Finding a Home for My Woodworking Projects
So, I was sitting in my little workshop the other day, and you know how it goes—sawdust everywhere, the smell of fresh-cut wood filling the air like a warm hug. I was staring down a pile of projects that were just collecting dust. It got me thinking about my journey of trying to sell my woodworking creations. You see, it hasn’t always been smooth sailing. In fact, I’ve had my fair share of missteps and good ol’ lessons learned.
I remember when I first decided to give selling my woodworking projects a shot. I had just finished this rustic coffee table, made with some beautiful reclaimed barn wood I had scrounged over the summer. I was so proud of that piece. The smell of the wood was intoxicating—like a cozy cabin in the woods. I thought to myself, “This is it; I’m going to sell it and be rolling in dough by next week!”
My First Mistake: Pricing it Too High
So, I took some pictures—poor lighting, shaky hands—but I thought they looked good enough. I decided to post it on Facebook Marketplace because, well, that’s what everyone said to do, right? I put a price on it that I thought was reasonable, but looking back, I have to chuckle. I’d somehow convinced myself that because I put hours and hours of work into it, it deserved a premium price tag.
And boy, did I learn the hard way. The only comments I got were people asking if I could drop the price. I remember feeling my heart sink a little each time. I almost gave up right then and there. “What if my stuff just isn’t good enough?” I thought. I had to remind myself that this was a learning curve.
Farmers Markets: A Game Changer
After weeks of feeling defeated, my buddy Steve, who was more practical than I’ll ever be, suggested I try selling at our local farmers market. I thought, eh, I don’t know about that. But let me tell you, making that leap was like discovering the sweet sound of hand tools working in harmony.
I spent a Saturday morning loading up my truck with a few smaller items: coasters, little signs, and this cute birdhouse I made. I swear, the moment my stuff hit that market table, it felt like a whole new world opened up. The smell of fresh fruits and flowers mixed with the earthy aroma of my wood.
I had my first customer just twenty minutes in—a sweet older lady who was smitten by my birdhouse. And you know what? She haggled with me down to a price that honestly would barely cover the wood costs. But I was so excited, I just laughed and agreed. There’s something about seeing someone light up over something you created that makes you feel like a million bucks.
Online Marketplaces: Not So Easy after All
Feeling a little bolder, I decided to dip my toes into some online selling, thinking, “Well, that’s what all the hip woodworkers are doing!” So I started with Etsy. I created a profile, took glam shots of my work, and felt ready to conquer the world.
But yikes, I was also hit with a reality check there. I mean, shipping? That’s a whole other beast. The first time a piece I crafted with my own two hands shattered during shipping, I froze up in disbelief. It just felt so personal. It was a chunky cutting board made of walnut—leftovers from my buddy’s decking project. I had taken so much care in wrapping it, and yet there it was, a jigsaw puzzle of sadness.
I spent way too long on the phone with customer service—talk about frustration. A lesson learned: invest in quality packing materials because you’re sending a piece of yourself out into the world, and you wanna make sure it gets there in one piece.
Social Media: The Double-Edged Sword
At some point, I realized I had to actually market myself online. I begrudgingly started an Instagram page for my woodworking. I’ll admit, I’m not exactly tech-savvy, but I figured, “Why not?” I snapped pics of my workspace—the tools, the wood grains, the coffee cups half-full (if I remembered that day).
You know, it became pretty fulfilling connecting with folks who shared my love for woodworking. I remembered one late night, trying to capture the perfect shot of a newly finished shelf. I ended up with sawdust in my hair and coffee cups piled high, but it was fun!
Yet, don’t get me wrong, social media can be wildly discouraging. Sometimes you can feel invisible amid all those polished accounts of master woodworkers. But when I got comments from local folks saying how they loved my style, it just made it worthwhile.
Learning to Embrace the Journey
Now, years into this venture, I realize it isn’t just about where to sell but understanding my craft better. There’s absolutely nothing like hearing “I have that on my living room wall” or “That cutting board is my favorite!” when folks come into your home.
Sure, I’ve made plenty of mistakes—overspending on fancy tools I didn’t need, getting lost in endless YouTube tutorials, and getting my hands splintered. But, through it all, I’ve learned one crucial lesson: Just keep going.
So if you’re out there thinking about selling your woodworking projects, please, don’t overthink it. Just dive in. Try the farmers market, hit up social media, or even throw up a Facebook post! You might stumble, you might even fall flat on your face, but let me tell ya—when you finally see someone take joy in your work? That’s worth all the dust and doubts in the world. Just go for it.
