The Myth of 'Just Listing It'
Selling handmade crafts online sounds like it should be simple. You make a thing, you list the thing, someone buys the thing. Angels sing, glitter falls from the ceiling, and you ride off into the sunset on a majestic unicorn. Ta-da. Right?
Not quite.
Welcome to the Admin Olympics
Selling is basically admin in a party hat. On paper, it's all exciting — launching products, running a business, growing your brand. In reality, it's ten browser tabs open, none of which you remember opening, and a to-do list that seems to breed overnight.
It's learning acronyms that sound like printer errors (SEO, CTR, UGC) and discovering that a "slug" isn't a garden pest, but a chunk of the URL (the web address people and search engines use to find your post). One that, if it includes filler words like "in" or "and," makes Google purse its lips and quietly deduct points from your online life expectancy. Not catastrophic — just enough to make you mutter at your screen and reach for the biscuits.
The Glamour of Product Photography (Sort Of)
Then there's photography — which starts with a wonky setup and ends with Canva and the Photoroom app doing their best to save the day. You want the product to look 'effortless' and 'authentic,' but it usually involves strange lighting, trial-and-error editing, and quietly muttering at your screen while trying to erase the fact that you took the photo next to the boiler cupboard, strategically framed to avoid the pile of unfolded laundry you've been meaning to sort out for the past week.
Pinterest: Hope and Heartbreak
And let’s not forget Pinterest. A place where pins disappear faster than jam at a village fête. You follow all the advice — vertical formats, keywords, fresh content — and then try not to lose hope when your lovingly designed pin earns a grand total of one click. And yes, it was you. Meanwhile, blog posts about crafting trends or sustainable handmade products often get more traction — possibly because they tap into what people are actively searching for, like these ones.
Email Marketing (And a Personal Crisis Per Unsubscribe)
And email marketing? I use Shopify’s built-in tools, and to be fair, my open rates aren’t bad. But when someone unsubscribes? Oh, the heartbreak. I take it personally every single time — like they’ve walked past my shop, made direct eye contact, then quietly removed themselves from my mailing list as if they were slipping out of a party without saying goodbye. Not even a polite excuse. Just gone. No cake, no closure. Rude, just rude. Of course, it’s not actually rude — it’s just how this whole thing works. But still... it stings. Just a bit.
Analytics and Existential Dread
Then comes the stat-checking spiral. You know you shouldn’t do it. You know nothing good comes from refreshing your analytics every 17 minutes. But you do it anyway. Shopify says it’s live, Pinterest says it’s pinned, but your stats look like you accidentally launched it into space with a note that says 'good luck out there.' Again.
The Invisible Weight of Silence
And the emotional bit? That’s the real kicker. You pour hours of work into something you’re proud of, upload it with hopeful optimism, and then… silence. Maybe a bot. Maybe someone you met at a market a year ago. Definitely not a rush of eager buyers.
And in the quiet, you start wondering if your SEO is actually working. You stare at your analytics dashboard thinking, "Er... is that good? What should it be? Am I slowly building traction, or just performing digital interpretive dance in front of a very unimpressed Google?"
Why You Keep Going Anyway
The truth is, selling handmade crafts online is mostly invisible. You rarely get instant feedback. You don’t always know who’s seen what or why it’s not working. There’s no boss giving you a pat on the back, no team applauding your effort. Just you, your product, your hopeful post — and the endless scroll that mocks you like a particularly unhelpful GPS — endlessly recalculating, clearly lost, and somehow making it all your fault.
But here’s the thing: you do it anyway. You get up, tweak a headline, re-pin a post, update a photo — usually one of the tote bags I’m quietly proud of — and keep going. Because the other truth is this: selling might be exhausting, confusing, and occasionally soul-sapping… but it’s also where the magic happens. When someone does find your work and buys it? That little cha-ching noise is worth every browser tab, every eye twitch, every biscuit consumed in the name of perseverance — and every tiny win that reminds you why you started in the first place, even if you can’t remember what day it is or whether lunch ever happened.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it worth selling handmade crafts online in the UK?
Yes — but not overnight. It takes consistency, strategy, and a bit of biscuit-fuelled determination. If you’re willing to stick with it, the rewards can grow over time.
Do handmade items actually sell online?
They do — especially when they solve a problem, have a unique story, or are marketed to the right audience. Good photos, clear descriptions, and SEO all help.
What’s the best platform to sell handmade crafts in the UK?
I use Shopify because it gives me control over branding, layout, and SEO. Others prefer marketplaces like Etsy or Folksy — but be prepared for more competition and less freedom.
Still thinking handmade business is the easy bit?
Before you quietly question all your life choices, treat yourself to something useful — like a notebook that understands the chaos. Explore my embroidered covers here.
