Marketing your products

[ajk2004]

Guys,
I have a question regarding marketing your products. I am a school teacher and recently built my own CNC machine for my home shop. I'm looking to make some extra income from my table and some small odd jobs. Just curious as to how you go about marketing. Thanks.

[michmetalman]

Facebook, craft shows, Farmers Markets..anything you can find to get your stuff out there. I luckily got into Facebook about 5 years ago when it was a bit easier to have your posts seen, so I built up a huge fan base. Those days are gone, but still a very helpful tool.

[acourtjester]

I think one of the other posters used a local restaurant to hang his work with tags on them. I think the idea was for both selling and for promoting new customers for custom work. If you match the restaurant’s scheme it’s a plus for them too. Another said he did donations to a fund raiser to get the word out too, word of mouth can get you started.

[motoguy]

Local Facebuy buy/sell/"garagesale", etc groups have been very good to me, for the artsy/decorative types of stuff. A good relationship with my metal supplier, and a stack of cards there, has done well also. Those, along with word of mouth, have been most effective for me.

When I get caught up, I plan on doing what acourtjester recommends...make some samples for local establishments. A "freebie" decoration/sign or two, in exchange for a prominent place to display it (and cards), seems like a good idea.

[motoguy]

Local Facebuy buy/sell/"garagesale", etc groups have been very good to me, for the artsy/decorative types of stuff. A good relationship with my metal supplier, and a stack of cards there, has done well also. Those, along with word of mouth, have been most effective for me.

When I get caught up, I plan on doing what acourtjester recommends...make some samples for local establishments. A "freebie" decoration/sign or two, in exchange for a prominent place to display it (and cards), seems like a good idea. I plan on getting some stickers made, which I can apply under the clear coat on the back, as well. That way, if people can look it over, they can always tell where to get one...haven't decided if I want to go as far as engraving my info on the back of each piece.