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The Handmade Marketplace: How to Sell Your Crafts Locally, Globally, and Online
Since its original publication in 2010, Kari Chapin's The Handmade Marketplace has inspired thousands of crafters around the world to find the courage and know-how they need to make money -- and even to make a full-time living -- from doing what they love best. Now, this best-selling guide has been completely revised and updated to include solid information on the latest on-line and social media opportunities for sales and marketing, as well as fresh advice and invaluable tips from successful crafters and artists. With Kari Chapin at your side, you can live a more creative life and enjoy a lucrative career at the same time.
256 pages, Paperback
First published February 27, 2010
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1478 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 149 reviews
February 28, 2011
To be honest, most of this book is written in Successful Blog Style. What is Successful Blog Style, you ask? Well, it's a style of writing that mainly says bland, incomplete, obvious things that you already know, but presented stylishly, charmingly, disarmingly and warmly. The premise is usually something you find deeply fascinating, that fills your mind with a sense of interest, curiosity, and promise. Ultimately the Successful Blogger sells (via advertising) this back to you. You often learn very little, because the Successful Blogger has learned to save time by presenting less substantial content after a great header, yet it reinforces your sense of style, current or desired, often cultivating a weird new spin on the Keeping Up With The Jonses dynamic.
And yet this is not a blog. It's an instructional book (or is instructional not the right term?). And there definitely is substance in here, especially when it comes to the really obscure aspects of selling your handmade goods, like taxes. For other subjects, while there's an overall fluffy filler style, there's a steady smattering of real content as well, useful information and thought provoking tidbits. The information may not be as clear and substantial as it could *possibly* be, but it is definitely current for contemporary selling methods--an important point in a rapidly changing area. It may not be all that it can be, but it's a good resource nonetheless.
And yet this is not a blog. It's an instructional book (or is instructional not the right term?). And there definitely is substance in here, especially when it comes to the really obscure aspects of selling your handmade goods, like taxes. For other subjects, while there's an overall fluffy filler style, there's a steady smattering of real content as well, useful information and thought provoking tidbits. The information may not be as clear and substantial as it could *possibly* be, but it is definitely current for contemporary selling methods--an important point in a rapidly changing area. It may not be all that it can be, but it's a good resource nonetheless.
February 2, 2012
This book is fun, easy to read and knows its audience of crafters very well. I appreciate the voices of other crafters woven into the chapters. Overall, the book emphasizes building community and your own creative practice and I think that's where the voices of other crafters really help demonstrate that this sense of community is very real. This book has good advice for craters looking to go to craft fairs and establish and online presence, but I think the advice about taxes and accounting is really accessible and well presented - that may have been my favorite part of the book! It's tough when books like this mention a specific type of technology - such as podcasts, because technology is moving so fast it's hard to know if that section won't be completely dated in a few years. I found the scruture a little disjointed - pricing your work and hiring help advice in the first section, information on selling at fairs and online in the third - but overall the book is very clear and the illustrations really add to it's fun, community feel. I think this book is an essential companion to Craft, Inc.
February 23, 2010
Well designed book (I mostly bought this because my friend Amber is quoted in it and because I loved the illustrations and design).
The information presented is great, though available in other books. I would really **love** to have a similar book (or a chapter in a current book) devoted to indie marketing of "art" (such as original paintings for example). This book and others like it are helpful for artisans who make things - soap, mittens, stuffies, etc - but "art" seems to require a slightly tweaked marketing approach. I don't believe "art" and "indie" are mutually exclusive, though, and in fact would love to see more "indie" in the "fine art" scene.
Anyway, if you don't have a book like this on your shelf already, this is the one you should get!
The information presented is great, though available in other books. I would really **love** to have a similar book (or a chapter in a current book) devoted to indie marketing of "art" (such as original paintings for example). This book and others like it are helpful for artisans who make things - soap, mittens, stuffies, etc - but "art" seems to require a slightly tweaked marketing approach. I don't believe "art" and "indie" are mutually exclusive, though, and in fact would love to see more "indie" in the "fine art" scene.
Anyway, if you don't have a book like this on your shelf already, this is the one you should get!
March 12, 2010
I really found this book very useful and I am so glad I got the chance to review it. I have always wanted to learn how to list and sell my homemade crochet and scrap booking items. This book for me was a real tool to have not only does it tell you how to it also tells you how to get set up and started. The steps she takes you threw and the things you learn in this book will most definitely help you to set up your own business.
I really enjoyed the chapters on social media, blogging and marketing. I am a new blogger and my blog is only less than a year old but this was very helpful to me even for my personal blog I do. I'm not that computer smart and this is one great book that help me by the steps she lists in her book.
This also helped me understand how to set my prices when I get ready to launch my craft web site in the future. That's the hard part for me is to determine how much my afghans I make are going for and how much is to much. The Book helped me understand the wholesale and retail sales and about them.
This book was so helpful to me it would be hard to list everything I loved about this book. I would recommend this book for anyone who wants to know the how to's of the Homemade market place.
I really enjoyed the chapters on social media, blogging and marketing. I am a new blogger and my blog is only less than a year old but this was very helpful to me even for my personal blog I do. I'm not that computer smart and this is one great book that help me by the steps she lists in her book.
This also helped me understand how to set my prices when I get ready to launch my craft web site in the future. That's the hard part for me is to determine how much my afghans I make are going for and how much is to much. The Book helped me understand the wholesale and retail sales and about them.
This book was so helpful to me it would be hard to list everything I loved about this book. I would recommend this book for anyone who wants to know the how to's of the Homemade market place.
June 10, 2014
The Handmade Marketplace is a wonderful resource for anyone who's thought about selling their art or handcrafted work. Kari writes in a friendly, conversational tone and guides the reader through all the ins and outs of operating a small business. A large variety of topics are discussed including marketing, branding, using social media in your business, how to take the perfect photos, selling in your community, legal details, shop policies, selling at craft fairs, and more!
Included in the book are fun illustrations and advice from other artists and sellers.
I borrowed this from my library, but I'm going to purchase a copy of my own. This isn't a book you can read once. It's something that artists will want to refer to for guidance again and again. Easily the best book I've read on selling your handcrafted work! Five stars. *****
Included in the book are fun illustrations and advice from other artists and sellers.
I borrowed this from my library, but I'm going to purchase a copy of my own. This isn't a book you can read once. It's something that artists will want to refer to for guidance again and again. Easily the best book I've read on selling your handcrafted work! Five stars. *****
March 6, 2010
This book is very approachable for those looking to take a side hobby of crafting and expand upon your opportunities.
What I found most helpful were the different sites of other bloggers, podcasters, and crafty knowledge.
As a former business major it is not at all the book you should get if you want to open a brick and mortar store or if you are going to be expanding over the size of you plus one. If you are looking for something like that please instead get New Venture Creation by Timmons it is very comprehensive.
Again, this is great for marketing crafts on a small level and some good ideas. I like it enough to keep it to refer back to periodically.
What I found most helpful were the different sites of other bloggers, podcasters, and crafty knowledge.
As a former business major it is not at all the book you should get if you want to open a brick and mortar store or if you are going to be expanding over the size of you plus one. If you are looking for something like that please instead get New Venture Creation by Timmons it is very comprehensive.
Again, this is great for marketing crafts on a small level and some good ideas. I like it enough to keep it to refer back to periodically.
April 20, 2010
I am actually reading this book. There are no pictures or sewing projects and I will soon finish it cover to cover! It is a good reference for using modern means to market yourself and your wares. It is inspiring. I also enjoy that there are numerous perspectives offered throughout the book, making this concept more tangible.
June 1, 2010
Breezy, fun overview of, well, how to sell one's crafts. It covers too much to be particularly in-depth- but it doesn't claim to be. Overall it felt like a series of magazine articles, with pull-quotes and boxes of more info and quirky but engaging illustrations. I don't know that I learned anything new, but I certainly read every word.
October 2, 2012
I don't remember how I came across this book but I sell on Etsy, so I was interested to know what this book was about. It has a lot of good information, some I already knew, and some was completely knew to me. I would recommend it to anyone who is thinking about starting selling their handmade treasures or who is already doing so. Lots of great information in one place!
December 9, 2013
I have a crush on everything about this book.
January 26, 2018
I checked this out of the library, then l found it so useful that I bought it on Amazon. It is chock full of tips from actual crafters who have turned a hobby into a business. It's an indispensable tool for anyone looking to make a living creating and selling their handicrafts. Thank you Kari Chapin and the members of your Creative Collective.
July 20, 2011
This book is exactly what anyone considering a handmade business should read- it points out things you maybe neglected to realize when daydreaming about your own creative business. To run a successful business you'll probably need to read a lot more in depth on certain aspects but this book will get creative people thinking "It's not just about sitting round being an artist"; though that's a wonderful aspect there is marketing, legal issues, accounting, and much more to think of. Highly recommend if you're thinking about this path for yourself.
January 17, 2015
A great, easy-to-read lil' book about making $$$ of yr arts, esp. if you're like me and don't understand how the hell the internet or money work.
June 11, 2014
[I was provided with book for the price of No Monies thanks to the publisher, Storey Publishing, and the ever wonderful NetGalley. It is available (hopefully) today: June 11th!]
[A very important note: this is not one for the ereader. You will want either a hardcopy, or a tablet/computer to read on. The layout is more like a magazine sans pictures.]
I love it when people give me money. I love it even more when people give me money for something I'm doing anyway, so I'm always on the lookout for ways to turn what I'm doing anyway into monies which I can then squander on unimportant things like the gas bill. When I saw The Handmade Marketplace on NetGalley, I was immediately interested.
I hoped for a book which would give me some guidance to how one goes about selling things, both online and in general. I already have some knowledge about the avenues available and I spent many a Saturday as a teenager manning a stall for my Mammy's craft business. I have a degree of knowledge, but it's mostly out of date.
What I got was a book which was ... mixed.
The style is initially pleasing. The writing is chatty and positive without getting too rah! rah! about everything. Throughout, soundbites from crafters are provided and these often covered the points I felt were missing from the text. There are also some useful little Q&As which, again, raise the points I was going to complain weren't covered.
It looks quite nice too, initially. The layout suits the chatty style of the writing, but it doesn't gel enough. If you're giving me something I can't read on my kindle, I'd hope there's a reason for it. Most of the cartoon images could have been taken from a stock site - they don't have anything to do with the text. There are a few places where some diagrams would have been useful, such as when talking about how to set up a home photography studio. I also found some of the more cursive fonts (used in the quotes from crafters) difficult to read (which I was doing on my PC).
Where I struggle is in knowing who The Handmade Marketplace is aimed at. The style and the substance is pretty basic, but overall the book is teaching you how to set up a crafting *business* - rather than starting with where to sell, how to sell stuff, it begins with inspiration, branding, logos, and business practices. These are all useful things (I'm very glad to see branding covered, even if there are some massive gaps in the content, such as information about fonts and how visual identity works) but for a book which has the subtitle "How to sell your crafts locally, globally, and online"? Not so much.
Branding is not the only place with gaps. There is a short section about photographing your work, which include the rather bizarre assertion that:
Some cameras allow you to easily adjust the white balance, which can result in crisper, clearer photos.
While it's true most cameras allow you adjust the white balance it has nothing to do with the sharpness of a photograph. White balance is the temperature of the photograph. Setting it correctly means the colours in your image will appear accurately. This can be done in camera or as part of the post processing if you're shooting in RAW (which is like shooting a negative rather than a Polaroid - if you're adjusting it afterwards, shoot RAW) The sharpness is effected by things like the size of the aperture (which you can only control if you're using an SLR and which in turn affects the depth of field), the shutter speed, the use of a tripod etc none of which are talked about. No tips on how to create certain looks - not even the classic "put your camera on a bean bag to keep it steady" tip. (I'd also advise making use of the 2 second shutter delay to avoid creating blur with your finger pressing the button.)
When it's not missing things out, it offers some pieces of advice worthy of #Pippatips. In the evaluating a craft fair section, the book suggests you consider the time of year the fair takes place.
If you knit winter hats or make letterpress Chistmas, Hanukkah, or Kwanzaa cards, a show in the middle of summer might not be the right one for you.
But, it also has some excellent advice which may not have occurred to anybody who's new to craft fairing, such as asking what other kind of artisans are going to be at the fair. It does a good job of covering the (very) basic things you need to know and suggesting ways to research the fair, but much of this information is bogged down in the chatty style - it's not a book to reference easily. Checklists would have been a big plus.
It also covers things I wouldn't have thought to cover, like what happens if you apply to attend a fair and get rejected, and I think that's probably a really good place to explain why this book doesn't do it for me.
I'm not precious in general, and I'm utterly unprecious about business things. Yes, I get the same sense of pride as anybody else putting my stuff out there into the big wide world for people to part with money for - and I'm talking about all sorts here: writing, design, illustration, craft - but once it's out there I'm done with it; anything from that point on is just numbers. Sure, it's disappointing when things don't get accepted places you thought they would, or something doesn't sell as well as you hoped, or any other form rejection can take. There is a flipside: the unexpected joy, or more often bewilderment, of something doing better than you believed it would. Even that, though, is just numbers. When somebody tells me to give me a hug for all my hard work, especially when it's for something fundamental to the job I am trying to have, I want to respond with a Grumpy Cat gif.
I particularly dislike the way the book is so firmly on the side of the crafter: it may work for you, it didn't for me. When talking about how to deal with somebody leaving a negative comment about the work, the book sensibly advises addressing the customer's concerns, avoiding an argument, and doing so promptly. Unfortunately, it goes on to say:
You come out smelling like roses compared to Ms Crankypants.
Which is right up there with being thanked for a negative review so the author can show everybody how nice and great they are even though this meany-boots didn't like their book. It's passive aggressive and it's not on.
Although I liked the style and the structure, I feel this book is too much about the chatty style and pleasing layout to be of use to anybody looking to become a crafter. There are a few gems of advice (loved the idea of providing drinking water and dog biscuits at outdoor shows) but it also has some major omissions. (I did a bit of Googling afterwards: if the author is a crafter, she doesn't connect that fact with this book, so that may be why there are these gaps.). The best thing to take away from it are the chapter headings so you can do your own research: 2 stars.
[A very important note: this is not one for the ereader. You will want either a hardcopy, or a tablet/computer to read on. The layout is more like a magazine sans pictures.]
I love it when people give me money. I love it even more when people give me money for something I'm doing anyway, so I'm always on the lookout for ways to turn what I'm doing anyway into monies which I can then squander on unimportant things like the gas bill. When I saw The Handmade Marketplace on NetGalley, I was immediately interested.
I hoped for a book which would give me some guidance to how one goes about selling things, both online and in general. I already have some knowledge about the avenues available and I spent many a Saturday as a teenager manning a stall for my Mammy's craft business. I have a degree of knowledge, but it's mostly out of date.
What I got was a book which was ... mixed.
The style is initially pleasing. The writing is chatty and positive without getting too rah! rah! about everything. Throughout, soundbites from crafters are provided and these often covered the points I felt were missing from the text. There are also some useful little Q&As which, again, raise the points I was going to complain weren't covered.
It looks quite nice too, initially. The layout suits the chatty style of the writing, but it doesn't gel enough. If you're giving me something I can't read on my kindle, I'd hope there's a reason for it. Most of the cartoon images could have been taken from a stock site - they don't have anything to do with the text. There are a few places where some diagrams would have been useful, such as when talking about how to set up a home photography studio. I also found some of the more cursive fonts (used in the quotes from crafters) difficult to read (which I was doing on my PC).
Where I struggle is in knowing who The Handmade Marketplace is aimed at. The style and the substance is pretty basic, but overall the book is teaching you how to set up a crafting *business* - rather than starting with where to sell, how to sell stuff, it begins with inspiration, branding, logos, and business practices. These are all useful things (I'm very glad to see branding covered, even if there are some massive gaps in the content, such as information about fonts and how visual identity works) but for a book which has the subtitle "How to sell your crafts locally, globally, and online"? Not so much.
Branding is not the only place with gaps. There is a short section about photographing your work, which include the rather bizarre assertion that:
Some cameras allow you to easily adjust the white balance, which can result in crisper, clearer photos.
While it's true most cameras allow you adjust the white balance it has nothing to do with the sharpness of a photograph. White balance is the temperature of the photograph. Setting it correctly means the colours in your image will appear accurately. This can be done in camera or as part of the post processing if you're shooting in RAW (which is like shooting a negative rather than a Polaroid - if you're adjusting it afterwards, shoot RAW) The sharpness is effected by things like the size of the aperture (which you can only control if you're using an SLR and which in turn affects the depth of field), the shutter speed, the use of a tripod etc none of which are talked about. No tips on how to create certain looks - not even the classic "put your camera on a bean bag to keep it steady" tip. (I'd also advise making use of the 2 second shutter delay to avoid creating blur with your finger pressing the button.)
When it's not missing things out, it offers some pieces of advice worthy of #Pippatips. In the evaluating a craft fair section, the book suggests you consider the time of year the fair takes place.
If you knit winter hats or make letterpress Chistmas, Hanukkah, or Kwanzaa cards, a show in the middle of summer might not be the right one for you.
But, it also has some excellent advice which may not have occurred to anybody who's new to craft fairing, such as asking what other kind of artisans are going to be at the fair. It does a good job of covering the (very) basic things you need to know and suggesting ways to research the fair, but much of this information is bogged down in the chatty style - it's not a book to reference easily. Checklists would have been a big plus.
It also covers things I wouldn't have thought to cover, like what happens if you apply to attend a fair and get rejected, and I think that's probably a really good place to explain why this book doesn't do it for me.
I'm not precious in general, and I'm utterly unprecious about business things. Yes, I get the same sense of pride as anybody else putting my stuff out there into the big wide world for people to part with money for - and I'm talking about all sorts here: writing, design, illustration, craft - but once it's out there I'm done with it; anything from that point on is just numbers. Sure, it's disappointing when things don't get accepted places you thought they would, or something doesn't sell as well as you hoped, or any other form rejection can take. There is a flipside: the unexpected joy, or more often bewilderment, of something doing better than you believed it would. Even that, though, is just numbers. When somebody tells me to give me a hug for all my hard work, especially when it's for something fundamental to the job I am trying to have, I want to respond with a Grumpy Cat gif.
I particularly dislike the way the book is so firmly on the side of the crafter: it may work for you, it didn't for me. When talking about how to deal with somebody leaving a negative comment about the work, the book sensibly advises addressing the customer's concerns, avoiding an argument, and doing so promptly. Unfortunately, it goes on to say:
You come out smelling like roses compared to Ms Crankypants.
Which is right up there with being thanked for a negative review so the author can show everybody how nice and great they are even though this meany-boots didn't like their book. It's passive aggressive and it's not on.
Although I liked the style and the structure, I feel this book is too much about the chatty style and pleasing layout to be of use to anybody looking to become a crafter. There are a few gems of advice (loved the idea of providing drinking water and dog biscuits at outdoor shows) but it also has some major omissions. (I did a bit of Googling afterwards: if the author is a crafter, she doesn't connect that fact with this book, so that may be why there are these gaps.). The best thing to take away from it are the chapter headings so you can do your own research: 2 stars.
June 30, 2023
When it comes to rating a non-fiction book my main criteria is, did I benefit from it? Did I learn something? Is what I learned something that I could apply to my life? With this book, I say yes!
There were some skippable parts, mainly in the beginning, for me but the large majority addressed questions I had and answered some I didn't know I needed to ask.
I found the sections on blogging, advertising and publicity, your craft community, the craft fair scene, selling in brick-and mortar stores and other selling options to be very beneficial. I also benefited from all of the advice she had from other crafters. From crafters who sell and podcast, blog, go to craft fairs and more. I want to hear from the experienced and she packed a lot of experience in this book. A great read for crafters wanting to sell or just wanting to connect with other crafters.
There were some skippable parts, mainly in the beginning, for me but the large majority addressed questions I had and answered some I didn't know I needed to ask.
I found the sections on blogging, advertising and publicity, your craft community, the craft fair scene, selling in brick-and mortar stores and other selling options to be very beneficial. I also benefited from all of the advice she had from other crafters. From crafters who sell and podcast, blog, go to craft fairs and more. I want to hear from the experienced and she packed a lot of experience in this book. A great read for crafters wanting to sell or just wanting to connect with other crafters.
May 24, 2024
As we enter into the summer tourist season, the time for crafters to shine is here! Whether you are just planning to sell your wares at the local Sutton-Alpine Community Market, have big plans to travel the state following the market scene, or are interested in selling your goods online, this book is a ton of help. It is divided into three main sections: “Getting to Know Yourself and Your Business,” “Spreading the Word - and Images,” and “Getting Down to Selling.” Written in plain English, this resource will take you through marketing basics, blogging, designing your booth space, and more. Chapin also gives you a plethora of resources, including craft show checklists, online marketplaces to consider, and websites for crafty businesses. I found this book to really motivate me to start branching out with my own small business!
January 12, 2020
A good book for handmade business owners! I really liked this book. It covered a lot of topics. She has little snippets and advice from others as well. I feel like the book didn't go into a lot of detail about certain things--more of an overview. But still terrific! I love the way it was designed too with lots of little illustrations and sidebars and pullout info. I like that in a business book. It helps break up the info.
January 12, 2020
It would be best to get this book when you are in the very beginning stages of thinking of selling your crafts. The writing style is nice and the book setup is engaging. I had been researching online for a few months and was looking for something more in-depth with more specific details. Unfortunately there was really nothing here I hadn’t already read online.
June 21, 2017
LOADS of great info.
I borrowed the book from the library and am going to purchase.
I'm new to the whole selling thing for all my crafts and this was a great instructional for when I have enough inventory to sell!
Highly recommend reading.
I borrowed the book from the library and am going to purchase.
I'm new to the whole selling thing for all my crafts and this was a great instructional for when I have enough inventory to sell!
Highly recommend reading.
July 25, 2018
Create a web page (or have someone do it for you) and take beautiful pictures (or have someone do it for you) of your crafts to add to the page. Be sure to tweet, blog, chat, and post. And don't forget to visit cradft fairs and read your camera's manual.
March 10, 2019
Great tips from people in the business, many encouraging words, and some practical advice to get started.
The format was hard to read--sort of like the scattered online reading. By this time, I think a newer publication might be more relevant than this 2011 publication.
The format was hard to read--sort of like the scattered online reading. By this time, I think a newer publication might be more relevant than this 2011 publication.
Read
July 25, 2023I expected this to be kinda discouraging to read, mostly because I've tried a lot before and it never goes well. So I guess it was a self-hate read. 🤣 But it was actually kinda nice. Even a little encouraging.
December 14, 2017
Not so relevant to me.
Outdated for 2017
Outdated for 2017
August 19, 2019
I feel like there were some parts that could have been expanded on, but overall, this is a good resource for the novice craft seller.
September 5, 2019
This is a wonderful introduction to learning how to operate your self-starter business. I would definitely recommend for people looking to sell their crafts!
January 21, 2020
Super informative, great read.
February 21, 2020
Sadly, a lot of the links are out of date now.
September 7, 2020
Too old to be of value and even at the time was rather vague on how to get anything done.
May 31, 2021
The Handmade Marketplace... descriptive guide to effectively creating, marketing, and selling artwork and crafts digitally and in person. Resourceful having lists of artists amd crafters available to compare how they began their brands.
January 25, 2022
It's pretty solid information for those just starting out or are thinking of diving into selling their own creations. Some references are a bit dated but is usually a good starting off point.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 149 reviews