While the process of making is exhilarating, selling is no picnic. You are a MakerPro - you’ve successfully workshopped a functional, market-ready product, we’ll show you where to sell it. From online platforms and community forums to traditional sales ideas, you will be equipped to get your product into the market, affordably.
I will be sidestepping crowdfunding altogether. That is always a gamble, and never a guarantee. I wanted to cover places, where if you put up your products you could get a sell without much of a sacrifice.
((Don't worry, I will go over crowdfunding in a later post.... as I plan to put a few of my ideas through that undertaking.))
Niche Markets
Tindie
Tindie is just about the only resource for mechanical and electric makers. The site is completely dedicated to help you sell your stuff. It features locally made 3D-printed items, robots, drones, IoT, and more. A visit here is not only inspiring, it's also overwhelming. The level of creativity and ingenuity is staggering. What's the catch? Listing on Tindie is free, and a 5% fee is charged on the total order (including shipping) once products are sold. Talk about niche, for us engineers/electronic makers, your whole audience is right here. Despite the focus, a larger more general audience is less likely to shop here. Although Tindie is growing fairly fast... take a look at some of the other options in this list.
ArtFire
Even technology can be art. ArtFire is a great niche website for selling artsy goods. If your wares have a creative lean, check out this platform. It has an Amazon portal that allows users to save your goods in their Amazon carts, and is growing in popularity. ArtFire also focuses on the sales of handmade goods, and has a listing 10,000 active shoppers with 360,000 members. The platform charges a flat monthly fee or $20-$40 per month (depending on volume), or can charge you $0.23 cents and a 9% transaction fee per transition.
The Big Three
Although the Big Three – Amazon, eBay, and Etsy – are considerably oversaturated, many people make full-time incomes selling on these platforms alone (it’s difficult, don’t get me wrong, but I personally know three people who do, and I bumped into them at coffees shops, so there must be something to it).
Depending on the type of goods you make, you could find success on these major sales outlets, if you know what to look for. Making a great income on these sites involves intimately knowing your market, and your competitors, but if you’re willing to do the work, millions of users will see your products. Also, Amazon and eBay offer hands-off selling options, so the platforms will handle all related shipping for you. All you need to do is make.
I've been on these three, and here is the issue I have with them. Amazon and eBay, for one, take a rather large cut of the profits. Since eBay owns Paypal, they get an extra handful of percents with each payment. I used Amazon's fulfillment option to let people with "Prime" get free shipping on my items. But in the end, I essentially pay Amazon what I would in shipping costs per item anyway. Nevertheless, ease of use of their systems will have you baby-stepping to your goal.
Bonanza
Bonanza is a great resource if you want to go local. It has a separate section for crafts, and depending on what you are selling, you might only see minimal competition. The platform has 25,000 registered users, and offers free sales help to sellers. With this, its fees are reasonable, at 3.5% for transactions less than $500, and around $17 + 1% for transactions more than $500. Bonanza also offers a hands-off selling option.
Zibbet is a similar alternative if you specialize in crafts.
Community-Based Selling Platforms
Believe it or not, community-based selling platforms are a great place to sell your stuff. These include Craigslist, LetGo, and OfferUp. Craigslist includes both a community board for networking and a selling platform. LetGo and OfferUp offer photo-based selling platforms to move product quickly, and have sections dedicated to electronics. While these sites were created for the sale of used goods, many businesses have begun selling on the platforms. Since it’s free, why not try it? All three sites also feature apps that allow you to communicate with buyers on the go. My only advice, with Craigslist, proceed with caution.
Community Forums & Classified Ads
Online forums are also a great place to find customers and promote your brand. While you want to tread carefully, many forums allow you to post personal ads for things you make or want. Typically, these forums are community-based, but could be a great resource if you can mass produce something for a local company. It’s also a great place to capture the portion of the market that still looks at these boards. Many websites have forums and classified sections, including Craigslist, the Washington Post, and local newspapers. You might also be able to find local bulletin boards in your area.
Traditional Selling Tips
Depending on what you sell, using traditional sales techniques could yield great results. See our tips below that could give you a competitive edge.
Online Directories
If someone is looking for a specific product or maker, chances are they’ll use a search engine. Listing your services on an online directory, such as Yelp, Google’s free listings, and Angie’s List can produce an ongoing stream of income for people that need your service, but would otherwise not know you exist. Most online directories also allow you to post for free. I know a few people who post STEM related programs they run on Yelp... growing organically and local is a good place to start.
Webstore
Every business has a website these days, nothing new here. With this, people also use websites as virtual business cards, so why not you? You can create a free basic website using Weebly, Wix, or WordPress, and add a market functionality with Ribbon (for WordPress). You can also use a platform like Big Cartel, a website design resource dedicated specifically to craftsmen. Once you start making some money, you can upgrade to something like Square Space for a more streamlined design if you like. Having a website, however, could make the difference between someone shopping with you versus a competitor. Every Maker/MakerPro should have a presence showing off their ideas and creations.
Get out there and meet people the good old-fashioned way
My favorite. We are alive in the midst of a thriving artisan market. The market for handmade goods is booming, and there is no better time than now to get your products out there. Whether you sell at a local farmer’s market or distribute your goods to a local business, we live at a time when people want to support one another.
One final note: if making electronic and mechanical devices is your specialty, there’s no better place to go than your local Makers Faire. This is the place for local manufacturers to network, have fun, and move products. Make: Magazine is also the community with which to get involved for all things maker. The magazine also regularly features success stories within the community so you can stay encouraged. Music festivals are also a place to explore showing off your builds. Most major music festivals have a growing element of makers that are amidst the vendor booths. You are inside a bubble, thousands of consumers streaming through the fest - a perfect place to sell/test/or evaluate the popularity of a product. Take Doppler Labs.. they tested out their "Here One" at SXSW and partnered with Choachella to give early access to their headphones. If you are wondering, the Here One acts as a real-world volume control. Tune out the show you are at, and take a call.
No one said selling was easy, but with these tips, you’ll be able to keep your day jobs and use technology to sell for you. Just keep making!
Have a suggestion to add to the list? Comment below.
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