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Eco-Friendly Packaging & Upcoming Craft Destash Events

and more makers insights inside

Author

Rob & Ali Mobberley
July 29, 2024

Good Morning Makers

Welcome to the first edition of Makers Digest! Ali and I are thrilled to bring you the latest news, tips, and inspiring stories from the crafting world.

In this issue, discover Etsy's new product categories that highlight the authenticity of handmade items, and learn how to capture valuable leads at craft markets.

We're also featuring eco-friendly packaging from Cascayde and the heartfelt journey of Joe Shmo Handcrafted Leather Jewellery.

Plus, don't miss out on the Festival of Quilts' 20th anniversary and upcoming craft destash events. Dive in and enjoy this celebration of creativity and craftsmanship!

Marketplace News

Important Changes to Etsy's Product Categories

Etsy, known for its focus on handmade and vintage items, has announced a significant update to its product classifications. This change introduces four new categories: "made by," "designed by," "handpicked by," and "sourced by," to better reflect the creation process of each item.

Key Updates:

  • Made by: Items handcrafted by the seller, such as ceramics.

  • Designed by: Digital creations, like illustrations.

  • Handpicked by: Curated vintage items, clearly marked as vintage.

  • Sourced by: Craft supplies like beads or clay.

These updates aim to maintain Etsy's uniqueness in a market crowded with mass-produced goods and AI-generated content, reassuring both buyers and genuine artisans of the platform's commitment to authenticity and craftsmanship.

What This Means for Sellers

Etsy's new product categories aim to provide greater transparency and clarity for both sellers and buyers. Here's how this update impacts you as a seller:

Clearer Product Classification:

Your items will now fall under one of four categories: "made by," "designed by," "handpicked by," or "sourced by." This helps buyers understand how each item was created and your role in its production.

Enhanced Buyer Trust:

By clearly labelling items, you can build more trust with buyers who are looking for authentic handmade or vintage products. This can potentially lead to increased sales and repeat customers.

Maintained Standards:

The prohibition on reselling items made by others remains in place, ensuring that the platform stays true to its roots. This helps genuine artisans stand out and reduces competition from mass-produced goods.

Adaptation to New Categories:

You may need to adjust your product listings to fit the new categories. This could involve updating descriptions and tags to ensure your items are correctly classified.

Addressing Concerns:

The new categories aim to address longstanding concerns from sellers about drop shippers and mass-produced items diluting the marketplace. This move is designed to protect the integrity of handmade and vintage items on Etsy.

Overall, these changes reinforce Etsy's commitment to handmade and unique items, supporting sellers who put genuine effort and craftsmanship into their products.

Read the full Etsy annoucement here.

Tip Of The Week

Capturing Leads at Makers/Craft Markets

How many times have you visited a trade show or makers market, felt captivated by a seller’s product, had a wonderful chat, and then walked away with just a business card or leaflet?

Now, if you’re lucky, you’ll remember to dig out that card or leaflet from your handbag or back pocket when you get home and put it somewhere safe. But more often than not, it ends up lost in a pile of papers, only to be recycled the night before the next bin collection.

Sound familiar? As a seller, how many such conversations have you had, never to hear from that potential buyer again? Unfortunately, Ali and I witness this week in and week out at makers markets and craft events across the country.

Just imagine the hundreds, if not thousands, of potential contacts you've missed the opportunity to engage with—let alone give them countless opportunities to buy from you.

But it’s not too late to start. As the saying goes, the best time to start collecting contact details was yesterday. The next best time is today!

So, how do you start?

Begin with a value exchange: you give something in return for their contact details. And the simplest way to do this is with a giveaway. At its most basic, this means placing a bowl on your table and a straightforward contact form for visitors to fill in with their name and email address.

To create these forms, you can use the free version of Canva.com. If you’re not feeling particularly creative or want to save time, you can purchase editable templates for as little as £4.

Tips for Success:

  • Make it Attractive: Use eye-catching designs for your forms and bowl. A visually appealing setup will draw more attention.

  • Offer Value: Consider what your customers would find valuable. You don’t need to offer a different prize at each event, you can use one more attractive prize for the whole market season.

  • Engage Personally: When visitors stop by, engage them in conversation. Explain the giveaway and how it benefits them. A friendly chat can turn a casual passerby into a loyal customer.

Why This Matters: Collecting contact details allows you to keep in touch with interested buyers, turning one-time interactions into ongoing relationships. With their email addresses, you can send updates about new products, special offers, and upcoming events, keeping your brand top of mind.

Looking Ahead: In next week’s newsletter, I’ll share some of the best options for email systems to store entrant details and keep in touch with them as well as tips for keeping your giveaway GDPR compliant. Stay tuned for tips on maximising your email marketing strategy!

Don’t let another potential customer slip away. Start capturing those valuable contacts today and watch your business grow!

Purposeful Packaging

Meet Cascayde Eco-Friendly Packaging Materials (Plus get 10% Off below)

We first met Carly and Greg from Cascayde at The Spring Fair and were immediately impressed with their range of eco-friendly packaging products. This family-run business, based in Scotland, is dedicated to making it easy for everyone to embrace low-plastic living.

From simple, sustainable swaps for everyday items to beautiful, plastic-free packaging, they believe you shouldn't have to compromise on quality to help the environment.

Carly and Greg firmly believe that when many people make small, positive changes, it can make a big difference. They liken it to trickles of water becoming small streams, which flow together to form rivers, eventually creating something powerful.

To celebrate our partnership with Cascayde, we're thrilled to offer you a fantastic 10% discount on their fantastic products. Simply use this link.

We hope you love what Carly and Greg do as much as we do!

Joe Shmo Handcrafted Leather Jewellery

Back in June, we had the pleasure of meeting Joe and Susie at the Vanlife Festival, where their passion and creativity left a lasting impression on us. Joe, a former teacher, turned a challenging period in his life into an opportunity for artistic expression, founding JoeShmo Handcrafted Leather Jewellery.

This venture began after a transformative trip to Lake Como, Italy, which reignited Joe’s zest for life and creativity.

Joe’s work is a beautiful reflection of his love for family, cycling, and the natural beauty he encounters on his journeys. Living on a 60ft Dutch Cruiser in Gloucestershire with Susie, Joe draws inspiration from the world around him, infusing each piece of jewellery with a unique story and personal touch.

At the festival, we were captivated by the intricate designs and high-quality craftsmanship of Joe’s pieces. We couldn’t resist purchasing several items as gifts for family and friends, each piece a testament to the dedication and skill Joe pours into his work.

The handcrafted leather and metal jewellery not only makes for beautiful accessories but also carries the warmth and passion of its maker.

We invite you to explore Joe’s stunning creations and learn more about his heartwarming journey. Visit JoeShmo to discover the beautiful handcrafted pieces that have touched our hearts and will surely touch yours too. Let’s celebrate and support the incredible work of independent makers like Joe and Susie.

Makers Trade Events

Celebrate the 20th Anniversary of the Festival of Quilts!

This year marks a significant milestone for the Festival of Quilts as they celebrate 20 years of quilting excellence. From its humble beginnings in 2003, launched in partnership with The Quilters’ Guild, the Festival has grown into the largest quilting show in Europe.

Join them from the 1st to the 4th of August 2024 at the NEC in Birmingham for an unforgettable experience.

This year's Festival promises to be the best yet, with over 22,000 quilting enthusiasts expected to attend.

Attendees can look forward to the world's largest open quilt competition, an extensive program of workshops and talks, and an impressive lineup of leading quilt artists from around the globe, including Joe Cunningham, Stuart Hillard, L’Merchie Frazier, and many more. Whether you're a seasoned quilter or new to the craft, there's something for everyone.

Don’t miss the chance to be part of this vibrant community and celebrate the art of quilting. Tickets start at just £20.50, so secure yours today and immerse yourself in the rich tapestry of quilting culture at Europe's biggest and best quilting event.

Makers Supplies

Craft Supplies Detash Event

On Saturday just gone, Ali and I attended the Chase Handmade Destash Event at Boley Park Community Hall, Lichfield and it was an absolute hit! The place was bustling with crafters and enthusiasts eager to find amazing deals on a wide range of craft supplies.

We were thrilled by the variety and the incredibly low prices on offer, perfect for anyone tired of paying high fees at big events or settling for limited selections in stores.

This event, organised by Mel from Chase Handmade, was free to enter for buyers and provided plenty of free parking, making it accessible and convenient. It was a fantastic opportunity to see the supplies in person and pick up some fantastic buys without the wait or extra costs of postage.

If you're a crafter looking for bargains, this and other events like it are not to be missed! Below we’ve listed a few other upcoming destash events across the country.

Saturday August 3

Saturday August 10

Sunday August 11

Sunday August 18

Saturday 31 August

Saturday September 7

Sunday September 8

Saturday September 14, 2024

September 21, 2024

Sunday September 29, 2024

Makers Essentials

Lifetime Tables

Since doing our first outside event in 2007, we've always used tables made by a LIFETIME, starting with the 6ft Folding Table which was an absolute game-changer for us. We've used both the 6ft and 4ft versions extensively, and we can confidently say these tables are built to last.

What we love most is their durability. In fact, to date we have not had to get rid any of them. These tables have withstood countless setups and teardowns, handling everything we throw at them.

The adjustable height feature you get on some versions is also a bonus, allowing us to tailor our display to the perfect height, whether showcasing delicate crafts or much more heavy weight items.

Made from high-density polyethylene and powder-coated steel, these tables are not just sturdy—they're also easy to clean and maintain. Plus, they're fairly lightweight and fold up easily, making transport a breeze.

For anyone in the market for a reliable and versatile folding table, we wholeheartedly recommend both the LIFETIME 6ft Adjustable Folding Table and the LIFETIME Height Adjustable Craft and Utility Folding Table become an essential part of our events toolkit, and we believe it can make a big difference for you too.

Although we originally purchased ours from Costco you can now get them from Amazon:

Thank you for reading the first edition of Makers Digest! Next week, we'll cover affordable and effective email systems, more tips for market stalls, and introduce another new maker.

Stay creative and please share your work with us. Happy making!

Sincerely

Rob & Ali

Joint Founders - Makers Digest

PS - If you would like to be considered in our Featured Maker section, have a Makers Market or Event coming up or can offer a great deal on supplies to other makers please email us

Makers Digest is a publication of Gifts made Easy and is partly reader supported. When you buy through links in our content we may earn an affiliate commission to help support the production of the newsletter. Learn more

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