There are many blogs and forum posts out there answering the very common question, "How do I get started in leatherworking?" While I certainly don't have all the answers, and there are people who are more experienced, I figured maybe it will help someone to hear the things I wish I'd known when I got started.
Step 9: To Sell or Not To Sell?
As with many crafts, there may be a time when you consider selling your leather goods. You've made your own perfect leather wallet, made wallets to gift to every family member and friend, and you still want to make them as you perfect your skills...but do you need more wallets? My husband even jokes that if/when we move, we'll have to dedicate an entire closet just to the purses I've made and decided to keep.
There are many pros and cons to deciding to sell your goods, and how to do it. If you're not intending to go professional (making this your primary source of income), being able to make your hobby self-sustaining is a big pro. It becomes easier to justify buying new leather or tools when the items you make will cover the cost. And not having a surplus inventory of items in your house is also nice. Again...if you're making wallets or belts that should last a lifetime, chances are you don't need a lot of them!
Speaking from experience and having talked to other crafters, though: Sometimes when you stop making items for yourself and start making them for other people, the fun and joy and creativity can disappear quickly. You may feel pressured to make things that, frankly, you're bored of making. It's nice to make money from those items, but it all depends on how much time you have to dedicate to filling custom orders versus trying new things because you feel like testing a new pattern or technique.
If you do choose to sell, you then have to determine where you will sell. If you are selling online, there are other investments you might need to make: A decent camera to take pictures of your items, packing materials, shipping boxes...and then you have to consider insurance on the items that you sent out. You also have to decide what platform you wish to use. Etsy is common, but can you afford advertising to direct traffic to your store? Other options include selling at flea markets, farmer's markets, and conventions. That often requires purchasing booth space, table decorations, having a Point-of-Sale method (like Square), and of course the time required to man the booth.
And also ask yourself why you want to sell in the first place? Do you just want to unload extra stock? Or do you want to make a living from your craft? Do you want to be the only person crafting, or would you hire people to craft for you and pay them for their work? Would you cease crafting if you actually had your brand take off so you can focus on design and business? Or would you rather stay small?
There is no right answer. Just questions to consider to make sure you find your happiness and don't burn yourself out when you should be enjoying your craft!