Junk Crafting is a Profitable Business

Salvaged barn wood or weathered fence boards, old household linens, recycled clothing, costume jewelry, rusted metal and worn out furniture are just a small fraction of the supplies used for junk crafting. Junk crafting is a wonderfully profitable way to use items that started out life as one thing and became something else through crafting.

The appeal of an art project with a story, a memory or a past is a significant draw to potential customers. They are snapping up items that are one-of-a-kind, simply because they are more interesting than items that are cookie cut and mass-produced from patterns that leave nothing to the imagination. They want to purchase things they can't find anywhere else. They want things they could have thought of but never would have made since finding the exact same materials would be impossible.

Trash to treasure items are clever and customers appreciate that creativity. Chenille or quilted bedspreads can be manipulated into adorable stuffed toys or primitive bowl fillers. Window shutters are built into birdhouses or shelves, old dining room chairs become rustic flower pot holders for the garden and bed frames have a prominent place as a bench in grand living rooms.

Display your handcrafted junk items using additional salvaged materials. Hang things from old wood doors that have been hinged together. Lay out and display things on scarred and scratched old dressers that may or may not have all their drawers. Open vintage suitcases and turn them on end. Span barn wood boards between two suitcases by placing them on top for shelving. Old rusty buckets and galvanized wash tubs are terrific for corralling smaller items and crafty things that need propped up. Tuck them in corners, under shelves or lining the perimeter of your booth. These pieces will help showcase your merchandise and draw the potential customer into the atmosphere, even if they are clear across the room. You may even have requests to sell your junk displays.

This type of crafting results in lots of repeat customers. They frequently return to see what you have "new", and they are quite often full of ideas and special order requests for more junk pieces. They are also great resources for additional junk crafting supplies.

I have had more substantial profits selling this type of craft, than any other I have tried. In a tight economy, customers are more apt to purchase something they can't go home and duplicate themselves.