You’re proud of your crochet skills – and so you should be! Yet selling the crochet that you make is proving challenging despite how beautiful and flawless your crochet is. It feels like no one wants to buy crochet. The truth is that they don’t, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t make a good living from selling your crochet. I know, I just completely contradicted myself. But it’s because crochet is a dirty word and it’s use is stopping you from selling your crochet.
Lets unravel the mystery of why the word crochet is such an issue and I’ll tell you what you can do about it to boost your crochet sales and boost your profits.
Selling Your Crochet With Words
In the world of crafting, the word crochet is associated with creativity, skill, and the ability to transform a skein of yarn into a work of art. But if you want to sell your crocheted goods successfully, particularly on platforms like Etsy or Shopify, using the word crochet in your listings can unintentionally repel potential buyers. This issue might not concern you if you sell patterns or courses, as your audience is often other crocheters. However, for those selling finished items, this word choice can have unexpected ripple effects.
When writing your listings for your online shop, you may often use the word crochet in your titles and your descriptions. But when you describe products as “crochet bags” or “crochet blankets,” you may unintentionally trigger preconceived notions in the minds of your audience. While you see something made with care and craftsmanship, they might associate it with something old-fashioned or lacking value.
They may not even know what makes them scroll past when they see the word crochet in the title. All they know is that they get an ‘ick’ feeling and that is enough for them to dismiss your amazing work and to keep scrolling on through the search results.
This problem is caused by the power of the subconscious.
Crochet And The Subconscious
For many, crochet evokes memories of grandma crocheting blankets and sweaters in front of the TV. She sits there most evenings churning out new items week after week and gifts them to all the family members. While this image is endearing and you have wonderful memories of your grandma and her crochet habit, it can also lead to the perception that crochet is a simple, quick craft with little value. After all, if grandma could whip up a blanket in no time, why should your customers pay a premium for the same thing?
This of course is a perception mostly held by those who don’t crochet or craft, but those who can already crochet are unlikely to ever buy from you as of course they can make what they need themselves. So a good portion of your customers are likely to have a preconceived notion of crochet lodged in their subconscious and we have to find a way around it.
This subconscious notion causes potential buyers to skip over items labelled as crochet, often without realizing it. They might not consciously connect the word with their lack of interest to purchase, but their previous experiences and associations come into play. To combat this you need to change the words you use to promote and describe your crochet.
Changing How You Market Your Crochet
So, how can you steer clear of this unintentional bias and improve your crochet sales? The key lies in rethinking your product titles and descriptions. Remove the word crochet from your titles and instead focus on capturing what truly matters to your target audience: functionality, aesthetics, and how the product fulfils their needs.
When you’re shopping for items like shoes or bags, do you question how they were made? Probably not. It’s the same with crochet products. Your customers are interested in whether a bag is practical and stylish enough to complement their wardrobe, not whether it was crocheted or sewn. For example, if you’re selling a bag, simply label it as an “over-the-shoulder bag” rather than specifying that it’s crocheted.
Using this approach can stop customers in their tracks, making them pause long enough to consider your product. It’s just not necessary to state how something is made, it’s far more important to make it clear the fibres it’s made of or how it fits in with the latest fashion and trends. In your descriptions share the inspiration or story behind your creations instead—the unique journey or the creativity involved holds much more weight than the technical method of making it.
Some more examples would be:
- Double Bed Crochet Ripple Blanket = Double Bed Cotton Ripple Blanket
- Crocheted Oval Nursery Rug = Pastel Oval Nursery Rug
- Set of 6 Crochet Placemats For Fine Dining = Luxury Dining Placemats | Set Of 6
Removing the word crochet does nothing to change the purpose or context of your product, it’s simply removing a word that is not necessary and is probably not even being searched for. Your listing won’t suffer in the search result rankings – in fact it may even go further up the page if you remove the word crochet.
Small Change, More Profits
At first glance this strategy will feel like it will hurt your list ranking in search results. But it’s actually an opportunity to bridge the gap between passion and profitability. Test this new approach by having a mix of listings—some with and others without the crochet label—and analyse the results. When in doubt, test it out.
Remember, your goal is to connect with buyers on a visceral level, appealing to their desires while carefully sidestepping any subconscious bias. Emphasize the product’s benefits, appearance, and how it enriches their lives.
In conclusion, rethinking the language used when selling your crochet items isn’t about denying the craft’s essence. Instead, it’s about acknowledging the complex perceptions and adjusting your approach to connect with a wider audience. By removing potential roadblocks, you’re not only attracting more buyers but also inviting them to appreciate the artistry and skill in what you’ve created.
For more tips on how to start and grow your crochet business, check out my Free Resources here. Grab whatever takes your interest to create your ideal crochet business. You can also follow my free Substack here for more crochet building tips.
