Craft-Only Garage Sales – How to Market for the Holidays

 

 

The holiday season is the most popular time of the year to sell you crafts.  It’s cold outside, the shopping season is in full gear, and people are in the mood to buy and enjoy handcrafted items. Holding a craft-only garage sale is one of the easiest ways to attract a large number of interested customers.  If you plan to organize one of these sales, however, be prepared for the work it will entail.

 

Not you’re Average Garage Sale

A craft-only garage sale is a wonderful idea because it allows potential customers to meet in one place specifically designated for showcasing the work of local craftspeople.  You’ll want to advertise your craft sale like you would a regular garage sale.  Put up very nice, colorful flyers around your neighborhood two weeks before the date of the sale.  The appearance of your flyers is important.  You’ll want to convey the fact that your sale is not the normal garage sale.  Don’t use the standard red and black ‘yard sale’ signs.  Make professional-looking signs that emphasize the variety of items that will be available for sale.  Make it clear that you will be selling new items, suitable for holiday gift-giving.

 

Target Other Craftspeople and Enthusiasts

Of course, you’ll want to market your craft-only garage sale to other crafts enthusiasts.  Visit your local hobby shop and crafts stores and put up flyers.  Stand outside the door and hand out flyers, if you really want to get the word out.  You might also consider visiting local crafts workshops and classes to inform students about the upcoming craft sale.  Even easier, e-mail local crafts instructors and ask politely if they would be willing to make an announcement in class regarding the sale.  If possible, deliver copies of your flyers to the instructor so he or she can pass them out in class. 

 

Another easy way to reach your target audience is to advertise at craft fairs and shows.  Again, pass out fliers and put up signs.  People at craft sales are already in the mood to shop for crafts, so don’t be shy about marketing your show at these types of fairs.  

 

Participate in, or Consider Putting Together an Arts and Crafts Fair

One of the easiest ways to ensure a steady stream of customers is by organizing an arts and crafts fair at a community meeting point.  If you are a member of a local church or community organization, check to see if any arts and crafts shows are held on a regular basis.  These types of shows are especially common during the holiday season, when people become particularly interested in handcrafted objects and crafts.

 

If you’re local school, church, or community center doesn’t have hold any type of arts and crafts fair, offer to organize one.  Be prepared, however, to commit and follow through with the amount of work this type of project entails.  You’ll need to recruit other craftspeople to display their work, and make sure the venue is available for the date you need it.  Perhaps you’ll also want to secure food or snack vendors. 

 

One of the greatest benefits of holding your craft only sale at a community meeting point like a church or school is that the foot traffic is generally greater than it would be at a garage sale.  Another nice benefit is that your event is easier to advertise.  If, for instance, your craft-only sale is being held at a local church, you can ask that the sale is mentioned in the weekly announcements and published in the weekly newsletter.  Holding your craft-only sale at a local school event also allows you to reach a much larger segment of the community. 

 

Use Your Established Contact Base

If you are an experienced craftsperson who already sells your crafts on a regular basis, market your upcoming craft only garage sale to those names on your list of contacts.  If you have a website or newsletter, these are great places to advertise the upcoming sale.  Most likely, these contacts already have more than a casual interest in your work and crafts in general, and will be interested in the event.  You may even consider sending personalized invitations to your best customers.