Which is better?

[Summer]

Trying to help out someone here and I thought you all would know some of these answers. I know they have ebay estay and craig's, which of these do you all feel are good? The ins and outs of them? A dear lady who has just come to work with me is trying to sew different things and sell them to help make a little extra money. She has asked me what is better, a craft fair, online, through their church. I have no idea since I have never done this. Customers all give their thoughts but I am asking for some good advice. Some of the things she is making are American Girls Doll clothes, clothes for Webkinz, fleece hats scarves and mittens. So any ideas here for me to pass along to her?

[Mom of Six]

I have not had a lot of luck with the small craft shows. I have heard but never participated in the large craft shows that charge an admission price to enter the door sell more merchandise. Also at those you can charge more but you need to cover the entry cost. The small ones usually charge $10 -$50 per table/booth. The larger ones the fee to sell can be $200 or more. There is one small one that we have done pretty good at it is in a city close to us & they have all different crafts set up down Main Street while they have a carnival going on for the kids. This is in the summer The other myDD & I have been in are usually right before Christmas & I find more people browse those for ideas instead of buying much. You have to do something really different & original to make any money.

[MartySews2]

Not trying to put a damper on anyone's enthusiasm but if she is using purchased patterns to make the doll clothing, there is a good chance that she is in violation of copyright laws which is the same as stealing. She could be arrested, sent to prison, lose her home and all of her sewing equipment. These companies really do check e-bay listings, etsy shops, large & small craft fairs plus yard sales if someone notifies them. Most dressmakers that sew for the public use one pattern per person unless they draft their own and can prove it. This is something that one needs to be aware of the consequences. Disney is especially known to go after home sewers especially those who sell items with Disney designs on them. Almost all of the pattern companies will have a small statement on the purchased pattern that this is for personal use only. Changing a pattern by combining different pattern pieces or making less than 25 items, etc are not valid reasons. You must have written permission from the designer. To learn more about copyright laws go to http://www.copyrightlaws.gov and then link on the section for home sewing and/or crafts. Now, one can make these items and donate them to a charity without violating copyright laws. It's an interesting area. For me, when I was sewing for the public I really did research on this for my marketing plan. With thousands of dollars invested in my equipment and supplies, I did not want to take any risks.
Marty

[MotherInLaw]

Marty you seem to know a lot about this subject. Please explain to me what can be done legally. Say I am asked to make a certain dress for someone. If they bring me the pattern they want the dress to be made from and I use their pattern and make it for them and charge them labor for this dress I make I can get into trouble for doing that? I will never sew for outsiders too much time and not enough money for me to fool with it but I was just wondering how that works. I do make dress's for my grandkids and put embroideies I bought on those for them but they are given to my babies. Is that illegal? This can get tricky if you don't watch out, can't it.

[DorothyL]

lease explain to me what can be done legally. Say I am asked to make a certain dress for someone. If they bring me the pattern they want the dress to be made from and I use their pattern and make it for them and charge them labor for this dress I make I can get into trouble for doing that?

Yes you can do that. That is what they make patterns for. What you can't legally do is make a whole bunch of dresses for sale out of the pattern. If you do that you are supposed to buy a new pattern for every so many dresses.
Dorothy

[MotherInLaw]

Thanks I get the picture. My problem is when I make my own shirts and I find one that fits me I make lots of them. LOL As long as I don't charge myself I'm okay!!!!!!!

[MartySews2]

Thanks Dorothy for the reply. Susie, you can charge for the labor involved in making something whether the pattern is provided or not. However, if you were sewing for a wedding party, and all of the bridesmaids wore the same size, you would need a separate pattern for each bridesmaid. If you had some patterns you purchased for yourself but decided to use those same patterns to make clothes for others, that would be illegal. Also, it is illegal to use a pattern to make items to sell like a line of clothing using a cute baby outfit's pattern. The same goes for quilt patterns or any type of craft pattern. You must have the designer's written permission to use their designs to make a profit. Hope that I haven't confused anyone.
Marty

[Pudge99]

In answer to your question. I am having a lot of fun on etsy. I haven't sold loads of stuff, but it is fun. If you want to go the etsy route there is a lot of work involved. You have to self promote a lot or your shop will never get noticed. You can't just post your items and walk away and expect them to sell. Those who do well on etsy can make it their full time job.
Your pictures have to be wonderful! They are what sells your product online.
There is also the costs involved in selling online. Etsy charges a listing fee plus a percentage and then paypal hits you too with a per transaction fee and a percentage. I pay about 85 cents in fees to sell a $5 item.
A lot of people who sell on etsy also do craft fairs and other online listing sites.
She does need to pay attention to copyright issues, she would do better to create her own patterns just to be safe.

[jwright]

If you want to go the etsy route there is a lot of work involved. You have to self promote a lot or your shop will never get noticed. You can't just post your items and walk away and expect them to sell. Those who do well on etsy can make it their full time job.

You could also do e-bay. You post your pictures and hope someone is looking for what you are trying to sell. It is kind of a shot in the dark though. You could end up listing an item and not selling it and you still have to pay the listing fees.

Craigslist has no fees.. and there is not so much traffic on it. It is more of people looking for the quick and fast buy there.

[Pudge99]

I forgot to add that ebay and craigslist shoppers are often people looking for a "deal" not a quality hand made item.
There are other places out there for listing handmade items too, I have heard people talking about them but can't remember names.