Craft Entrepreneurship: Learn How to Create an Online Shop for your Craft Products

Do you already make custom jewelry, decorative home items, or other handmade products for sale or gift giving? If so, a course being offered at the Wallingford Public Library on Thursdays and Saturdays in March and April will teach you how to start an online shop for your unique line of handcrafted items.

In partnership with Etsy, a leader in e-commerce for creative entrepreneurs, Wallingford Public Library is offering free classes to help craft makers establish an online business to sell their products to a wider market and earn extra income.

Craft Entrepreneurship classes are taught by successful online craft sellers who coach and support participants through every aspect of setting up their online shops. Using Etsy as a learning lab, teachers share best practices on topics that impact new sellers most, including time management, branding, pricing, shipping, and photography, to help them earn supplemental income through their craft business. To minimize startup costs, students will be given the opportunity to list 20 items for sale for free on Etsy.com.

Eligibility requirements include: committing to attending class on Thursdays, March 30 and April 6, 13 & 27, 6:30-8:30 p.m. AND Saturday, April 22, 9:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. (about 12 hours total); having at least one handmade craft item ready to sell and an idea for a related line of products; never having made any sales on Etsy.com; having a credit card and checking account (necessary for sales transactions); and owning a smartphone. Priority is given to Wallingford residents, although non-residents are welcome to apply.

To apply, complete the online questionnaire at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/etsycraftspring17 and email two photos of your craft product and a short paragraph describing what you make and the materials you use to jflewelling@lioninc.org by Thursday, March 23. If you have any questions, please contact Janet Flewelling, Head of Emerging & Creative Technologies, at 203-265-6754 or via email at jflewelling@lioninc.org.

This program is presented in memory of Marcia W. Fix, an avid quilter, knitter and librarian at Wallingford Public Library, by her family.