Selling Handicraft Items Online: A Complete Guide

Sanidhya Negi / October 5, 2024

India’s e-commerce market is experiencing remarkable growth. It’s projected to reach USD 325 billion by 2030, driven by 500 million shoppers and increased internet access, especially in rural areas. With over 1.18 billion people expected to have smartphones by 2026, the digital marketplace offers immense potential for those looking to sell handicrafts online.

Handicrafts, a sector employing more than 7 million people, has seen a surge in demand, both domestically and internationally, thanks to online platforms. The growing interest in Indian handicrafts online, especially in home decor, gifting, and art, presents a golden opportunity for artisans to sell handmade items online. 

In this blog, we will explore the steps to successfully sell your handicraft items online and tap into this booming market.

Benefits of Selling Handicraft Products Online

Selling of Handicraft items online serves you many advantages. Some of them are mentioned below.

Global Reach: You can connect with your ideal customers, regardless of their location. It gives you access to a much larger market.

Low Initial Cost: Starting your online store is cost-effective. Platforms like Etsy charge minimal fees, such as INR 20 per product listing which makes it affordable to sell handmade items online.

24/7 Availability: If you have an online store, customers can make a purchase of handicraft products at any time. This ensures continuous sales without any time constraints.

Wider Marketing Opportunities: An online presence helps you promote your products through social media, email marketing, and SEO by reaching more potential buyers than a local market.

Flexibility: You can manage your store from anywhere. This gives you the freedom to work at your convenience while selling your products globally.

Scalability: As your business grows, it’s easier to add more products and expand your offerings without the limitations of physical store space.

How To Start Selling Handicraft Items Online?

Selling Indian handicrafts online presents an exciting opportunity to showcase your unique creations to a wider audience. By following a few essential steps, you can effectively sell handmade items online.

Choose the Right Handicrafts to Sell: You can start by identifying the handicrafts you want to sell. Always go for items that are unique and in demand. Research market trends to find gaps that you can fill with eco-friendly or personalized products. Also, consider your target audience, think about their age, interests, and preferences when selecting your products. 

Set Up Your Online Store: By setting up an online store is crucial to reaching a wider audience. You should choose an e-commerce platform that fits your needs. Your store should have an easy-to-navigate design with high-quality product images, clear descriptions, and pricing information. Also, ensure seamless payment options for the convenience of your customers.

Build a Unique Brand Identity: Your brand is not just a name or logo, it also represents the values and personality of your business. You can create a brand that highlights the special qualities of your products, such as the materials used or the craftsmanship involved. You should craft a memorable logo and tagline that reflect your brand’s uniqueness and resonates with potential buyers of Indian handicrafts online.

Choose the Right Shipping Partner: Selecting the right shipping partner is essential for smooth deliveries and customer satisfaction. A reliable shipping partner ensures your handicraft products reach your customers on time and in good condition. So, look for a reliable partner, like Bigship, that offers competitive rates, real-time tracking, and reliable customer support to handle international and domestic shipping needs.

Promote Your Products Online: To make your store stand out, you must concentrate on its promotion as well. Use paid advertising options like Google Ads or Facebook Ads to target specific customer groups. Additionally, build relationships with bloggers and influencers in the handicrafts niche. Their support can give your products more visibility and attract potential buyers who share similar interests.

Manage Your Store Efficiently: Last step is to efficiently manage your online store as it is critical for long-term success. You can do this by keeping a track of your inventory, monitor stock levels, and ensure you have enough supply to meet demand. An organized inventory system helps prevent stockouts. This will ultimately keep your customers happy and your business growing.

Marketing Tips to Sell Indian Handicrafts Online

Marketing India handicraft online requires a strategic approach to stand out in the competitive market. Here are some key tips that can help increase visibility, attract the right audience, and boost sales for your handicraft business.

Expand Your Product Range: Offering a variety of products can help attract more customers and cater to different preferences. By diversifying your product line you can appeal a wide customer base with variety options. It also encourages repeat business, as existing customers have more reasons to return to your online store to buy new products.

Showcase with HD Quality Photos: Great product photography highlights the quality of your handicrafts. You should invest in good lighting, a good camera, use different angles, and experiment with backgrounds to capture your items in the best way. High-quality images are key to convincing customers that your products are worth buying, especially when selling Indian handicrafts online.

Understand Your Target Audience: By knowing who your customers are will help you adjust your marketing strategy. For this, you need to study their demographics and shopping habits to better meet their needs. You can use tools like Google Analytics to learn more about your visitors and customers. By engaging with customers through reviews or social media, you can gain insights into what they want from your products and services.

Optimize for SEO: Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is an essential tool to get noticed by potential customers. You must incorporate relevant keywords such as “handmade items online” into your product titles, descriptions, and tags. This increases the chances of your products being shown in search results. 

Write Engaging Product Descriptions: Clear and engaging product descriptions can make a big difference in selling handicrafts online. Use storytelling to help potential customers visualize your products, and include important details about materials, craftsmanship, and unique features. Be sure to include relevant keywords, as this will improve your product’s visibility in search results.

Focus on Unique Packaging: Your product’s packaging plays an important role in how the customer perceives its value. High-quality packaging can make a strong first impression and protect the product during transportation. You can also add personalized messages on the packaging to create a personal touch. 

Use Social Media Effectively: Social media platforms are a powerful tool for marketing your handicraft. In addition to promoting your product, share engaging and useful content of your product on social media. 

Utilize Email Marketing: Email marketing helps you stay connected with customers. Segment your audience based on their past purchases or interests and send personalized emails that cater to their preferences. Whether it’s announcing a sale or launching a new product line, email marketing can boost engagement and sales for your business.

Share Your Story: By sharing the story behind your brand and products, you can create a personal connection with customers. Highlight what makes your handicrafts unique, the materials you use, and the inspiration behind your work. By telling your story, you’ll build trust and loyalty, making your customers feel more connected to your brand.

Best Marketplaces to Sell Handicrafts in India

Finding the right platform to sell your handicrafts is crucial for reaching the right audience and growing your business. Here are some of the best online marketplaces where you can sell Indian handicrafts and handmade items.

Amazon Karigar: Amazon Karigar is a platform designed for artisans to list their Indian handicrafts online. It connects local craftsmen with global buyers and offers over 1 lakh handmade products. With more than 12 lakh artisans already selling their work, it’s a great platform for anyone looking to sell handmade items online. The registration process is quite easy which allows you to sell traditional crafts worldwide.

Etsy: Etsy is one of the most popular platforms to sell handmade items online. It focuses on handmade and vintage products, including jewelry, home decor, furniture, and more. Etsy provides a great opportunity for Indian artisans to reach an international audience.

CraftsVilla: CraftsVilla focuses on traditional Indian apparel and home decor. It connects over 25,000 artisans and designers who sell more than 4 million products. CraftsVilla is an ideal marketplace if you specialize in Indian handicrafts online as it provides a targeted audience that appreciates handcrafted and cultural items.

The India Craft House: This platform showcases India’s rich handicraft heritage. It sources products directly from artisans or NGOs. The best part is that the platform handles the logistics as well, including shipping and warehousing, so that the artisans can focus on their craft. They also ship internationally, giving artisans a broader reach.

AuthIndia: AuthIndia is dedicated to selling Indian handicrafts online without the interference of middlemen. This has helped artisans to retain all their profits. AuthIndia has over 15,000 craft items and thousands of daily visitors.

Conclusion

Now, since you know everything about selling your handicrafts online, then what are you waiting for? Take the initial step and turn your handicrafts business into a reality. Although it may seem challenging at first, launching an online store is a fulfilling and profitable way to showcase your creativity.

To ensure your handcrafted items reach customers safely, partner with Bigship, a reliable logistics provider. With coverage across 29,000+ pin codes in India and 220+ countries, Bigship guarantees fast and secure delivery of your products right to their destination.

To start a hassle-free shipping of your handicraft items, sign up here.

 

FAQs

Ques: What are the best-selling handicraft items?

Ans: Some of the best-selling handicraft items are lamps, statues, wooden antiques, jewelry, and fabrics with embroidery.

Ques: Is running an online handicraft business profitable?

Ans: Yes, an online handicraft business can be profitable, but it depends on factors like product quality, pricing, marketing, and customer demand.

Ques: Is it beneficial to sell handicrafts online?

Ans: Yes, it is beneficial to sell handicraft items online. Some of the benefits are mentioned below:

• You can reach a wider range of customers globally.
• You can start your online stores to sell handmade items at low cost.
• Managing an online store is very flexible as you can mange it from anywhere.
• Through an online store, you can add many products and grow your business.