Author: christine

6 Steps to Change Your Craft Business Name

1. Decide on your new business name – think it through carefully, so you don’t need to change it again. Here are my tips for naming your business.
2. Make a list of everything that will need to be changed and a schedule of when you will change each item. This will include each social media profile, your website or store name, your logos, your business paperwork, your packaging materials, and your business cards.
3. Change your business registration. If you have registered your business in your state or county, you can usually continue to operate under your original name by filing a “Doing Business As” or DBA with your state or county. This will vary from state to state, so be sure to ask your local SBA or contact your state or county for more information. If you don’t have a mailing list, now is a great time to start one – head to this post for information.
4. Advertise your name change a few weeks in advance, and keep advertising it through social media and your mailing list. People access social media at different times throughout the day or week. To reach the maximum amount of your current customers or fans, mention your name change several times on your various social media outlets.
5. Make your name change. For social media, it is easy to change your Pinterest, Instagram, and Twitter usernames. If you are on Facebook, you may have selected a permanent URL and will need to create a new Facebook Business Page. If you use Etsy to sell, you can change your shop name one time. If you have already changed your name, you’ll need to contact Etsy for assistance.
6. Celebrate your new name with your customers and fans. Again, mention a few times that you have changed your shop or store name – this makes sure that your existing customers don’t leave because they don’t know who you are. Consider celebrating your fresh start with a giveaway or sale.

The Downsides to Changing Your Craft Business Name

I couldn’t end this article about including the downsides to changing your craft business name.

1. Be realistic about your name change. You will likely lose some customers throughout your name change process, but you’ll gain others.
2. The larger your following, the harder a name change will be. Think about this before you change your craft business name.

Need help deciding on a new name? I’ve got tips for you in this post.

What is a Niche?

Before we look at the benefits, what exactly is a niche? A niche can be defined as a specialized section of the market. Here are a few examples:

• Drinkware
• Apparel
• Party goods

Now, the niches I listed above are huge with thousands of different products. Rather than select a huge niche, I suggest choosing a more specific niche:

• Drinkware – Epoxied glitter tumblers
• Apparel – Unisex t-shirts with sayings related to outdoor activities
• Party goods – All in one party supply packages for moms planning parties for children under age 6.

See what I did there when describing and picking niches? I narrowed them down to specific product lines. Now, let’s take a look at the benefits of niches.

10 Benefits to Having a Niche in Your Craft Business

Credibility

When a new customer comes into your online shop or store and sees many of the same items, and positive feedback, you gain instant credibility as a seller of the products you make when you have a specific niche.

Mastery

The more times you make the same (or similar items) the better you become. You are more likely to come up with new ideas, or seek out additional training (which could be researching a new technique on YouTube or taking a class on Craftsy.com) within your specific niche.

Efficiency

To expand on number 2, the more mastery of a product you have, the faster you can make them. This ultimately will allow you to cut down time creating products, which means you will be able to fulfill more orders in the same amount of time.

Higher Pricing

With credibility and mastery comes the ability to set higher prices. After you’ve proven yourself in your niche, raise your prices slightly. If sales are still going well, raise them a little more. You will find that customers are willing to pay a higher price from a store that specializes in the product they are looking to buy.

Neater & Tidier Store

When you have a niche of products, they will likely fit into a smaller amount of categories. This will help your store look neater and tidier. This is especially true on Etsy, where you have a limited amount of categories.

Cheaper & Easier Marketing

When you have a niche, it is easier to narrow down your demographic (those are the categories of people who buy your products). When you know who buys your product, you can market to these buyers. For example, if you sell infant bodysuits, you may find that your main demographic is women in their 20’s and 30’s (primary child bearing time). After researching your demographic, you find that these potential buyers are active on social media. You’ll then be able to target them directly either through paid or organic advertising.

Narrows the Competition

In many product niches, you’ll find that the more specialized you become, the less competition you will have.

More Memorable

Niche stores, especially handmade niche stores, are more memorable when they create and specialize in a small number of products. The more memorable you are to your customers, the more likely they are to talk about you. Word-of-mouth advertising can be powerful to a small business owner with a limited (or non-existent) marketing budget.

Customers Buy Multiple Items

If a potential customer finds your store while looking for glitter coffee mugs, and you have multiple styles to choose from, you may find that the customer will purchase several items. If the same customer comes to your store and you only have 1 glitter coffee mug, you may only get a one item sale.

Naming Your Business is Easier

Once you decide on your niche, incorporate it into your name. This is great for two reasons: 1) Customers will instantly know what you sell 2) Search engines will pick up the keywords in your name and when someone searches for “xyz product” your name is likely to appear higher in search results if you have “xyz product” in your name. In contrast, a shop who only has the words “Designs” or “Creations” in it may appear lowered even if they offer the same product.

After you choose a niche, read my tips on naming your craft business.

What is a Niche?

A niche is a product specialty that you develop over time, and many sellers become well known because of their niche.

For a real life example, I like to compare niches to doctors. If you are pregnant, you’ll likely see a professional who has obtained extra education in maternal health and deliveries, and does them often – an obstetrician. In contrast, you wouldn’t visit a foot doctor to care for you and your unborn child.

Following the same logic: If I am a customer looking for a high quality custom made wood sign, I will seek out a shop that specializes in making them, rather than someone who has all the tools but hasn’t done it before. Similarly, I wouldn’t order a wooden sign from a sticker maker.

How to Find Your Craft Business Product Niche

To help you define your product niche within your craft business, ask yourself these questions:

• What do I enjoy making with my Silhouette, Cricut, or other craft machine?
• What types of crafts am I most skilled at or experienced in?
• What materials and resources are readily available to me?
• What is profitable in both time and supplies to make and sell?
• What can I create in the long run that I will not get bored with over time?
• What product/technique do I want to learn the most about?
• Can my craft products be scaled up for larger production if demand increases?
• What are the current trends in the craft industry and how can I align with or leverage them?
• How unique is my craft or product idea compared to what’s already available?
• What gaps or unmet needs exist in the current market for crafts?

Potential Crafting Niches

Custom Apparel

• T-shirts, hoodies, and infant bodysuits with personalized designs.
• Iron-on vinyl designs for custom clothing.

Home Decor

• Wall decals and vinyl wall art.
• Custom throw pillows and blankets.
• Wooden signs and framed artwork.

Personalized Gifts

• Customized mugs, tumblers, and water bottles.
• Personalized jewelry and keychains.
• Personalized notebooks and journals.

Wedding and Event Decor

• Customized wedding invitations and save-the-dates.
• Table centerpieces, banners, cake toppers, and signage.
• Personalized party favors and bridesmaid or groomsman gifts.

Paper Crafts

• Greeting cards, invitations, and thank you notes.
• Scrapbooking supplies, embellishments, and finished pages.
• Custom envelopes and stationery.

Holiday and Seasonal Items

• Christmas ornaments and decorations.
• Halloween costumes and props.
• Seasonal wreaths and table settings.

Custom Stickers and Labels

• Planner stickers and organizational labels.
• Custom decals for cars, laptops, and phones.
• Product labels for small businesses.

Educational Supplies

• Classroom decor and bulletin board sets.
• Learning aids and flashcards.
• Custom teacher planners and student notebooks.

Baby and Kids Items

• Personalized nursery decor.
• Custom baby blankets.
• Baby announcement kits.
• Birthday banners and milestone cards.

Pet Accessories

• Personalized pet tags and collars.
• Custom pet clothing and bandanas.
• Pet themed home decor.

Accessories

• Custom hats and beanies.
• Personalized tote bags and backpacks.
• Custom jewelry and hair accessories.

Business Branding Products

• Custom business cards and signage.
• Branded packaging and promotional items.
• Employee uniforms and accessories.

DIY Craft Kits

• Premade kits for home crafting projects.
• Instructional guides and templates.
• Subscription boxes for craft enthusiasts.

Party Supplies

• Custom banners, cake toppers, and decorations.
• Personalized party favors and goody bags.
• Themed party sets and event planning kits.

Sport and Team Spirit Items

• Custom team jerseys and gear.
• Personalized cheerleading and dance accessories.
• Sports themed home decor and fan gear.

Seasonal Market Products

• Handmade crafts for farmer’s markets and fairs.
• Seasonal decorations for holidays and events.

Eco-friendly Crafts

• Reusable shopping bags and produce bags.
• Eco-friendly home decor and gifts.
• Upcycled and recycled crafts.

Technology Accessories

• Custom phone cases and laptop sleeves.
• Personalized tech decals and skins.
• Custom charging station decor.

Memory Keepsakes

• Custom photo albums and frames.
• Memory boxes and keepsake jars.
• Personalized heirlooms and family trees.

Health and Wellness Products

• Custom water bottles and workout gear.
• Personalized aromatherapy and spa items.
• Wellness journals and planners.

Can You Only Sell Products in Your Niche?

Am I saying you can only create one product and one product type only? No, but I do recommend you start selling one product type. Once you master that, slowly add more products.

The idea behind finding your niche is to find something that you not only enjoy making, but that is profitable for you to make. By repeatedly making similar items over time, you will become an “expert” – because practice makes perfect! By mastering your techniques, you are likely to branch into new ones or seek extra education to learn new techniques to use.

10 Benefits to Having a Niche in Your Craft Business

Today, I challenge Cutting for Business readers to stop worrying about what your friend or neighbor is selling and create a line of products that YOU can master.

Think about your prospective niche and read on to 10 Benefits to Having a Niche in Your Craft Business.