- 1). Build your inventory. If you know what type of venue you will be selling in, talk to other craftspeople to get an idea of how many items you should have in your initial inventory. Observe current trends in handmade purses, but try to develop a unique style to differentiate your product from hundreds of similar items on the market. Consider offering a variety of styles as well as accessories like wallets, checkbook covers, coin purses and other add-on items.
- 2). Locate a venue. Options include local craft fairs, farmer's markets, artisan galleries and co-ops. Most of these venues charge a setup fee or take items on consignment, meaning they take a certain percentage of the price when an item sells. Consider online selling platforms as well. Many arts and crafts web sites allow craftspeople to sell their goods. Some of these sites operate on an auction model, while others allow the seller to set a price for her goods. Most of these sites charge a commission or percentage of the final sales price. Some may also charge a monthly usage fee. Consider selling through a variety of venues, rather than just one.
- 3). Create a budget plan. Factor in supply costs like fabric and accessories as well as selling fees. If you sell online and receive payment through an online payment service, factor in that site's charges as well. Also, consider budgeting for advertising and marketing costs. You will need to factor in all of these costs to set an appropriate price point for your merchandise. Remember to pay yourself an hourly wage for your labor if you want to make a profit.
- 4). Create a brand for marketing your purses. For example, design a logo exclusive to your business that you can use in your advertising and marketing materials. You can also pay someone to design the logo. You can then purchase customized items like garment tags to sew in your purses, business cards, stickers and address labels.
- 5). Take high-quality photographs of your merchandise. This is especially important if you will be selling online. Customers judge the quality of an item based on the picture they see. A number of online articles and tutorials offer tips for taking the best possible photographs of your items.
- 6). Create a web site for your brand. Even if you do not sell from the site, this will be a place to showcase pictures of your work and provide potential customers with more information about the products and where to buy them. List this web site on your business cards, and distribute a card with each item sold. Do not discount the power of word-of-mouth advertising.
- 7). Advertise your product. Rates vary greatly, and the highest traffic spaces usually cost the most. You can advertise locally with fliers or newspaper ads. You may even want to consider purchasing ad space in a magazine that would appeal to your target demographic, such as a craft enthusiast's magazine. Many people choose to advertise online. Some online ad space is free, but quality space costs money. Think like a customer, and select ad space in places that your customer base would likely visit.
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