How to Start Arts and Crafts Business in Nigeria

Are you a creative illustrator, painter or sketch artist? Do you have awesome images that can be applied to products such as throw pillows, mugs, t-shirts, etc.; or printed as posters, greeting cards, etc.? If you can imagine it, produce it and bring it to the attention of shoppers. And, if you can do this, then you can start an Arts and Crafts Business in Nigeria right away

There is probably a buyer somewhere in the world who cannot do without it. Arts and craft business is one line of business that has lots of opportunities, but most times people don’t venture into it because it requires great skill, concentration, dedication, hard work and creativity.

Arts is not something you can just wake up one morning and decide to learn. I am not saying it is impossible to learn arts, but I am saying it is impossible to be better than those who were born with it and have worked hard in developing themselves. Crafting, on the other hand, entails basically what one can do with his hands.

So, when you combine both skills in arts and crafts business, then you are really going to make a lot of money within a very short time.

Profitability Analysis of Arts and Crafts Business in Nigeria

Looking at the Arts and Craft industry from afar, it might look like there are less and fewer opportunities or benefits in the industry. This is not really the case.

The major excitement among the people in this industry is the joy of doing what you like to do best without anybody getting to regulate or decide for you what and how you should work.

In this case, you become a Boss of your own, control your finances, manage your business just the way you want it, employ people who you want whereby creating job opportunities for others and in turn paying less on tasks.

Competition level in Nigeria Arts And Crafts Business

Originality, innovation and excellence is the key to succeeding in the arts and crafts industry. Making things that are unique, beautiful and affordable should be the goal.

How To Start Arts and Crafts Business In Nigeria

Choose A Location:

Being the kind of job that you want everybody to see how beautiful your job is, your location should be one of your priorities.

Don’t stage your company in a region where there is little or no traffic. Let your company be sited as close to a very busy zone as possible because you would have to always sample your products for the entire public to see.

Give Your Business A Striking and Registered Business Name:

In reality, any name can be effective. Start by deciding on what message you want your name to convey to the consumer.

It is important that your name choice reinforces the key elements of your business. Give priority to real words or combinations of words over fabricated words.

People prefer words they can relate to and understand. Ensure to get this your Arts and Crafts Business name registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission of Nigeria (CAC).

Choose Your Products:

A wide range of art, crafts and handmade objects are being crafted by individuals in all countries worldwide and most of these have the potential of being sold online.

Is it a child’s toy, woodwork or woven objects, knit, crochet or paper cutting art, soaps, creams or jewellery, a lampshade or is it a painting, watercolour, sketch, sculptural pieces?

What about textiles, baskets, calabash, leather, furniture, wall décor, etc.? The list of handmade items that can be sold online is quite limitless.

Marketing

Set your prices

Pricing is one of the greatest parts of marketing. Your price for each product could function as a great turn on or a turn off for your customers.

Make sure your prices are low as possible, yet you still get what you want. This is a good strategy for keeping customers and it will help your customers link you up with other customers.

Advertising:

Apart from trying to reach the masses that are far away from you, the act of even sampling your products to the passerby is a great way of advertising.

You can decide to move further by going on air to officially let the whole radio listeners know what you are doing. Sometimes, you can also advertise your products by doing a kind of bonanza.

Creativity:

A great aspect of arts and craft that should not be overlooked is the area of creativity. Go from normal to paranormal.

Do things that people cannot just easily think of to do. E.g. A simple round raffia-mat can be re-purposed for use as sophisticated wall adornment.

A lowly fish-smoking basket can transform into an exotic garden lantern if it is spray painted and later adorned with tower candles.

Neatness:

This might come as a surprise, but it is best you knew that a neat environment would attract more customers.  sweep and remove all trash and debris.

Place products in such a way as not to capture unflattering background images such as hanging laundry, dilapidated buildings, trash, etc.

Stage your product, making sure that everything that would drop the quality of your products is put off the scene.

Also, your place should be neatly kept so that in-case you intend photographing your products to mail to someone urgently, you just do it without stress or wasting your customer’s time.

Create a scenery that will give viewers a better idea of how your product can be used in a modern setting or what its size is in everyday life.

Summary

The arts industry is a unique place requires great minds with high creativity skills and innovative abilities. If one is not good in arts, you could be good in crafting and also, you would have the chance to make your money the way you are supposed to.

Crafting does not stop at just making baskets, mats and other things. Sculpturing is also a way of crafting which can give rise to huge opportunities with lots of benefits. Keep your products simple and affordable yet classy and catchy to the eyes.

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