What can I sell from a Craft Convention Studio?

The purpose of The Craft Convention is to market and sell the work of craftspeople in the format of an online gallery or marketplace. In order display your work for sale in a Craft Convention Studio, you must be involved in crafting or producing goods by hand or simple mechanism. To apply for a studio, go to ‘Sell’ and ‘Set up your Studio’.

If I become a studio owner, will it cost me anything?

It will cost you absolutely nothing to take a studio on The Craft Convention web site, stock it with your products and display them for sale. The Craft Convention takes a small commission when you make a sale and the buyer purchases your product. See ‘What does The Craft Convention do?’ for the current commission rate, and ‘Who can be a Studio Owner and what conditions apply?’ in the Terms and Conditions.

I only work to commission, how can The Craft Convention help me?

If you only work to commission, you are unlikely to have work to display in a Studio. For craftspeople in this position, we provide a Directory listing all those who will undertake work on commission. The Craft Convention will not charge it’s own commission on work procured through this listing and so charges a quarterly listing fee instead. See ‘What does The Craft Convention do?’ for the current listing fee, and ‘Who can be a Directory Subscriber and what conditions apply?’ in the Terms and Conditions.

Can I be both a Studio Owner and a Directory Subscriber?

Certainly! If you have hand-crafted goods to sell but you will also undertake commissions, then set yourself up as both a Studio Owner and a Directory Subscriber. See ‘Who can be a Studio Owner and what conditions apply?’ and ‘Who can be a Directory Subscriber and what conditions apply?’ in the Terms and Conditions.

How do I display stock in my Studio?

Once you have taken a Craft Convention Studio, login with your e-mail address and password. You will arrive at the 'Noticeboard' page. Here, if you click on the button marked 'How to Stock Your Studio', you will see a full explanation of how to upload stock into your studio.

How do I decide how much to charge for my products?

Setting a price is largely up to you! As a rough guide, you need to cover the cost of your materials, add profit – typically somewhere between 50% and 150% - depending on the time and skill required to create your product and you must add the cost of dispatch in to the final price. See Postage and Packing Hints.

How will I know if I have sold something?

Once you have set up your studio, you will see your ‘Noticeboard’ each time you log in. This is where information about your sales, dispatch and The Craft Convention news will be displayed. You will also be notified by e-mail and reminded to log on to your studio for dispatch details.

How should I dispatch my goods?

It is essential that the goods arrive in perfect condition, so packaging is of great importance. Multiple layers of bubble wrap will usually give good protection for light to medium weight items. They should then be packed tightly into an envelope, carton or box for stability and, if appropriate, clearly marked ‘Fragile’. The address for dispatch will be supplied in your Studio records. Items must be sent by Recorded or Special Delivery when sent by Royal Mail. This will ensure that they are insured against loss or damage and it also rules out the possibility of disputes about whether the goods have been dispatched or received at the other end. Very fragile, large or heavy products may be better dispatched by courier service. Whichever service you choose to use, you should ensure that it gives you adequate insurance and it is essential that you be given a code with which the item can be tracked.

What happens after I have dispatched the goods?

The code from the Recorded or Special delivery receipt or your Courier Service will then need to be entered in your Studio dispatch records, this helps to keep all your records up to date, and an e-mail will automatically be sent to your buyer with this information. This means that both you and the buyer can then track the goods until they arrive. The buyer will be also be encouraged to give feedback on the service received from you so that your high rating will encourage future purchasers.

When will I be paid?

Your account will be credited 21 days after the order has been placed. This period of time allows for dispatch, delivery, queries to be sorted out and bank clearance of funds. You can then choose to be paid direct or to have a cheque issued to you.

What happens if the buyer is not satisfied?

The buyer has 5 working days after delivery in which to make contact with the seller if the goods are found to be unsatisfactory when they arrive. (See ‘What do I do if the goods are damaged or I am not happy with them when they arrive?’ in Buyers’FAQs.) As buyers are encouraged to make contact with you, the seller, to clarify any details before making a purchase, problems should really only arise if the product has been damaged in transit or if the product doesn’t match it’s description or photograph. In both these cases, the buyer is entitled to return the goods and a full refund. As you will want the goods returned by the same secure delivery method as they were dispatched, the cost of return postage should be refunded to the buyer. However, if the buyer simply changes their mind, they are entitled to a full refund on return, but refunding the postage should be a matter for negotiation between you. It is in all our interests to make ‘returns’ a rare occurrence, so try to make those photos and descriptions watertight and package your items carefully!