How to Sell Handmade Products Online in Kenya
How to Sell Handmade Products Online in Kenya
Blog Article
You can make the product. The harder part may be explaining it to someone who has never visited your workshop, held a sample or watched you work. A photograph and a short caption must begin a conversation that would happen more naturally in person.
Learning how to sell handmade products online in Kenya starts with making that conversation easier. Buyers need to understand what you make, whether it suits them and how an order works. Craftory's purpose of connecting Kenyan artisans with markets sits within this challenge: skilled work needs to be discoverable and understandable to people beyond the workshop.
Choose one product you can explain clearly
Begin with a product you can describe and supply confidently. It might be a stool, a bracelet or a practical household item. Starting with one clear offer can be more manageable than posting every variation at more info once.
Identify the buyer and the job the product does. A stool intended for occasional seating should be described differently from a decorative object shaped like a stool. State the intended use and include the details that help someone assess it.
Give the product a specific name. “Handmade” tells people how something may have been produced, but it does not tell them what the object is. A descriptive name makes it easier for a buyer to recognise the item when browsing or asking a follow-up question.
Photograph the questions a customer will ask
Take a clear overall image, then show the features a buyer cannot see in it. Depending on the product, these might include the fastening, underside, interior or back. Use a simple background that leaves the object easy to understand.
Show scale with measurements and a suitable reference. A hand holding a small item can help, but it should not replace written dimensions. Keep colour editing modest so the photograph remains a fair representation of what the buyer will receive.
Identify whether the image shows the available item, a sample or a previous commission. If it is a reference for work yet to be made, explain what can vary. Use your own photographs or images you have permission to publish.
A short video may help demonstrate movement or function. Show the drawer opening or the fastening closing. Let the product answer a practical question rather than filling the video with unrelated effects.
Write the information you usually repeat
Think about the questions customers ask in person. What is it made from? How big is it? Can the colour change? How long would another piece take? Those answers belong in the listing.
Write in plain language. Include the materials, dimensions, intended use and available options. Explain whether the displayed price covers one item, a set or a particular configuration. If delivery is separate, say that clearly.
As an illustrative example, a stool description could identify its material, overall measurements, intended use, finish and the location for collection. It could also explain whether the photographed piece is ready or whether a new order requires production. Each detail helps a buyer decide what to ask next.
Your story can add interest after the product is clear. Explain a design choice or describe how you learned the skill, if you want to share it. There is no obligation to reveal private circumstances to make the work worth buying.
Price the actual work you are offering
Record the materials, time and other costs involved in producing the item. Include the work that is easy to overlook, such as preparing materials, finishing, packaging and communicating about a custom order. You need that understanding before deciding what price is workable for your business.
Keep different versions distinct. If a larger size or another finish changes the price, explain the difference. A buyer should be able to tell which version the advertised figure describes.
Confirm any selling fees and payment arrangements before choosing a platform. Ask who collects payment, when funds become available and who handles delivery or a customer complaint. Compare the current terms of each channel rather than relying on another seller's experience from a different time.
Make the next step easy to follow
Tell the customer what information you need to proceed. A custom request might require measurements, a delivery location and a reference image. A ready product may need only confirmation of the selected item and delivery arrangements.
Keep a written order summary. Record the agreed product, options, price, payment arrangement and expected timing. If something changes, update the customer and confirm the revised agreement.
Reply with the information requested, even when you cannot accept the order. An honest explanation of your availability helps customers plan and protects you from promising work you cannot complete. Choose a communication routine you can maintain alongside production.
Give each order a reference that you can find again. Use it when saving photographs, messages and payment records, keeping customer information private. This becomes useful when similar products are being made for different people. A small recording habit can prevent a colour choice or measurement from being attached to the wrong order.
Improve the listing through real enquiries
Notice where customers hesitate or ask the same question repeatedly. Add the missing information to the listing. If buyers keep asking for scale, improve the photographs and measurements. If they misunderstand the price, make the included items clearer.
With permission, use photographs and feedback from completed orders to demonstrate the work. Keep records of what was supplied so your examples accurately represent your capabilities.
Artisans considering Craftory can ask about its current onboarding requirements, seller arrangements and how to present their products. Prepare your photographs, descriptions and production information before that conversation. These materials remain useful wherever you choose to sell.
The first online listing does not have to contain your entire business. It needs to make one product understandable and give one interested buyer a sensible next step. Start there, learn from the response and let the quality of your communication support the quality of your work.
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