from those they know, like and trust. Facebook live video is a great way to let folks get to know you.
Should I sell my wreaths on Facebook?
Most people seem to start their online wreath business on Facebook. There are a couple of things to consider if you are selling there. First, from my observation, the wreaths sold on Facebook Marketplace are sold for less money. If you are wanting to stay in business you must be making a profit! Know you’re worth. Don’t be giving away your designs. Second, I see many who are selling from there personal Facebook pages. If you are, STOP!! Selling on your personal Facebook page is against their Terms of Service and they are shutting pages down!!
Etsy is a great place to start your wreath business!
I highly recommend starting an Etsy shop for your online wreath business. It is free to set up your shop. You pay nothing until your item sells. Thousands of people are going to Etsy as buyers. They are looking for unique, handmade items. Also, there are many resources available to sellers in order to optimize your shop.
In summary…
I hope you can find value in these tips for selling wreaths online! One thing that I want you to remember is that it takes time to grow any business. Most people with “overnight” success have put in years of behind the scene work before they became successful.
Remember, there are always those of us in the business that are glad to help you along the way, many times for free.
Also, if you have a tip for selling wreaths online that I have not covered above, PLEASE submit it below!!
Check back periodically…I will be updating this post as I collect more tips.
