The Best Way to Sell Handmade Cards

[e-s-cards]

Hi
I have been making and selling Handmade Greetings Cards for about 10 weeks now, and I make about £5 a week, but that is from selling them to my friends and family. My friend has joined my business, making Confectionery such as Truffles and Cookies, and that is going very well!

I have put a selection of cards in a small shop in a quiet village where i used to live, but so far have not sold any. However, as Father's Day is coming up, i could sell a few soon!

I may put them in another shop in another village as well. The shop sells lots of pretty ornaments and handmade things, so it seems an ideal shop to sell handmade cards.

Basically, i would like some advice on the best way to sell my cards, and how to advertise my company. I have thought of making a website, but some hosters were very expensive, and it seemed like a lot of hard work to keep it running.

I would appreciate any help anyone could give me - many thanks,

Ethan (E-S-Cards)

[Ifor-Jones]

Hi Ethan and welcome to the forum. If you have a look over some recent threads you will see there is a lot of advice regarding selling and advertising. Well worth reading through some of them.

[stallfinder]

Hi Ethan,
I've found the best way to sell them is to keep the price reasonable as a lot of places sell "handmade" cards and it's hard to be competetive. It means I make less per card but I sell more. I cello mine with my contact details on a sticker on the back of the cello and each card. A local farm shop stocks mine and I go in regularly and make sure they're all showing prominently on the rack. My cards are contemporary rather than with lots of frills etc. and so I sell quite a few to mums at toddler groups and small local events.
Gail.

[hporter@intraspin.com]

Hi Ethan,
I sell quite a lot of my cards through craft fairs in my local area. They raise money for charity so a percentage of what I sell goes to charity but I still earn a reasonable amount. Are there any groups like that in your area? Are there any Craft Associations locally that you can join? I also sell through my web site. That goes in fits and starts as I have only been doing that for a few months.
Good luck.
Helen
Handmade Cards Direct