In an age when craft industries have become big business, there are certain crafting and handmade sectors that are growing much faster than others. It’s worth keeping an eye on these sectors, whether its as a business opportunity, or just to sample the wares. The internet now brings the market to your doorstep.
· Homemade Candles
Candles are a firm favorite, just based on the ease with which you can make them, or the ease with which hobbyists think that they can make them. There are myriad candle makers out there selling on Etsy. However, a good candle is hard to make and getting the wick straight and the fragrance right is a skill. There are a number of fantastic candle makers out there and it is a sector seeing growing rapidly. Be sure of the scents you choose and check the types of wax being used. Best to keep it organic.
· Cask Ales
If the product is edible, it’s trickier to produce. Having noted that, the craft beer sector, which is extremely competitive and highly regulated, is growing fast. It is a craft industry where small is becoming big business and professionally made cask ale from reputable brewers is now readily available online. The pandemic has slowed this sector, but the rebound will be great to watch. The best guide in this regard is always other tasters, and failing this, it is to taste the beers yourself. It does not guarantee that anything made in a natural process is great tasting, but it sure does help, and the better the casking and production process the better the product will be, so check up on your prospect and see how it’s made.
· Jerseys and Scarves
Once considered a Christmas item, or a piece of fashion associated with an ‘older’ person, the hand-knitted jersey-scarf combos have made a comeback and seem destined to be more than a seasonal item. The type offabrics used mean that this combo can be expanded to include summer fashions.
· 3D Printed Keyrings
It’s an old trinket, associated with road trips and company branding, but the humble keyring is useful and essential for those not wanting to lose keys. With modern tech, it’s become a small craft industry that allows bespoke items to be made on order and to customer specs. It seems to be taking off again as 3D printing grows.
· Artisanal Cheeses
Regardless of your tastes, there’s a cheese out there for you and with the boom in the cheese industry it’s now available and can be delivered pretty much when you want it. Handmade or artisanal cheeses are all the rage and are now available like never before as more small businesses spring up around local farms and dairy producers.
These are justa few of the many craft industries that are making waves in the online space. They are all craft industries, yet with a modern twist, boosted by the convenience of online ordering and deliveries. Another benefit of using locally made craft produce is that the environmental footprint tends to be smaller than that of imported produce.
