From YouTube Crafts to Online Store

From YouTube channel to online store? Have you made the leap? For some of us, hosting a YouTube crafting channel is something we only dream of, yet for those who have researched, worked hard at creating compelling content and grown their channel to showcase YouTube crafts, linking to an online store is an effective next step towards monetising crafting skills. If starting an online store is something you are considering, you’re in the right place. So, settle yourself with a warm cuppa and let’s combine some dreaming with a few nuts and bolts of practical advice.

Start with a vision. What would you like to sell? How would you see your online shop working? What level of customer interaction would you envisage? And how would you want your customers to feel as they pop over to your store? What kind of aesthetics would you imagine? Who would be your main customer base? These are only a few of the many ingredients which will blend together to set up your dream store.

There is obviously a whole line up of practical actions you need to take to expand your YouTube crafts into an online store, and lots of excellent videos and articles from which you can glean advice. We’ll look here at a brief overview and then give you the lowdown on insurance, which is our area of expertise.

The best advice is always hearing someone else’s story; the ups and down, the challenges and joys, the mistakes and the top tips. Do you know anyone who has opened their online store already? If so, have a chat with them in person or search for those practical generous souls who share their hard-earned expertise for free in online forums such as Reddit. It’s helpful to learn from each other and good to then be able to share your experiences as you go along.

You’ll need to find your niche, both in terms of customer base and of product. From your videos you’ll be able to identify the most popular crafts, so it’s probably a good idea to start with them. Another tip is to start fairly small and do everything as simply as possible.

Here are a few considerations if you plan to link your YouTube crafts channel with an online store: (n.b. It can be easier to sell with an online platform that takes care of these considerations in a straightforward manner, although you will need to take into account that there will be a monthly subscription to pay or a percentage of your earnings to relinquish!):

· Setting up a separate business account for your online transactions is always a good idea to keep everything in one place.

· How are payments going to come to you? You’ll need to set up a secure way of payment; again, go for something as straightforward as possible to begin with.

· Working out a shipping method which will fit in with your all your other daily commitments is foundational.

· You’ll need to decide upon pricing. Look at similar products sold online and remember to include postage (unless you decide to charge separately for this) and the transaction fee charged by your payment platform.

There are also tasks which will allow your creative flair to be let loose such as creating your brand and logo and then running them through your website, communications and packaging.

The next questions are: do you need insurance? And if so what type? As specialists in craft insurance, our packages include public and product liability insurance, employers’ liability insurance, professional indemnity and individual business items cover. We tailor the insurance to the requirements of each individual or business.

Public and product liability are our most popular insurance packages. Public liability covers you if you are out and about demonstrating or teaching your craft or selling your products. This is highly advisable if you are likely to combine selling at craft fairs or similar in person events with your online selling.

Product liability, on the other hand, while not a legal requirement, is definitely a prudent investment if you are selling online. This covers you in the event of any customer making a claim that one of your products has caused harm or injury; even if it is not your fault, it covers legal defense fees and any compensation required.

You might also consider taking out individual business items cover. This covers crafting tools, any electronic equipment needed for your business (especially pertinent if you sell online), raw materials and saleable stock. You decide what level of cover is right for your own unique business.

If your business grows and you take on staff to work for you, you are legally required to have employer’s liability insurance. Employees include family members or volunteers.

If this is new to you, it can sound a little daunting. However, can we assure you that it is in fact quite straightforward? As a family business, we have experience and knowledge which has been passed down the generations, and we can in turn pass it all on to you. Take a look through our website and then get in touch. We communicate directly with each of our customers, so you can either pick up the phone or send us a message, whatever works best for you. From our end, either Sam or Naomi will be here to chat through the insurance best suited for your unique business needs. During these times of financial pressure, you don’t want to be buying an insurance product you don’t need, so let us hear about your business and then talk you through the various options.

Linking your YouTube crafts channel to an online store is an exciting step to take! We look forward to hearing all about your new business as well as a virtual pop-in to your store!