With a flair for arts and crafts, you’re part of an elite group. The rise of online shopping has catapulted small craft businesses to new heights of popularity. These unique enterprises offer one-of-a-kind goods that make excellent gifts and stand out from the crowd. As you ponder starting your own venture, consider the 18 innovative small craft business ideas I’ve curated for you, perfect for launching in 2022.
The Best Small Craft Businesses to Start in 2022
Are you an artsy individual looking to turn your creative passions into a profitable venture? Look no further! With your unique set of skills, you can kick-start a successful small business that brings in the dough. Here are X innovative and lucrative ideas that utilize your arts and crafts expertise, offering endless possibilities for entrepreneurship.
Start a Handmade Jewelry Business
Starting a jewelry business from home can be an ideal venture for crafty entrepreneurs. The small size of most jewelry pieces allows for efficient inventory management, and the initial startup costs are relatively low thanks to accessible supply stores like Michaels or Hobby Lobby. Furthermore, Etsy provides an excellent platform for jewelry businesses to thrive, with Celestial Flowers by B being a prime example of a successful shop specializing in dried flower jewelry designs.
By leveraging Etsy’s vast audience, you’ll be able to showcase your jewelry creations to the right people and potentially drive business success. To increase your chances of success, consider focusing on a specific niche within the jewelry industry, allowing you to stand out and attract a loyal customer base.
Start a Hand-Embroidery Business
As the world of fashion continues to evolve, embroidery has emerged as a preferred choice for many enthusiasts. The unique texture and premium quality it brings to handmade goods have made them highly sought after. In fact, items like embroidered t-shirts and hats are gaining popularity as an alternative to screen printed products. Take, for instance, freedom and the moon’s hand-embroidered sweaters, which can fetch prices upwards of $80.
The high-quality finish they offer has resulted in impressive profit margins for creators.
Sell Handmade Pottery Like Mugs
While mass-produced pottery may have its advantages, the unique charm and character of handmade pottery set it apart in a way that’s hard to replicate. As a result, many consumers are more than willing to pay a premium for one-of-a-kind pieces like handcrafted mugs. For those with a passion for pottery, selling handmade ceramics can be a lucrative venture, offering a promising path to financial success.
Teach Arts & Craft Classes online
When it comes to monetizing your craft business, it’s not necessarily limited to selling physical products. Consider offering online courses that share your arts and crafts expertise with others. Many people wish they had more crafting skills or knowledge on specific techniques, but don’t know where to begin. As a crafty individual, you have the unique opportunity to guide them through learning new skills while generating revenue in the process.
By leveraging platforms like Teachable, you can streamline the creation and promotion of your online course, making it easier than ever to share your knowledge with others.
Start a Print on Demand Store
Discover the power of print-on-demand, a game-changing business model that empowers creatives like you to sell custom merchandise without the hassle of inventory management. With thousands of products at your fingertips through platforms like Printify, you can focus on designing and uploading unique prints, while leaving the printing and shipping to experts. This innovative approach allows small businesses to generate passive income, freeing up time for other pursuits.
If you’re eager to get started, take advantage of Shopify and Etsy’s built-in integrations with print-on-demand providers to streamline your operations and unlock new revenue streams.
Sell Sewing Patterns
Starting a small business selling sewing patterns online can be an exciting venture for those who are passionate about sewing. While traditional fabric stores often carry outdated and confusing patterns, Etsy has emerged as a go-to platform for discovering new and innovative designs. For instance, Kiana Bonollo’s successful fashion business is a testament to the potential of this niche market.
What’s more, selling sewing patterns as digital files can significantly reduce the workload involved, making it an attractive option for entrepreneurs looking to dip their toes into the world of e-commerce.
Start a Sticker Business
Sticker stores have become a beloved small craft business for many entrepreneurs. By creating stickers from their artwork or designs, artists and designers can turn their unique creations into affordable and practical products that appeal to consumers. With platforms like Canva, it’s easier than ever to get started. The possibilities are truly endless when it comes to the types of stickers you can sell. Beyond decorative stickers, you can also create planner stickers, labels, and more.
To launch a sticker business, you have two primary options: printing your stickers at home with a quality printer and specialized paper or using a print-on-demand service.
Start a Store Selling Things You Make with Your Cricut
For dedicated crafters, the Cricut is a familiar name that evokes thoughts of precision-cut designs and endless creative possibilities. This powerful laser cutting machine enables users to bring their imagination to life by crafting unique items like custom tumblers, apparel, home decor, and more from the comfort of their own homes.
One entrepreneur who has leveraged the Cricut’s capabilities is Madebyleticia, a small business that specializes in creating customized tumblers, apparel, and other innovative products. With this machine, entrepreneurs like Madebyleticia can effortlessly produce high-quality items tailored to meet specific customer demands.
If you’re looking for inspiration on the vast array of projects you can create with a Cricut, I’ve prepared a comprehensive guide featuring 35+ ideas that you can not only make but also sell!
Sell Cricut Templates
By leveraging the creative skills you’ve honed as a Cricut enthusiast, you can turn your designing expertise into a profitable venture. Consider creating and selling pre-made templates that cater to the needs of fellow crafty individuals. As someone who’s already proficient in using this cutting-edge machine, you’re well-equipped to produce unique designs that will resonate with others.
By doing so, you’ll be providing a valuable service to your peers, saving them time and effort they would have spent on designing their own projects from scratch.
Start an Art Print Shop
For artists looking to monetize their creative endeavors, consider transforming your most popular pieces into replicas (prints) and selling them online. One effective way to do this is by establishing an art store, either through Shopify or Etsy. This approach can be particularly beneficial for those who already possess a social media presence, as it provides an organic channel for driving traffic to their online storefront.
💡Tip: By leveraging your existing following, you can focus on showcasing and selling your prints to a targeted audience.
Start a Dried and Silk Floral Arrangement Business
Crafting floral arrangements can be a lucrative hobby, as more people opt for cost-effective alternatives like silk and dried flowers. The rise of online shopping has made it possible to purchase florals digitally. This trend is particularly evident in the wedding industry, where there’s a significant market demand for online floral businesses. For instance, Shopeastolivia.
com’s forever florals collection offers an array of options for those seeking affordable yet high-quality floral arrangements.
Sell Greeting Cards & Invitations
As creatives with a passion for calligraphy, art, or design, leveraging your skills to produce bespoke greeting cards and invitations is an excellent way to turn your craft into a thriving business. The market for high-quality, one-of-a-kind invitation designs is particularly lucrative, especially when it comes to special occasions like weddings. With the right unique designs, you can tap into this demand and establish a successful card business.
Start a Handmade Candle Business
Candle-making can yield significant success for entrepreneurs, whether online or offline through local markets like farmers’ and flea markets. The demand for candles is immense, driven by their appeal as thoughtful gifts and the desire to create a cozy atmosphere in one’s home. Moreover, making candles at home can be an engaging hobby that can easily translate into a viable business.
To stand out in this competitive market, consider specializing in a unique niche, such as offering eco-friendly packaging options or customizable designs with humorous flair.
Sell Thrift-flipped home decor & furniture
Selling thrift-flipped home decor and furniture is an excellent option for sustainable small businesses seeking profitability. A clever approach is to scour local thrift stores for underpriced gems that can be revitalized with a fresh coat of paint or more extensive makeovers. The possibilities are endless, from simple yet effective refinishing to complete transformations that breathe new life into discarded pieces.
For larger items, Facebook marketplace presents an ideal platform to showcase your handiwork and connect with potential buyers. Conversely, smaller decor pieces can be showcased online for a broader reach, making it an attractive side hustle or small business venture.
Sell Art Tutorial Books
Just as online courses provide a platform for sharing knowledge and skills with others, starting a small craft business can offer a similar opportunity. One way to do this is by creating instructional books that teach people how to master various crafts. The popularity of such books on Amazon is evident, with best-sellers covering general crafting topics, Cricut-specific projects, and even painting techniques.
If you’re a skilled crafter looking for a specific area to focus on or simply wanting to monetize your expertise, this business idea could be an excellent starting point. For instance, fashion illustrator Holly Nichols has successfully shared her knowledge by teaching others the art of modern fashion illustration through her book.
Sell Handmade Resin Goods
In recent years, the world of resin crafting has gained significant traction due to its distinctive, artistic appeal. This versatile medium allows creatives to produce an array of unique items, ranging from customized dog tags and coasters to elaborate coffee tables. With the rise of artisanal goods and handmade products, starting a small business selling resin creations can be a lucrative venture.
Start a Crafting Blog
When exploring the connection between starting a blog and crafting, one natural application comes into focus: sharing expertise. By creating an online platform like this one, where enthusiasts can access tutorials, tips, and tricks related to their craft, bloggers can establish themselves as authorities in their niche. Moreover, the potential for monetization through blogging offers an attractive foundation for small business ventures.
For instance, crafting bloggers can leverage their audience’s interest in handmade goods or DIY projects by promoting products or services that complement their content. If you’re intrigued by this concept, be sure to delve into my previous article on the top six ways to turn a blog into a lucrative venture.
Sell Thrift Flipped Clothes
For those with a passion for fashion and a desire to start a sustainable small craft business, repurposing thrifted clothing can be an excellent venture. By giving discarded garments a second life, you’re not only reducing waste but also catering to the growing demand for eco-friendly fashion options and unique vintage pieces. As a bonus, this business has the potential to be highly profitable.
To truly showcase your products, incorporate high-quality visuals into your listings by featuring yourself or professional models wearing your upcycled creations.
Closing thoughts on Small Craft Business Ideas to Start
As we explored various ideas, I hope it sparked creativity in you to elevate your crafting skills and transform them into a lucrative venture. The possibilities are endless, and what matters most is taking that first step towards turning your passion into a thriving business.