By Beryl Frishtick

Do you have a hobby?  Are you crafty?  Maybe you knit baby hats.  Maybe you make adorable scrapbooks that people can fill with their own photos.  Or maybe you build your own end-tables from wood that grows in the forest next to your house.  Chances are, if you have a craftying hobby, you can make money off of it.  Of course, you can always sell your products at local crafts fairs or farmer’s markets, but there’s an easier way: sell your stuff online!  And with websites like Etsy and Artfire, setting up an online store is just a few clicks away.

Etsy  - Etsy was founded in 2005, as a way for crafters around the world to have easier access to a global marketplace for their products.  On Etsy you can sell handmade goods, vintage items, or craft supplies.  It costs $0.20 to list an item, and you pay Etsy a small fee when the item sells.  You can even connect your Etsy store to facebook and twitter, so your friends and followers can see the latest updates to your store.  This way even more people will know about your online storefront, and be interested in your products.  Everything is done through Paypal, so you don’t have to worry about cash or checks.  A good tip is to create business cards to include in each purchase for further marketing.  Like in all online transactions, photos are incredibly important in an Etsy shop.  Make sure to take a picture of your item from every angle, so your perspective clients can get as much information about the product as possible.  Since they can’t touch it, this is the best way you have to draw them in.

Here are some other online marketplaces to check out:

Artfire - This is the best and biggest alternative to Etsy.  Artfire offers you the option of creating a free basic account or paying for a professional account (Etsy only offers the one option).   Similar to Etsy, the main categories for products are pattern designs, craft supplies, and vintage collectibles.

Zazzle - Founded in 1999, Zazzle allows you to sell your images and designs, which Zazzle customers can use to create their own personal art.  It’s free to set up a store, and you decide what royalties you will receive for your art.

AzCraze -  Keep an eye out for locally-based websites like AzCraze, which is a marketplace for the state of Arizona.  Residents can post their homemade products for a small monthly fee, and AzCraze doesn’t take any percentage when the product sells.

Good luck, and happy selling!