When To Make Seasonal and Holiday Crafts to Sell

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Calendar-When-To-Make-Holiday-Crafts-To-Sell
When to make seasonal and holiday crafts to sell is a question I get a lot from my ebook customers. My answer? To stay ahead of the buyer. Buyers start searching for seasonal and holiday items well before it’s time to display them. Even if they wait to purchase, they start looking and dreaming of that perfect piece for their home or that special loved one.

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For your convenience, I created a handmade craft calendar.  So when looking at the calendar for the month of April, a wreath shop owner or craft maker would be finishing up spring items, working on Mother’s Day and beginning summer items. Additionally, you may think that June and July would be slow months for making handmade items to sell. But as you can see, there really are no slow months because you are always preparing for the next holiday or season. In June, I like to be finishing up last minute summer wreaths and my patriotic wreaths for July 4th.  In July, I like to start my collegiate wreaths for the back-to-school and football season as well as Christmas…yes I said Christmas in July!

Why make Christmas wreaths in July which is mid-summer, isn’t this too early? Well it’s popular for online retail shops to hold an annual Christmas in July sale. Believe it or not buyers know this and they are looking for Christmas items whether it be for gifts or décor in July. Etsy.com always holds an annual Christmas in July sale towards the end of July and I like to take advantage of their advertising power and jump on board with their campaigning. So I discount any leftover Christmas wreaths from last year and make smaller priced, gift giving sized wreaths to add to them. My screen door wreath recipe from my ebook is a perfect example of a lower priced item perfect for gift giving.

[Tweet “Sellers, when craft stores change seasons, you should too.”]

Another good measure to stay ahead of the market is to watch your local craft stores. If you see Hobby Lobby setting up seasonal or holiday décor, this is a sure sign that you should also be gearing up to display the same seasonal/holiday items in your shop.

This is the schedule I use and of course can be modified to include other holidays which are not popular in my area/shop (i.e., Fiesta in April, which means I would suggest finish making in March). This yearly schedule will work for any crafter who is looking to stay ahead of the game.

Does this help answer your question of when to sell seasonal and holiday crafts to sell?  I would love to hear of other holidays you make wreaths/crafts for which I left off? Please leave a comment below and share it on Twitter, Facebook or Pinterest.

Click here to purchase a 2021 Design Planner for Handmade Business.

Tip: Use this same calendar to help with posting ideas on your social media accounts too. This calendar works very well with Pinterest because buyers use Pinterest to help plan upcoming events well in advance. However, for Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, I would wait and not post holiday topics too far in advance since these social media accounts are used more for current events.

Happy Wreathing,

Julie

If you enjoyed this post, you might also like:

10 Proven Productivity Tips for Successful Etsy Shops

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21 Comments

  1. Judy Precise on April 11, 2015 at 11:42 am

    Thanks so much for this schedule. I am so impressed about all you do and how you are willing to share things that make you so successful. I will copy this schedule and follow what you say.

    I am old of age and very new at trying to sell on line. I need all the help I can get. Your methods have encouraged me and taught me how to make beautiful wreaths. Thank you,
    Judy Precise

  2. Judy on April 11, 2015 at 3:10 pm

    Very helpful! Thank you for posting!

  3. Marianela on April 11, 2015 at 3:38 pm

    Thank you sooo much for enlightening me with this calendar. I always wondered just when to start on seasonal wreaths. This will be very helpful. Keep all great info coming. Again thank you and God bless you.

    Nela

  4. Deb Stoneking on April 12, 2015 at 8:43 am

    What a great idea Julie! I’m sure I will benefit from the annual wreath making cycle diagram, as will others! You are so inventive and creative! Thanks for sharing your ideas and experience ! Have a great day!

  5. Tammy Meacham on April 13, 2015 at 9:54 am

    Thank you! In January 2015 I found myself getting ready for a Craft Show in March 2015, so I was making Christmas and Halloween (and 4th of July and Easter and everything else!) wreaths in January and February! Now, I have a “base” of certain wreaths and can use this schedule to fill in where I need them.

  6. diane krolczyk on April 13, 2015 at 9:06 pm

    I really love this idea when I emailed you a month ago and then purchased your book I was very doubtful I could make this work because of health problems that has recently hit me like a great big ol hammer!!! but spirits are soaring and everytime I read an update from you I get more inspired and excited. thank you sweetheart for giving an old woman hope after all!! please accept my condolencies regarding your fil.

  7. Menagerique on April 14, 2015 at 12:14 pm

    Thanks for sharing this! Although I may THINK it, I now have a VISUAL I can post in my workroom to keep me focused on task. Buying your e-book has been the best investment towards making a go at a home based business. Thanks for all your inspiration and encouragement.
    Melinda Gordon

  8. Darlena on April 22, 2015 at 8:27 am

    I’m am just learning, but I love working with deco mesh. How do determine how much to charge for your wreaths? And how did you first start your business?

    • Julie Siomacco on April 22, 2015 at 9:23 am

      Hey Darlena, we discuss this in the forum of my ebook. Have you purchased the ebook? You can learn more here…www.learndecomeshwreaths.com I even provide you with a spreadsheet on how to mark up your wreaths for retail. When first starting out you can price a little than what I recommend until you gain momentum and then gradually start upping your prices. If you start selling wreaths quicker than you can make them, then this is a sign to go up in your prices.

  9. Denise on September 29, 2016 at 6:30 pm

    Thank you for sharing your skills. Gives me such motivation. I’m sure you have answered this question and I missed answer ….Where and what brand of deco mesh do you prefer?

    Thank you in advance~God Bless

    Denise

  10. Betsy on January 3, 2017 at 10:19 am

    The format of your yearly craft calendar is brilliant! Thanks for posting this.

  11. aparicio_dolores on March 3, 2018 at 7:48 pm

    Julie,
    I have started making wreaths and don’t know how much to charge and I feel guilty. I am so happy to be in your club and I am learning so much from you. YOU are a blessing to me and thank you so much for sharing with us ladies.

    Sincerely,

    Dolores Aparicio

    • Julie Siomacco on March 6, 2018 at 8:37 am

      In the club, click on the video button to the right that reads, Pricing Your Wreaths. I give you tips there.

  12. Relda Engelmann on May 14, 2018 at 10:29 am

    Julie, I have scoured your website and have purchased your EBook. It is amazing to me how much information you have provided. You are a very talented crafter and I hope to be as successful with my efforts as you are. I NEED all the help I can get at this point. My struggle right now is having a market for the products I make. Setting up an open public sale has been unsuccessful. I have some of my work on display at my job and it is unsuccessful. I love making towel cakes, diaper cakes, gift baskets and wreaths and would love any advice on marketing.

    • Julie Siomacco on May 14, 2018 at 11:33 am

      Thank you. I suggest selling on Etsy.

  13. Vee on September 14, 2020 at 4:23 pm

    Thank you soooo much!!! This saved my life. I would’ve paid for this.
    🙂

  14. Virginia Doughty on October 26, 2022 at 12:47 pm

    Thank you so much, I am new at this. This has been my dream is to start my own Business. I’ve had great ideas but, I get to nervous to post things on line. I try to read as much before I jump in to do this. Again thanks

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