Business Advice
We’ve put together this extensive guide for budding crafters out there hoping to start their own soft furnishing business.
Read on to learn more about equipment, tools, marketing and insurance all in one place.
Is the home and soft furnishings market good to get into?
Whilst there are some challenges associated with getting into home and soft furnishings, it can still be a viable market to get into if you’ve got a passion for it.
A growing demand for customised and bespoke soft furnishings such as pillow and blankets, presents a viable business opportunity for talented crafters.
Types of soft furnishing businesses and their products
In general, soft furnishings businesses specialise in using textiles and other soft fabrics to create products which increase a room’s comfort and aesthetic. The types of soft furnishings businesses range all the way from small local crafters to large-scale retailers, and below are some examples of the products they might produce:
- Upholstery/reupholstery Bespoke upholstery for furniture such as beds, sofas, chairs, and more.
- Cushions and pillowsPersonalised designs for soft cushions and pillows, scatter pillows, bed rolls, and more. These can be made from a variety of fabrics.
- Blankets/throwsHandmade throws and blankets are perfect for brightening up a living space.
- TableclothsFabric used on tables to protect the wood or glass.
- Curtains/blindsHand sewn drapes, curtains and blinds are often very popular. These can be made bespoke to specifications and measurements.
What you need to start a soft furnishings business from home
Amongst other things, you need to consider factors such as equipment, business plans, tools, branding, insurance, materials and marketing to start a soft furnishing business from home:
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- Equipment/tools/materials – Fabric shears, measuring tape, rotary cutter, cutting table, rulers, fabric markers, sewing machine, blind hemmers, threads, needles/pins, fabrics, and much more may be required.
- Business plans – Consider your executive summary, company description, market analysis, marketing and sales plan and financial plans.
- Branding – Define your niche and develop your branding.
- Insurance – Consider the potential insurance needs of your business. This might include craft fair insurance, product liability insurance, public liability insurance and more.
- Marketing – Think about your marketing options. Will you build a social media presence? Will you invest in a paid marketing strategy?
Contact CraftCover to chat through your insurance needs when starting a new soft furnishing business.
The costs of starting a home furnishings business
The cost of starting a home furnishing business depends entirely on the size of your business, and your location. These costs also involve business registration, equipment, branding, marketing and possibly workspace rental.
For smaller local businesses, you can expect to need funding of anywhere from £1,000 – £3,000, whilst for larger-scale furnishing businesses, you may have to spend anywhere up to £50,000 – £60,000, as a very rough estimate.
Ensuring the quality of your soft furnishing crafts
Like all crafters, we’re sure you’ll want to ensure that your soft furnishing creations are kept high quality no matter what. This will require the use of high quality materials and superb attention to detail. Here are some things you should consider to ensure the quality of your crafts:
- Martindale rub count – High counts are most suitable for furniture which will see heavy, daily use, such as beds or family sofas.
- Choosing the right fabric for the job – Delicate fabrics such as fine linen and silk won’t be suitable for or practical for more heavy duty furnishings such as upholstery. Consider the job you’re doing and which fabric is most suited to it.
- Precise measuring – Careful measurements allow for patterns to show as intended, and ensure that there is no excess material.
- Inspect the final product – Inspecting your finished product for imperfections, tears, or loose stitchings, allows you to ensure you’re only crafting the best possible soft furnishings.
Where can you sell handmade home and soft furnishing crafts?
There are a variety of ways you can sell your home and soft furnishing crafts:
- Local markets – Craft fairs, christmas markets, farmers markets, car boot sales and charity events are all viable places to showcase your crafts.
- Online marketplaces – Utilising Etsy or Folksy can be great for selling niche items, even as a lesser-known seller. Amazon Handmade is better suited to those focused on high-volume sales.
- Your own website – Depending on your business size, setting up your own website through platforms such as Shopify or Big Cartel allows you to market your products under your own branding.
- Social media – Some crafters like to build up a social media following through which they can market their business.
Marketing a new home furnishings business
Marketing a new business is never easy, particularly in a relatively niche craft market.
The first step is to use online and digital marketing to build a strong presence and build your brand awareness. Use high quality images and descriptions to showcase exactly what you can do and garner interest from potential customers.
Next, you should consider marketing techniques such as building an email list, search engine optimisation, and even paid ads. Do in-depth research regarding your budget and priorities to determine what approach is best suited to your furnishings business. You should also claim your Google Business Profile, encouraging customers to leave positive reviews.
Finally, work on building customer relationships and trust. No matter how or where you sell, make an effort to ensure the customer journey is as easy and supported as possible. This includes regular communication, answering questions promptly, and giving supporting information about your products and business.
Alongside marketing, you need to consider the craft insurance needs of your business. Determine whether you need public liability, employee liability, and/or product liability protection, so you can craft and sell with peace of mind!
Get your free quote today.
