It might seem early days to be talking about January sales when the celebration, colour, noise and busyness of Christmas hasn’t even started yet! However, once the hustle and bustle has begun, we’ll all be held in its thrall for a couple of weeks and we’ll be distracted from thinking about the year ahead. Then, when it’s all over there’ll be that familiar sense of sadness; a warm oasis of time with family and friends in the midst of an ever more crazy world and everyone is back to their everyday challenges and the reality of what needs to be done in the new year!  For some of us, January comes as a welcome relief; for all the fun and festivity of Christmas, it’s good to clear our homes and lives and settle back into our normal routines. For all of us, it is a good time to reassess, not only our own habits and rhythms, but also our business vision and goals. So let’s talk about it ahead of time. 

January can be a gloomy, grey month, but there’s much beauty to be seen in the silhouetted trees, the stillness of the damp air and the mist that hangs over our towns and countryside. In a fast-paced world, it can be tempting to view January as a time of deep hibernation, a time to regroup, to rest and be still. For craft businesses, however, January doesn’t have to be a slow month, it offers a raft of opportunities! January is a great time to reassess the direction of your business, where you want to be heading this year and set some goals to help you get there. 

Looking at your sales strategy, one question it is good to re-examine is where is the best place to sell handmade items UK? This will obviously differ for each business, depending on your size, your location and your products. You may sell mainly online, with January a perfect time to apply discount codes to your website or online shop or start exploring the world of Google or Facebook Ads to promote your products to a wider audience. You may be plugged into a local crafting community and sell locally, or you might concentrate on larger national fairs. Most small business will grow with a combination of all of these, plus any other marketing opportunities which present themselves. As you look to expand your business it could be helpful to think strategically about your customer base, how to expand this and how to keep loyal customers while encouraging them to spend more. One of the ways you can do this is by using incentives, rewards and offers as part off your marketing strategy.  

Everyone loves a bargain, but for you as a small business owner these have to be financially beneficial to yourself. If you are looking to attract new customers and are selling mainly online, rewards for referrals, reviews and for new customers are all worth considering. Using social media to your best advantage is a savvy move as it offers you so many opportunities to build your audience organically as well as using campaigns to push seasonal product lines or goods; as well as your website, ensure that you are making the most of your Facebook page and Instagram account. Customers often have to see an offer several times before they will act on it, so be consistent in posting and use Instagram stories regularly. New customers may be reluctant to buy online as they can not actually see or touch the product. They may like to know a little more about you and the company, and this is an area in which you can excel as a small crafting business. Make sure you have plenty of detail in your “about” section on your website, popping in a few personal touches to enable customers to relate to you, and also be sure to promote your sustainable and community-focused credentials. All this will start to build up trust between you and your customers. You might consider sending out emails with updates on the business, new lines and include a January offer with a discount code for anyone who signs up to receive these.  

One way to get the word out there about your products and discounts is through advertising; this can be pricey but you can widen your reach considerably using Google or Facebook Ads. Also, check out local paper magazines or consider writing a short blog post for a crafting blogger with wide readership in return for advertising your website and offer. Make best use of Instagram stories by asking friends and followers to tag your current product and offer in exchange for tagging them straight back. A win for everyone. 

All the above will work particularly well for attracting new customers, but what about rewarding loyal customers or encouraging them to look at your new range? Targeted offers can work, also the “three for two” multi-buy offers and straightforward discounts, maybe on a new range. These can be sent out via email if you have collated a mailing list.  

So far, we have mainly discussed online selling, but as we ask where is the best place to sell handmade crafts in the UK we need also to look at the very many options of face-to-face sales and the advantages these bring, especially with a tempting offer attached. January is a good time to plan for craft markets, fairs and seasonal events. Explore your options, decide which to go for and pop them on your calendar. You can then look towards which ranges you will aim to sell at each event, and can plan discounts or incentives. For example, your display and offers for a family event at which there will be children with pocket money to spend will be different from that of an artisan fair.  

One last factor to consider when looking for the best place to sell handmade items UK, planning your annual marketing strategy within this and organising customer incentives around it, is seasonal selling. As a nation, we can boast a bold list of celebrations; celebrations of the everyday and ordinary, as well as big, full-on, festivals. These include Candlemas (there is a gradual resurgence of this light-filled festival in February), Easter, Mothers’ and Fathers Days’, May Day, numerous regional summer festivals, Harvest, Bonfire night and Christmas. All these are opportunities to pop a discount onto one of your stunning handcrafted products, go out to meet the public and sell with confidence.  

A final note : remember to check your insurance is in place for the year ahead. Drop us a line or give us a call and we can ensure you have the correct insurance backing in place as you head out into the New Year as the owner of a growing craft business, selling unique and high-quality products.  

Collaborations with influencers have become crucial for brands trying to increase their visibility and connect with new audiences in the digital age of social media. This is especially true if you are a creator of products. Influencer marketing enables brands to leverage the dedicated followers of influencers and gain valuable exposure by having them use or actively engage with their products. However, convincing influencers to promote your brand can be a difficult journey.

How can I get influencers to work with me?

When it comes to influencer marketing, you must execute correctly. It’s essential to select appropriate influencers and approach them in a manner that matches your brand’s values and objectives. When beginning your influencer marketing campaign, you must take your brand’s image and values into account and find influencers that fit with these to ensure the collaboration works. To do this, you can research potential influencers within your niche and assess their style, audience and engagement levels.

Social media listening platforms can help find the ideal match for your brand. Building an authentic relationship with influencers is crucial. Interact with their content, show your appreciation for their work, and start a conversation with them. When reaching out to influencers, make sure to send a personalised message that explains how your product aligns with their interests and their audience’s needs. Clearly state the benefits of a collaboration and why you admire their work.

Remember, influencers are more likely to collaborate when they see value in the partnership. Offer them products to try out and experience firsthand. Allow influencers creative freedom in how they incorporate your products into their content, as long as this fits with your brand’s values. Encourage them to create content that reflects their authenticity, as that’s what their audience follows them for. You do not have to focus just on national influencers. The world that the influencers work in is a truly global market, and those abroad can offer you a much larger sales space than you could originally imagine. This does open you up to the need for security, and international public liability insurance is something that should be considered and will be discussed in more detail later. 

Be fair in your negotiations, whether compensation, free products, or other incentives. It’s important to work with influencers who respect their worth and professionalism. You should use analytics tools to help track the performance of your influencer collaborations. Make sure to monitor key metrics such as the reach and engagement of your posts, and sales generated from the partnership. By analysing this data, you can evaluate the effectiveness of each collaboration and refine your strategy.

To summarise, it is important you know that asking influencers to exhibit, use, wear and even do a live unboxing of your products involves a combination of research, relationship-building, and offering value. Choose influencers who align with your brand’s values, engage with them authentically and provide a fair collaboration offer. Monitoring and analysing the results will help refine your influencer strategy over time.

Do I need international public liability insurance to work with influencers?

Public liability insurance is established to protect businesses in case of legal claims related to injury or damage on their premises or due to their products. Whether you need international public liability insurance when your influencer strategy has successfully expanded your reach to a global audience is a question that requires careful consideration. Here are some things to keep in mind: The need for international public liability insurance depends on the scope of your business operations and whether you’re selling products worldwide. If you’re shipping products internationally and promoting your brand to a global audience, it’s wise to consider international coverage.

Additionally, if your influencer collaborations result in a significant increase in international sales, you may be exposed to a higher level of risk. Accidents or product-related issues in different countries could lead to legal claims, making global coverage essential. Some countries or regions may have specific legal requirements for businesses operating within their jurisdiction.

You should consult with legal or insurance experts to ensure compliance with these regulations. If your influencers are promoting your products internationally, any issues or defects in those products that cause harm to consumers could result in liability claims. International public liability insurance can protect in such cases. You should assess any risks that are associated with your business activities and the specific countries you target. Different regions may have varying legal standards and levels of risk. Tailor your insurance coverage accordingly.

To reduce the likelihood of legal claims related to product defects, ensure that your products meet international quality and safety standards. Proper quality control measures can reduce the likelihood of legal claims related to product defects.

To determine the extent of coverage you need, it’s advisable to consult with an insurance expert. They can provide insights into your specific situation and guide you in choosing the right policy. It may be that international public liability insurance is required to protect all parties involved.  

We have seen that the world of the influencer has become a vital marketing and advertising tool. The incredible leverage and audience that a successful influencer can reach is truly astounding, but when harnessed in the right way, as noted above, the possibilities for a supplier that is picked up by them have almost limitless potential. They have the potential to exceed what can be achieved through regular marketing channels and then some. Be sure to have a strategy in place to allow you to reach out to the right influencers and make the most of the collaboration. A good strategy will then let you set goals and assess how well your collaboration is working to achieve those goals.