If you make candles, cards, jewellery, knits or bakes, Christmas is the best time of year to sell them. People actively look for handmade and personalised gifts from October to mid-December. Here's a practical, no-nonsense guide to getting started.
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1. Decide what to sell
The handmade gifts that sell best at Christmas are easy to post, easy to give and a little bit personal:
- Personalised items: names, initials or dates on mugs, decorations, prints and jewellery.
- Stocking fillers under £15: soaps, lip balms, keyrings, mini candles and badges.
- Christmas decorations: baubles, wreaths and tree toppers sell from late October.
- Gift sets and hampers: bundle two or three of your items in a nice box and charge more.
Start with a small range (five to ten products) you can make reliably. It's better to sell out than to be stuck with stock in January.
2. Price it properly
A simple formula many makers use: materials + your time at a fair hourly rate + packaging + selling fees, then round up. Don't forget postage boxes, tissue paper and card fees. If your price looks too high, make a smaller version rather than cutting your margin.
3. Choose where to sell
Etsy or other marketplaces
Shoppers are already there, so it's the quickest way to get first sales. You pay listing and transaction fees, you compete with thousands of similar sellers on the same page, and the customer belongs to the marketplace.
Your own online shop
A shop with your own name and web address looks professional, keeps customers coming back to you, and suits selling through Instagram, Facebook or craft fairs. You pay a monthly fee and need to bring visitors yourself.
Many makers do both: a marketplace to be found, and their own shop for repeat customers and social media.
4. Setting up your own shop
Shopify is one of the easiest ways to build your own online shop without coding. You pick a ready-made design, add photos and prices, and it handles payments, discount codes and shipping labels. You can also sell in person at Christmas markets with a card reader that keeps your stock in sync. It has a free trial so you can try it before paying, then a monthly plan (check Shopify's site for current prices).
Other options include Squarespace, Wix and Big Cartel. Try the free trials and pick whichever feels easiest for you.
5. Take good photos
Natural daylight by a window, a plain background and one "in use" photo (a candle lit on a table, a mug with coffee in it) make a huge difference. Take photos of every product from the same angle so your shop looks tidy.
6. Plan for Christmas posting
Royal Mail publishes its last recommended posting dates each autumn, usually in mid-to-late December. Set your own "order by" date a few days earlier, show it clearly on your shop, and stop taking made-to-order requests once you can't finish them in time.
7. Get your first customers
- Tell friends and family, and ask your first buyers for a photo or review.
- Post your making process on Instagram, TikTok or Facebook: people love behind-the-scenes videos.
- Pin your products on Pinterest, where people plan Christmas gifts weeks ahead.
- Book a table at a local Christmas fair and put your shop link on every package.
Looking for supplies?
Our craft gifts and kits guide is a good place to find kits and materials, and gifts for the crafters in your life.