22 Easy Things To Make And Sell For Extra Money Online
Searches for pet gift baskets are up by 13% this year according to Google.
Custom and bespoke gift baskets are considered a more premium and high-end product, and so naturally command much higher prices; some way into the $100+ price range.
Make sure to offer this as a service if you decide to run with this idea.
Easy to create? With a small investment you can have your first 5-10 gift baskets pre-made and ready to go.
Assembly of the baskets can be a tedious task, however subscription boxes have their advantage.
Sub boxes are usually packed all at once at the same time each month and in the same size box, making the shipping process fairly simple.
3. PERSONALIZED GIFTS
Personalized gifts add that special touch you can’t find with a store bought item.
Here’s where it gets interesting, in Segment’s survey, more than 1,000 consumers were less than impressed by the lack of personalization offered by major retailers.
This leaves a unique opportunity for small businesses wishing to mop up all that extra money the big retailers leave on the table.
A simple custom engraving or thank you note with someone’s name can add value to your handmade item.
4. CANDLES
Remember that case study I mentioned earlier? A 17-year-old was able to make close to $1 million in revenue after only being in business for 2 years.
In the US alone, the candle industry is worth $3.2 billion. Their profit margin can range from $5-20+ per candle depending on the type and quality you’re selling.
Easy craft to create? Absolutely. Candles are one of the easiest handmade crafts to make as a beginner thanks to a wide variety of DIY tutorials on the internet.
Plus, the basic melt and pour methods require little to no previous craft skills.
Pro Tip: Make sure to use safety labelling. Due to the nature of candle use, and the increased risks of injury, be sure to protect your business from civil suits that may result from the use of your item.
With around $200 in start-up fees, you can set-up a blazing business of your own.
5. JEWELLERY
More and more people are turning to handmade items, and jewellery is no exception.
With a rise in popularity, gemstone crafting wholesalers offer tools, beads, wires and even crystals at an extremely affordable price. It’s never been easier to produce professional looking jewellery at home.
Fashion is fickle so it’s always best to validate your idea by following fashion influencers and blogs before investing in stock.
Easy to make? Jewellery can be as complex or simple as you want it.
Remember your target audience at all times – are they more likely to purchase something small and dainty or large and showy?
That will help you think about how much time you need to create your one of a kind collection.
6. CERAMICS
Ceramics are always a firm favourite! Whilst they’re not the quickest product to make, the love and desire for them is undeniable.
Take a look at Sea Goat Ceramics. Her mugs have SOLD OUT and it’s easy to see why. She appeals to a spiritual audience, without being too over the top with it.
To stand out in this market, it’s best to come up with a unique design rather than a run of the mill pattern.
Think quirky quotes, hobby based mugs and keepsakes.
Easy craft to make? Not the quickest, but you don’t need a big crafting workshop to make ceramics.
For a low barrier to entry, consider working with air clay, polymer clay, or poured concrete. A work station works great in the beginning.
7. PRINTED MERCHANDISE
Don’t feel like physically making anything or housing inventory at your home? This is a solid business idea for the non-maker.
Believe it or not, there’s a thing called Print on Demand. Print on demand allows you to create custom merchandise (think t-shirts, water bottles, mugs, home furnishings etc) without ever buying the stock or owning a printing machine.
Companies such as Printify create the product for you based on your design (which can be created in Photoshop or even Canva) and then they print and ship it for you.
It’s a very hands off process and still nets you an average 20-40% profit margin on each product. Pretty neat.
Print on demand is also an excellent way for teens to make money without requiring a bank account too.
Easy to make? Yes. Printed merchandise can be one of the most easy things to make and sell.
All you need is some basic graphic design and digital skills. You’ll still need a good deal of creative ideas to make your designs stand out though as competition can be fierce – the more unique a design, the better.
8. CUPCAKE & CAKE DECORATING
Fancy yourself a whizz in the kitchen? Sweeter edible items such as cookies and mini cakes are always a crowd-pleaser.
There are so many people who prefer to eat homemade items as these often contain less preservatives than factory produced products.
Tap into the niche markets; holidays, celebrations, novelty, catering and gift baskets and you’ve got yourself a targeted product.
One word of caution – this is one item that comes with some unique complications – shelf life, legalities, labelling etc.
Make sure to investigate the viability of selling your food item online, especially if it uses fresh ingredients that need refrigeration.
Better yet, use your baking skills to teach other amateur bakers how to create delicious goods right from their very own kitchen.
Host a course on an online teaching platform such as Teachable and offer gift cards during peak gifting seasons such as Christmas.
9. SWEETS
Not sure there’s money to be made in this niche? Sarah Lynn of Sweets in the City not only won the backing of Lord Alan Sugar, a famous business tycoon, and became his business partner on TV’s ‘The Apprentice’, but she’s making a killing with premium mark-ups on her retro sweet jars.
If you can cater for a specific market e.g. vegan, even better as this narrows your competition, and you can easily charge more for greener, plant-based food items! Be sure to check out your country’s national laws on selling edibles.
10. PET SUPPLIES & ACCESSORIES
The global pet market is estimated to top $269 billion by 2025 according to a George Mason University case study.
Yes, you read that right. Snag a slice of that pie by crafting dog treats, catnip toys, and even pet collars, all items that can be easily made from home.
People all over the world are searching for new and unique ways to treat their canine chums and furry pets, and the market shows it.
With more and more pet owners turning to natural, raw and healthy pet treats, you’d do well to tackle this ever growing market.
As always, if you’re selling treats or toys—basically, anything that can be ingested—be sure to do your research and triple check the ingredients and materials you’re using are safe for pets.
11. MURALS, ARTS & WALL PRINTS
Love creating your own murals or pieces of artwork? Are you a whizz at photoshop or digital design? You probably already have tons of products to sell.
Consider niching down or even blending two categories together to create your own unique collection of prints.
Not only can you sell directly to clients at art fairs, local gatherings and on platforms such as Etsy, but you can also sell your images as stock photos, card art and more.
12. DIGITAL PRODUCTS
Love graphic design? Have basic photoshop or Canva skills? Then you can make money selling digital printables.
Think wedding invitations, children’s wall art, printable party games. Added bonus? You don’t need any physical inventory, and once you’ve made them, you don’t need to keep making them.
If you already have a website, you can purchase a cheap and reliable software such as SendOwl to send your printables to your customers for you.
Or list your products on Etsy or Shopify.
Psst – This can quickly become a passive income source meaning you can make money whilst you sleep (as long as you promote and market your digital products the right way!).
Get Started: How to Sell Digital Products
13. ENAMEL PINS
Enamel Pins remain incredibly popular, especially amongst the millennial and Gen Z generation, and are surprisingly seeing a hefty upward trend in sales.
Creators usually work with a manufacturer to make enamel pins, but in terms of the design element – you can be as hands-on or hands-off as you want.
Design the art yourself or work with an illustrator on Fiverr to bring your vision to life.
When searching for manufacturers, be sure to ask some key questions before working with them: Can you send me physical samples? What are your material and clasp options? What is the minimum order spend?
14. SOAP
Soap has always been a popular handmade product that sells extremely well. Easy to batch make, handmade soaps (depending on the size and quality of the bar) can retail for between $5-$25+.
The best news? It’s a growing market! According to Fortune Business Insights, the value of the worldwide soap industry is currently $34 billion, with a surge to $55 billion expected by the year 2027.
As with bath bombs, make sure to check out your raw ingredient sources to ensure they’re beauty grade and safe for skin.
Also, make sure your production facility (even if it’s your own kitchen) meets local government health standards.
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