I currently have an online shop on both Etsy and Madeit where I sell my crafts. We are about 3 months off hitting the road full time and I'm just trying to weigh up the pro's and cons of doing this while travelling. So just wondering if their are any other nomads with online shops or do you sell at markets?
We spent 6 months selling at large and small markets across Australia selling paintings and condiment caddies. Spent about the same on market fees and insurance as we made in profit . Now my wife paints for fun and leaves her art for sale in cafes . Coffee and food make money at markets most other stalls struggle in my opinion. Please enjoy your art and travels like we are now.
Kind Regards
Peter
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Greet everyone as a friend, its up to them to prove you wrong.
Thanks for your replies Bluemoon2 and Peter. I think to begin with I'll keep at least one of my online shops running and see how I go. I also sell my crafts at a local cafe but this won't be an option on the road as we're intending to be away for at least two years. Am not really into it to make money, it's more being able to offload what I make as I'm a prolific crafter and I can't imagine not crafting. If I make enough to cover the cost of materials I'll be happy.
Do your craft but display it at the rest stops if there are other people present.
A little sign and some samples and not sure your craft but you may be able to make to demand.
See a lady doing sewing and mending and she had a line up waiting. Also a lady doing small signs in show script and she was always busy.
Though of that myself but considering giving up the road and transferring to the river so a bit different but more room and I will still carry my lathe and my brushes and a few tools so never know.
Also fly a drone so might be some opportunities there on the sly LOL.
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11 Mtr house Boat based at Mannum hoping to travel up the Murray as far as I can get then drift back again
Thanks for the reply Beiffe. I mainly do hoop art and dolls so probably not something other nomads would buy! My hoops will take up a bit of room while travelling so won't be able to do too many at a time. Dolls and the like take up less room so will probably concentrate more on those. Will also be on the lookout for any charitable organisations I may be able to gift them to.
i haven't begun the grey nomad lifestyle yet, but i was wondering a similar thing. I do like to do crafts to keep myself occupied. But what i would love to do whilst camping is kinesiology and card readings. I can also do massages but prefer to do kinesiology work as that is more beneficial to the recipient and less physically demanding for me
As it's been a few months it would be interesting to hear from Di and what she decided to do.
Hi,
We were due to start travelling this month but we've been held up awaiting the arrival of a canopy for our new vehicle. It's being shipped from overseas because they're not made here in Australia. So for now I've just been continuing with my online shops. I'm starting to pick up quite a few custom orders. As for keeping it going whilst on the road I'm just going to see how it goes. I'll also be limited by how much "stuff" I can take but until we start packing I'm still not sure how much room I'll have.
Thanks for the update. I like to do craft also. Nothing fancy, a bit of sewing and card making. I'm not really one for sitting and doing nothing. When it comes to "stuff" I would definitely have a hard time deciding what to take (too much stuff here). Enjoy your time on the road and take care. Cheers, Gaylene.
Hi Di (and all other crafties!), I too have an Etsy shop and am deliberating about what to do when I go on the road (possible in the next month or so).
I have quite a bit of vintage which takes up too much space, but was thinking of keeping listed/taking along some hand made items and supplies that aren't too bulky and that I can work with while traveling.
I will be touring on a budget so it's encouraging to hear peoples suggestions and the various options for keeping up a small income as I go.
Like others, I also just enjoy the 'doing' so if nothing sells still happy and no harm done !
We still haven't made a move due to unforeseen holdups but hope to leave shortly. Would love to know what you make and sell on Etsy? I too am still debating whether it will be feasible to take my online shops on the road. I have to be doing something but whether it's practical to try to take all my materials with me I don't know. My main item is hoop art but I also do knitwear. It's also the fact of having to log on pretty frequently which concerns me.
Hi Di, your knitwear sounds like something that could be handy to take traveling, and did I see dolls mentioned in an earlier post?
My handmades include timber buttons, grocery bag holders, and knitted soap savers. The buttons and bags would need to be made and stored but the soap savers I could work on as I go. I also have a range of therapeutic quality essential oils, some of which I thought might be helpful to other travelers i.e. peppermint oils for deterring creepy crawlies and eucalyptus for sniffles.
You are right, for keeping up with Etsy the need for frequent logons could be an issue, and also the whole invoice and packaging scenario.
At this stage I am leaning towards deactivating all vintage items and leaving up what craft I can reasonably stash under the bed on the camper (along with the admin/postal requisites). If there was enough interest I would potentially offer the same range (plus oils) direct from the van, or at local markets if not too costly/complicated.
That said, once I am way from home and in another lifestyle I may find that I just don't have the urge.
I would love to know if there are other online sellers doing their thing out on there the 'playground', what has changed and how they fare!
