Start and Sell Handmade Polymer Clay Products Online!
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- Опубликовано: 25 авг 2024
- If you’re thinking about starting a business selling polymer clay products, stay on to watch this video because that’s my very first business that I started, called Tiny Hands Jewelry, and in this video, I’ll share with you some unique things that I’ve learned over the years that you should consider before starting your own shop.
So let’s talk about the pros of starting a polymer clay based business. The first is what really attracted me, which is that the possibilities for what to make are endless because of the nature of polymer clay. You can make and sculpt anything you can think of and once you bake it in an oven, it turns hard and into a usable item, whether it’s a piece of jewelry or a sculpture, figures, art dolls or wall decor. A lot of polymer clay products tend to be decorative like that. Two, it’s so much fun to play with clay. If you’re a creative person, it’s very satisfying to work with clay and to create something completely from scratch with your hands. It’s the best feeling ever. Three, the materials and supplies are relatively cheap and easy to find and buy.
Most craft stores and online shops sell polymer clay products, and a 2 oz bar of clay costs under $3. Four, you can do so many things with clay. You can mix it with other materials to get different colors, textures, you can even turn it from like a pliable play doh consistency to more like a creamy frosting. You can do mixed media art with it and use it with other mediums to make something truly unique and cool.
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Thank you for the shoutout Mei! Your advice for starting a polymer clay business is excellent! The one thing I would add is that people should make sure they use their product and "put it through heavy use" before selling it. Really cute products that sell well but are poorly made (finishes that get sticky, parts that break off, findings that the plating rubs off, etc) will cause the seller and the customer more hassle than it is worth. Give your products to friends and family first as beta testers and see how your pieces handle the real world. This kind of "market research" will make your life a lot easier in the end.
This is fantastic advice!! I definitely agree - you want to make sure that you have a product that can stand up to use.
Thank you so much Mei for this and all of your videos!! I've been working with Polymer Clay for over 10 years now and I absolutely love it. And you are so right, the possibilities are endless and it gets addictive very quickly. I will say however that the point about perceived value is not necessarily true. I really think it depends on what you are doing with the clay. I had a B&M shop for many years where I exclusively sold my polymer work and made a very good income from it. My prices start at €35 and go up to €450. Some of my statement necklaces take a long time to make and they are what I am known for. There are also artists like Ford & Forlano whose work sells for thousands of dollars as well as some of the pioneers of polymer clay, like Melanie Muir, Donna Kato, Carol Blackburn, etc who also sell their work at very high prices. I don't always think it's the material that matters as much as your skill level and what you do with it. True skill takes time to develop and no one should expect to be experts overnight. I know there is a HUGE trend in polymer clay earrings right now and honestly, I think this is where the perceived value is being lost. There's so much for the same thing out there that it's no longer original. While it's good that polymer clay is getting attention for the amazing material it is, I also think it can hurt those of us who have using the material for years and perfecting our skills and therefore asking for higher prices for our work.
I will also add that my absolute favorite brand of clay is Fimo Professional, yes, a little bit tougher to condition, but the end results are so much better. There isn't any change in color after baking and no distortion when cutting and shaping, it will stay as it is. I will forever and always be a Fimo professional girl! Thanks again Mei for all your videos! I am learning so much from you!
Hi Sara! It sounds like you have had amazing success with your business and have definitely found your niche! I'm happy to hear that you like the Fimo Professional - thank you for sharing your review here!
@@CreativeHiveCo Thanks Mei! Things were going really well until the pandemic hit. I had just opened a new studio space one month before lockdown so I decided to close the shop since I live in a tourist city :( But, I'm a firm believer that everything happens for a reason so I'm taking things in stride. After years of having a physical shop, I'm now learning to sell online which, is a whole new territory for me. But! your videos have been so helpful and I really am learning so much from you, so a big THANK YOU again!
Oh, man, that is such a bummer to hear! I'm sure it was the best decision given the circumstances, but that must have been so disappointing. It's great that you've been able to pivot, though, and are taking the opportunity to learn new things in stride. I'm happy to be a part of that!
Thank you for doing a video about clay! As a polymer clay animal sculpture maker, this was so fun to watch! I hope that you do more in the future!
Thanks so much! I appreciate you watching!
Glad to find you and thanks so much for the mention. Now I'm off to look for your other videos. Beautifully clear presentation. The craft world needs you!
I'm so happy that you saw this! Thank you so much for your kind words. 💖
Thanks for the info. I am teaching my grand children about clay an making things. My G daughter likes making the food earrings, she's 12 an she's really good. My G son is 5 and he has learned how to make armature and then clay an makes an action or fantasy figure. He's darn good for his age. He brought out some nuts and bolts and used them in one of his sculpture figures I feel so lucky to be able to teach them about working with your hands and being creative. My G daughter has a little sales thing going on. She made a cabinet type thing with cardboard and displays her jewelry in it an lots of family members come to her house and shop her items when they need gifts. She's done very well. I've been teaching her how to do sales..writing receipts and packaging for the customer.
Pretty awesome your videos help with almost all aspects!
Thank you ♡
That's so amazing, Soal! I love to hear stories like this. I'm so glad that you are not only able to teach your grandkids these things, but that they are also loving it. That makes me so happy to be a part of! 💖
I just scrolled through your vids an hour ago looking if you have a polymer clay video 😂😂 this is very helpful. Thank you so much for your dedication 💕
Perfect timing! I'm so glad I could help. Thank you for watching!
Great information! Thank you for sharing your experience with us. I can't wait to watch your other videos! I would really appreciate your advice on creating a website, or what avenues you have used to sell your products. Thanks again!
Thank you so much for your kind words! 😊 I'm glad you found the video helpful. As for creating a website, I use Shopify to manage my own site, which I find really user-friendly and customizable for showcasing my products. I also use Etsy as another avenue to reach a broader audience. Both platforms have their benefits, so it depends on what you're looking for.
Thank you for this video. It’s was perfect straight to the point. Subscribed can’t wait to watch and learn from you. Good job
Thank you so much Jessica! I'm so happy you love it!! ❤️
I just found your wonderful channel and i love how thorough and clear you are!! Thank you!!
Aww. Thank you so much for the kind words!! That really means a lot to me!! ❤️
I just found you channel. I'm beginning to make sculpted pieces as dyes for casting silicone molds. I'm not sure how the molds will turn out, but it's going to be a great experiment.
That's amazing!! Good luck John!! ❤️
Such a nice video! Very informative & set well communicated! Thank you so much!!!! 💙💙
Glad you enjoyed it, April! Thank you so much for watching!
Thank you for your video!
Thank you so much for watching!
So helpful, thank you Mei! ⭐️
I'm so happy to hear that! Thank you so much for watching! 💗
This video was super helpful, thank you! I have one year to make my business grow and be successful before it is my only source of income
You CAN do it, Julia! Rooting for you!! ❤️
Hi Mei! I really appreciate this video.
I do feel the need of some further explanation as how to prize polymer clay charms: because if one block of clay costs $3 then how should you include a portion of that prize If you only use a small portion of it in one charm.
I just can't wrap my head around that. I know this video is 2 years old, but I'd love a follow up on this one. Or even a polymerclay charm business serie!
You're doing God's work, thank you! ❤
Hi Stasia! I have a video here that can be helpful for you: ruclips.net/video/H3r9M3QhnNQ/видео.html You're also welcome to download my free online pricing calculator here: www.creativehiveco.com/pricing-handmade-items-guide/
For a block of clay, you can estimate how many pieces of charm you make with 1 block of clay and plug that number in into the pricing calculator. Just for example, you make 10 charms in a 50-gram block of clay. That means in 1 piece of charm, you use approximately 5 grams (50÷10). So in the pricing calculator it would look something like this: Cost - $3, Total Available - 50 grams, Total Used - 5 grams
Super helpful 😊
Thank you for watching!
Hello Mei! I’m so glad I find your channel. I have watched lots of your videos about polymer clay. Do you have videos or resources talks about handmade polymer clay figurines? I’m trying to start a handmade business based on polymer clay figurines. But having a hard time finding resources about the market. Thank you so much for making these videos sharing helpful tips. And all of your videos are well made and get to points. It’s easy to watch and learn during spare time. Thank you so much for sharing these valuable experiences :) I’m hoping to join your course workshop later in the future once I figure out what I want to make specifically.
I would love to work with you in the future, Daisy! I don't have any process videos, but you might find this one: ruclips.net/video/OcGiJ6_PbOg/видео.html or this one: ruclips.net/video/kslY2Dvsojs/видео.html helpful.
@@CreativeHiveCo thank you so much!! It’s very helpful. I appreciate you reply to everyone’s comments. I will keep learning from your videos. When I’m ready, I would love to join your in-depth workshop. 💖💖💖
Customers wanna get value first. Before selling, gain a loyal audience with content marketing. It covers all the stages of a sales funnel and builds brand awareness. I do it on my RUclips.
This can definitely help, but for product-based businesses it is nice to have product to show off that will be coming up for sale.
It’s so funny that I came across this today! I’m launching my own polymer clay jewelry business at the end of the month! @tallyclayco I agree blue bottle tree and polymer clay tutor are great resources! Great video!
That is awesome! Good luck on your launch!! Thank you so much for watching!
I’m looking into making and selling polymer clay jewelry, but I also make jewelry or other types (beaded, metal work, etc.). I was wondering if those need to be separate shops, as they’re different mediums, or if they can be put into one, as they’re all jewelry pieces?
Hi! My name is Diane and I am also a polymer clay artist. I sell both polymer and other types of jewelry on my website. I don't think customers care as much about the mediums and techniques you use as they do about what it looks like. So making sure your line is cohesive style-wise is what really matters.
Hi Ariana! If you can mesh the styles of the different materials, then it's fine to have them both in the same shop. This could be a similar shape, color, technique, or even some pieces that cross materials like a polymer clay bead with a gemstone drop. If they are going to be completely different and will have different target audiences then I would suggest splitting.
I'm taking art doll classes at the moment so I'm probably not going to actually sell it but I'm just going to watch this video anyways lolol
Edit: as for the clay, my instructor uses the living doll brand I'm still trying to find it but they don't sponsor her stuff but she still says in all the years she's done this that's her favorite brand she's come across because it's good to work with and she's never had it break during shipping but again I've never used it I'm just quoting her
That's great information - thank you for sharing that! And thank you for watching!
Thank you!!
You're welcome! Thank you so much for watching, Debbie!
Love all your tips!! Thanks girly🥰🤗🤩
Thank you for watching Alexa!
@@CreativeHiveCo ❤️🤗💯💗🙌🏼
Thank you for this helpful video! I appreciate your job very much.
Thank you so much, Lana! I really appreciate that!
This was so helpful!! Thank you :)
Thank you so much Sophie!! ❤️
Hi! I watched your video on how to price products and I was wondering if an 11.60 profit for each product is good? I’m selling polymer clay rings btw :) I tried to do your formula but that means that my retail price would be $40 I feel like it would be hard to compete with that price ahhhh
The pricing needs to be based on the cost of your materials and time, so your profit is going to have to be based on that.
This video was good
Thank you so much! ❤️
Hi I have a request can u make a video about the needs and materials for a polymer clay business?
It is really going to depend on what you are making with the clay. Some avenues are going to need more specific materials than others, so it would be hard to make a comprehensive list.
Your video was very informative, thank you! How can I get my clay wholesale,?
Hi! My name is Diane and I am also a polymer clay artist. The best price I have found on clay (assuming you are in the U.S.) is from munrocrafts.com. You get 50% off if you spend over $200, but twice a month they lower that minimum to $50. However, they, like ALL suppliers, are experiencing major shortages right now due to Covid. Don't be surprised if you have to backorder your clay and wait quite a while for it.
I get my clay wholesale at creativewholesale.com
@@dianekremerjewelry8378 thanks Diane I just placed an order.
@@dianekremerjewelry8378 Thank you so much!
@@CreativeHiveCo Thank you!
Please tell me which polymer clay is best for making products which we can sell.bake and air dry. Does these clay crackes after drying or baking. Do you give online training .
Hi Namgyal, this site may be able to help with that: sarahmaker.com/best-polymer-clay-for-earrings-and-jewelry/ I don't do online training, though. Thank you for asking!
Do you use a specific oven for baking the clay, only dedicated for that purpose?
Hi! My name is Diane and I am also a polymer clay artist. Most experts recommend using a dedicated oven for baking polymer clay. A good toaster oven is plenty good enough to do the job. Just make sure you use an interior oven thermometer to ensure the temperature is what you think it is. Toaster oven temperature dials are notoriously imprecise.
If you bake a lot of clay, you should, it's plastic after all. You can get cheap and tiny ovens that bake clay perfectly.
Yes, I use a small dedicated toaster oven and I never cook/bake anything else in there besides clay. For many years I used the cheapest toaster oven I could find at Walmart (right when I first came to the US). The cheap ones are prone to burning clay, but it helps to put some aluminum foil over the heating element to prevent burning!
Hey Mei! Love your channel, just discovered it about a month ago and I've seen almost all your videos. I'd love a video about using Facebook Ads after IOS 14, I'm really hesitant as to start doing ads now because I see so many channels saying IOS will screw everything up (meaning the pixel mostly)
What are your thoughts on this?
Hi Davina! Facebook ads is actually something that I cover in my A Sale A Day course! If you'd like to check it out, here's the information: www.creativehiveco.com/a-sale-a-day-business-closed/
@@CreativeHiveCo Why? Do you mention IOS 14 and how it's going to affect FB Ads in there?
Do you think a man that is disabled can do well with this medium?
Definitely! We can do anything if we set our minds to it. ❤️
Mei: it’s very cheap
Me: has an OCD that everything has to be perfect
Total: £152.75 on Amazon prime
Me: Oop
Ooops! 🙈 Well, you are set up to make great things!
Omg I did not think you would reply XD
I try to reply to as many comments as I can! I'm excited that you're trying clay out, even if you *may* have gone overboard. 😂
‘May’ is an understatement
XD
TJANK UUUUU
You're welcome! Thank you so much for watching!
I use air dry clay
How is that working for you?
@@CreativeHiveCo I really enjoy working with it. We had to get air dry clay for my art club but I use it for other things too! Right now I am sending fanart to a youtuber but it is quite heavy so I might try polymer clay because as you said, it is lighter.
That's a great idea - you can at least give it a try and see how you like it. What's nice about working for yourself is you get to make the choices and change things up as you go.
If what you produce is not intended for, but may be appealing to young children, do you need a disclaimer to cover that?
Hi! If you see many young children getting drawn to your products too, it won't hurt putting a disclaimer too especially if your products could cause some harm for them. I suggest checking the rules and regulations in your location though and/or with the professionals to verify if that would be necessary for your case or products.
Thank you. Wonderful video.
You're welcome, Laura! Thank you so much for watching!