4 reasons you should consider turning your crafting hobby into a side hustle

The past year has given many people a chance to explore hobbies and passions they always wanted to try but have never had time to previously. Many have actually rediscovered hobbies they really loved, but that life just got in the way of, whether that’s taking the time to cook a nice meal, read the books they have wanted to read, or start crafting.

Some people have actually seen so much success after setting up their side business during lockdown that they have now turned their hobby into their full-time job, and this could happen to you too! In this piece, the experts at CraftCover have rounded up 4 reasons why now is the perfect time to turn that crafting hobby into a side hustle.

It provides spare money during uncertain times

No matter what your current circumstances are, it is very important to make sure you have some money put to the side in case of changes to your work situation or emergencies. This can give you an avenue to making a bit of extra money on the side. You can also use this side hustle money from your hobby to invest in better-quality crafting materials or marketing for yourself.

People want to support independent sellers

We have also seen a huge increase in people wanting to support local or independent sellers as they have been hit particularly hard this past year, with little government support to keep them going. Perhaps your products could make a nice gift for someone, especially if it is handmade or even custom made – it adds a personal touch for the recipient. 

It’s easier than ever to get started online

You can start up and operate your side business from the comfort of your own home. Gone are the days when you would have needed a physical shop to make a living – this is one of the beauties of the internet! If you’re handy with digital marketing, you can push your products to people on the other side of the country or even the world – you’re not limited by your location anymore.

The crafting community is also very active on Twitter and Instagram, using hashtags such as #UKSmallBizHour or #UKCrafters to find and engage with others in their niche, as well as reaping the additional benefits such as people following back and engaging with your content.

Selling your products on online platforms such as Etsy and Not on the High Street can push your products to huge audiences. If you do this, you will need craft public liability insurance to protect you should any harm be caused by your products, e.g. a candle getting too hot and causing a fire or someone having an allergic reaction as you did not list all the product ingredients. Online marketplaces are not responsible for any damage caused, so it is vital that you protect yourself rather than having to pay costly legal fees should the worst happen.

You will have a solid product range ready for in-person events

Through trial and error, you will start to understand which of your products are more popular than others, which can help you to focus on creating more of those products or variations of them – for example, if you’re making jewellery and notice that gold earrings are your best-sellers, then creating more of them with variations of jewels, lengths etc. can bring more customers in.

This will prepare you for the return of in-person events, such as craft fairs, as you know which products people already like. This means your time and money won’t be wasted by paying for a place at a fair and earning nothing in return! If you are going to attend fairs, remember to get craft fair insurance ahead of time – some organisers won’t let you attend without seeing a copy of your policy first.