Top 10 Money-Making Hacks for Crafters in Holiday Season 2024

Are you a DIY or crafter who loves trying new things? Do you want to earn some extra cash during the holiday season? We have a lucrative opportunity for you.

During the holidays, when everyone’s busy celebrating and shopping – it’s the perfect time for crafters to market their handmade items. And guess what? It doesn’t take much effort or multiple tools when you have a laser cutter by side. You can transform simple materials into personalized, high-value products and sell them at a premium. Want to know how?

This article outlines 10 brilliant money-making hacks, backed by research, to help you capitalize on your crafting skills and turn a profit this holiday season.

Hack 1: Focus on Popular Holiday Trends

Like fashion, craft trends change every year. Whenever we see a focus on something, it’s often because of broader cultural shifts or emerging preferences. If you want to sell crafts and make the most of it, keeping an eye on trends is the key.

Research Upcoming Holiday Trends

When thinking about where to start, Pinterest immediately springs to mind. This platform has a treasure of inspirational craft ideas. You’ll find a lot of trendy ideas under its Holiday category.

TikTok is the next big hit. As per ESW, nearly 53% of Gen Z (in the US) relies directly on TikTok for shopping. You can explore its trends section to check what types of content are popular and what resonates with users.

Instagram is another powerhouse, with over 2.4 billion active users. Like TikTok, it has photos and quick clips from creators. And the impact is also similar. About 72% of users feel tempted to buy things they stumble upon on Instagram.

Etsy – the platform for selling handmade crafts - itself shares market insights reports every quarter. This helps sellers get a handle on trending searches and the potential big hits for the season. A look at Etsy’s Early Holiday Trends could give you plenty of ideas on what to sell.

We recommend listing the top trends from each platform on a spreadsheet and then spotting the common threads. From there, pick out the popular themes and color palettes. It’s also smart to choose projects with tutorials or step-by-step guides. Observe how sellers market, display, and sell their crafts.

Adapt Your Crafts to Trending Styles

The idea isn’t to copy exactly what you see but to add a personal touch and develop a one-of-a-kind piece that feels both familiar and fresh. Since you’re targeting holiday shoppers, try to craft something that resonates with the season’s vibe. For example, if you’re making a Christmas item, it should have elements that speak directly to those holiday feelings.

Trendy Laser Cut Holiday Crafts that Sell

Here are some laser cut crafts that have the potential for hot selling during their different festive seasons:

• Acrylic ghost earrings: Jewelry is one of the top-selling items on Esty. Such spooky designs can be easily laser cut out with acrylic, wood, or leather.
• Halloween shirts: Erie, ghostly items, particularly t-shirts are quite popular on Halloween. You can try vinyl or screen printing for such customized shirts.
• Personalized cutting board: A cutting board makes an excellent Thanksgiving gift. You can personalize it by engraving names or special messages.
• Personalized ornaments: Decor ornaments, especially, personalized ones with names sell well on Christmas.

• View More Hot-selling Holiday Crafts >>

Hack 2: Use Multiple Sales Channels

There’s a saying, “Don’t put all your eggs in one basket.” Today, with the internet turning the world into a global village, you are not limited to selling in your neighborhood; you can reach an entire city, country, or overseas. So, use all available online and offline channels wisely to expand your market reach.

Local Markets and Craft Fairs

Local markets and craft fairs become bustling hubs during the holiday season. People enjoy the festive atmosphere and are in a generous spending mood. They roam around looking for unique gifts that stand out from the generic retail offerings.

This is where you can market your laser-cut crafts. And here’s a tip to draw a crowd: perform live craft-making demonstrations. You’ll be able to showcase the effort behind each piece and create a memorable shopping experience for them.

Facebook Marketplace is also effective for local advertisements. Most small business owners say that the products get displayed on the Facebook marketplace feed of nearby users. And local buyers feel more comfortable purchasing from familiar sellers. So, the likelihood of getting sales increases.

Online Platforms

Next, comes the online channels for selling handmade items. Etsy is the most popular one, with over 95 million active buyers. Stores doing well on Etsy can make between $43,000 to $44,000 annually. As per Etsy’s 2023 stats, the fourth quarter saw a 33% jump in activity—clearly, the holiday season. Anecdotal evidence from Reddit also suggests a spike in orders during the holiday season – sellers say that daily orders often equal the amount of sales, typically seen in a week. Every year, the same trend follows.

Amazon Handmade offers another promising avenue. Seller App notes that almost 61% of sellers on this platform rake in over $1,000/month. 

Social Media

You shouldn’t overlook the potential of social media marketplaces, particularly Facebook Marketplace and TikTok Shop.

In the US, over 7% of the users often purchase through Facebook. The platform also allows for targeted ads, which bring great ROI during the holidays.

TikTok has quickly become a hotspot for selling handmade goods. A study reveals that Americans spend over $7 million daily on TikTok.

Hack 3: Tap into the Corporate Gifting Market

It’s a norm in the corporate world to gift employees and clients during the holidays. Business owners are always looking for personalized items that can double as thoughtful gifts. This opens up a fantastic opportunity for you to sell custom-engraved items.

You could turn simple items into something unique by adding company names or logos. Another idea? Offer customized ornaments for holiday décor of offices.

You can try creating bulk pricing packages for corporate orders. This makes it easier for companies to buy in large quantities without a hassle.

To tap this market, consider joining local business groups and attending networking events. You could also research potential clients and send personalized emails offering your handmade items as gifting solutions.

Hack 4: Partner with Other Local Makers

With a laser cutting and engraving machine at your disposal, you are equipped to be more productive than many crafters. One strategic move could be partnering with other local makers. Ask them to include your laser-cut items in their gift sets.

For instance, you could combine your laser-cut decorations with handmade candles, artisanal soaps, or homemade baked goods to craft one-of-a-kind holiday gift sets.

Such collaborations can be mutually beneficial. You get to tap into each other’s customer bases and double your reach. Moreover, when you bundle products from multiple creators, you increase the perceived value of each gift set.

To make the most of these partnerships, promote and advertise your collaboration online and offline. In this way, you can mutually enhance your product line and strengthen connections within the local business community.

Hack 5: Sell Crafts as Well as Digital Laser Cut Files

You don’t have to limit yourself to just tangible products. There’s a huge potential in selling digital products as well. Many DIYers and hobbyists have their laser machines but lack the digital design skills needed to create unique items.

So, if you’re an illustrator or designer, try selling laser-cut design files. This can be a lucrative business model since you only need to create the design once and can then sell it indefinitely. Design files often sell well in bundles or when they’re part of a layered craft with multiple design elements.

As for platforms to sell these digital files, Etsy is a popular choice. It attracts an audience that appreciates handmade items, including crafters who need supplies. Another platform is Design Find by xTool. It hosts a large community of xTool users (future crafters) who are always looking for new designs to create and sell.

Hack 6: Upsell with Premium Packaging and Gift Wrapping

Presentation is everything. With a little makeover, you can make your products feel premium. Customers are often willing to pay more for beautifully wrapped gifts. This is more common in the busy holiday season when people don’t have time to wrap gifts.

Moreover, with a laser cutter, you can offer customized gifting options that accompany the main gift. Forbes reported that customers are willing to pay 25% extra for customized premium products. These small touches can make your items feel more special and personalized, which can encourage customers to spend a little extra.

You may also offer services for hand-written messages or maybe laser-engraved items.

Hack 7: Offer Free Customization to Attract More Buyers

McKinsey's 2021 survey, pointed out that 71% of consumers expect personalized communication and products from brands. A Salesforce study also concluded that 74% of Gen Z is into buying personalized products.

People love customized items that present their character or resonate with their personality. It could be an item featuring their name, a design, or a special message. This becomes a huge USP during the holiday season, as most sellers offer standardized products.

Free personalization can be a key marketing point in your product listings and on social media. This strategy not only attracts more buyers but also increases both sales volume and customer satisfaction.

Customers also appreciate receiving a more personal gift without any additional cost. It makes them feel valued and unique.

Hack 8: Create Bundled Gift Sets

A single small laser-cut craft may not impact your sales much. However, by bundling them into themed gift sets, you can substantially increase their perceived value and appeal to buyers.

Group and sell items together, for instance, it could be holiday-themed kitchenware sets with matching coasters, cutting boards, and wall decorations, all featuring intricate, coordinated laser-cut/engraved designs. Choose Christmas or Halloween themes as they provide a lot of options to curate items.

A thoughtful selection of the bundle is very important. Here’s how you can do it:

• Complementarity: Ensure that the items in the bundle complement each other in function or style. For example, a bundle for a coffee enthusiast could include a laser-cut wooden coffee pod holder, matching coasters, and a personalized mug.
• Theme Consistency: Stick to a clear theme that can appeal to specific interests, such as seasonal festivities or personal hobbies, which can drive the appeal of the bundle.
• Pricing Strategy: Set a bundle price that offers a perceptible saving compared to purchasing each item separately. If the individual items in a holiday decor bundle cost $50 when sold separately, then sell it at $40. So the consumer sees a financial saving and jumps to buy it.

RELATED: How to price handmade items?

Hack 9: Build Anticipation with Pre-orders

Do you know the best tool to grab attention? Pre-orders. Simply give them a sneak peek and explain that this must-have item needs to be booked in advance. This approach builds excitement and helps you gauge customer interest.

Use your laser cutter to create prototypes of your holiday designs, such as ornaments, décor, or custom gifts, and share these sneak peeks on social media. Just show enough to give customers a taste of what’s coming and encourage them to reserve their products before the holiday rush.

Offer early bird discounts so people know they are getting something exclusive and also saving money. With pre-orders, you can build anticipation, generate early cash flow, and reduce the stress of fulfilling last-minute holiday orders.

Hack 10: Stock Up and Perform Daily Maintenance

The holiday season is the peak time of the year for sales. Even newcomers have a lot to cash in. So, when preparing for festive events, make sure you have enough stock to meet demand. A surge in sales can happen unexpectedly, and without sufficient materials, you might miss out on potential profits.

Machine well-being is equally important. Regularly clean and check your laser cutter to ensure it is functioning optimally. Have your settings and designs prepared in advance to avoid wasting materials by adjusting laser settings during production.

Ensure you have all the machine accessories needed to expand your product offerings. For example, a rotary attachment for your laser machine can help you work on cylindrical items. Keep backup accessories on hand as well - damaged tools during peak production can disrupt your ability to meet order demands.

Consider creating templates or prototypes of your stock items to streamline the crafting process. Keep a checklist of items sold, stay current with trends, and estimate how many items you might need to satisfy rising demand.

Bonus: Hot-selling Handmade Products to Sell during Holidays

Finally, here are some laser cut crafts that have the potential for hot selling during their different festive seasons. We have also shared a breakdown of their prices on Etsy and the potential profits you can earn by crafting them yourself.

Products That Sell for Halloween

1. Book Basket Tags

Avg Price at Etsy: $8.00
Production Cost with xTool Materials: $1
Profit Margin: 87%

Boo basket tags cater to Halloween enthusiasts seeking personalized decor for treat baskets and gifts. You can laser-cut wood and give it shapes of pumpkins, ghosts, cats, or spiders for a festive touch.

On Etsy, the average price of such tags is $8. However, you can easily create them by buying xTool’s multi-colored MDF set. All the making, along with raw materials, would cost approximately $1, yielding about 87% profit.

2. Acrylic Ghost Earrings

Avg Price at Etsy: $11.00
Production Cost with xTool Materials: $0.07
Profit Margin: 99%

These lightweight, iridescent ghost earrings appeal to those who love quirk accessories, especially teens and young adults. Although they give a Halloween vibe to outfits, they can also be worn year-round by fans of spooky designs

About the cost, the acrylic ghost earrings on Etsy are available at $11.00. But, if you buy xTool Clear Iridescent Acrylic Plexiglass and then laser cut the ghost shapes, the whole making cost would be just $0.07. The profit is close to 99%.

3. Personalized Engraved Baby’s First Halloween Name Plaque

Avg. Etsy Price: $9.57 (small) to $15.07(large)
Production Cost with xTool Materials: $1.44
Profit Margin: 90%

This engraved name plaque is a keepsake aimed at new parents celebrating their baby's first Halloween. It can serve as a photo prop or nursery decor, capturing the special milestone.

Personalized name plaques are available at an average of $9.57 on Etsy. If you try crafting it with the xTool store materials, for instance, basswood plywood, and laser cutter, an item would cost $1.44 to make. You may calculate how financially rewarding the craft is.

4. Halloween Door Corner Witch Sign

Avg. Etsy Price: $19.09
Production Cost with xTool Materials: $1.39
Profit Margin: 92%

Door corner signs attract homeowners who need a festive charm on their entryways. It is also popular among families or hosts aiming to create a spooky atmosphere for the season.

A witch door sign, like this one, is priced between $19 to $20 on Etsy. If you buy a pack of 10 black MDF pieces from xTool Material Store, you can make multiple such décor pieces out of it. The per unit cost will fall around $1.39, giving you a profit over 92%.

5. Freshly Boo’d Coffee Sign

Avg. Etsy Price: $15.00
Production Cost with xTool Materials: $3.43
Profit Margin: 77%

This quirky sign suits coffee bars for fun and eerie. You can place it counter or shelves. It would be an attractive option for both home decorators and café owners.

This sign board utilizes three different materials, basswood, acrylic and black MDF. It’s average price on Etsy is $15. When made with raw materials from xTool, the unit cost is about $3.43. So, it basically sells at 4 times its base price. You can also offer personalization of text, and upsell.

6. Wicked Witch Window or Wall Decal

Avg. Etsy Price: $13.10
Production Cost with xTool Materials: $1.35
Profit Margin: 89%

Decals are a popular choice for their simplicity and dramatic effect. Another reason is their temporary nature, they can be easily removed after use. It’s mostly a party craft, so its demand gets high during the festivities.

A Halloween witch decal is just a piece of self-adhesive vinyl. Still, the end unit cost is about $13.00. If you take on self-adhesive vinyl from the xTool store and try making it yourself, you can make it under $1.5.

7. Disney Halloween Shirt

Avg. Etsy Price: $11.39
Production Cost with xTool Materials: $4.29
Profit Margin: 62%

Halloween-themed shirts are a top pick for adults and kids during the season. These shirts can be worn at family-friendly events, trick-or-treating, or casual gatherings. For customized and textured design creation, HTV is the common method in the industry.

With puff and glitter vinyl from xTool, you can prepare a customized Halloween shirt for $4.29. It can be sold on Etsy for $11.39, earning you over $7 profit per shirt.

8. Customized Candle Jar

Avg. Etsy Price: $12.00
Production Cost with xTool Materials: $2.13
Profit Margin: 82%

Candle jars are popular for both decor and gift purposes, especially during Halloween, where themed scents and funny phrases add seasonal flair. They are very popular as a gifting item due to the spooky ambiance they provide.

At xTool material, a pack of 15 candle jars is available for $31.99. After adding custom labels or laser-engraved designs, production costs around $2.13 per jar. These personalized candles sell for $12 on Etsy, offering an 80% profit margin.

9. Engraved Halloween Watch Band

Avg. Etsy Price: $7.99
Production Cost with xTool Materials: $1.00
Profit Margin: 87%

Personalized tech accessories, like engraved watch bands, are in demand for their utility and personal expression. Halloween-themed designs attract smartwatch users who want festive flair but general designs ensure year-round sales. Such items are also perfect for gift-giving.

If you run a personalized tech accessory store, this can be a profitable addition. xTool offers 3 laserable silicone bands for $2.99. After engraving, the production cost is under $1.00 per piece. It can be sold on Etsy for $8.

10. Halloween Hanging Bats

Avg. Etsy Price: $19.50
Production Cost with xTool Materials: $6.67
Profit Margin: 65%

Halloween wouldn’t be the same without the eerie silhouette of bats. This makes them one of the most sought-after decorations that no Halloween enthusiast wants to miss out on.

Creating these bats is simple with a design file and a laser cutter. Using black acrylic sourced from xTool, each bat can be crafted for approximately $6.67. These bats retail on Etsy for $19.50, earning you $12 per piece.

Products That Sell for Thanksgiving

1. Thanksgiving Decor Name Tags

Avg. Etsy Price: $3.98
Production Cost with xTool Materials: $0.52
Profit Margin: 87%

These wooden tags personalize each guest’s place and enhance the festive atmosphere. People are often in search for such items to decorate their festive tables, so they are usually in demand during Thanksgiving.

Such tags sell for around $4 on Etsy. But if you purchase birch plywood sheets from xTool material, and laser cut it. Then, our estimate says a piece can be made in just $0.52. You can figure out how profitable selling it would be.

2. Personalized Thanksgiving Cutting Board

Avg. Etsy Price: $33
Production Cost with xTool Materials: $16.99
Profit Margin: 32%

A cutting board is one of the best personalization canvases. You can engrave recipes, names, or thankful messages, transforming it into a piece of decor. For Thanksgiving, it is a thoughtful gift that celebrates gratitude.

It’s another profitable craft yet simple to make. You can get a plain beech cutting board at $16.99 from the xTool store. After laser engraving, it can be sold for over $33.

3. Baby’s First Thanksgiving Wood Card

Avg. Etsy Price: $18.74
Production Cost with xTool Materials: $0.39
Profit Margin: 98%

This craft is a decorative wood card, commemorating a baby's first Thanksgiving. It serves as a memorable keepsake and can be used for other major holidays like Christmas, New Year's, and Mother's Day.

You can make it using self-adhesive paper and basswood plywood. The cost to prepare each wood card is only $0.39. They sell for $18.74 on Etsy, allowing you to earn over $18 per unit.

4. Wooden Turkey Earrings

Avg. Etsy Price: $14
Production Cost with xTool Materials: $0.68
Profit Margin: 98%

The turkey symbolizes Thanksgiving and these earrings beautifully depict this festive icon. Normally, they are worn with Thanksgiving outfits, but their colorful style makes them suitable for other autumnal events.

These earrings are crafted from walnut sheets to achieve a rich, dark color complemented by accents from multi-colored MDF. The production cost for a pair is only $0.68 when sourced from our material store, and they retail for $14 on Etsy.

Products That Sell for Christmas

1. Personalized Reindeer Place Names

Avg. Etsy Price: $4.76
Production Cost with xTool Materials: $1.16
Profit Margin: 81%

Festivities like Christmas are all about family bonding, gatherings, and togetherness. This craft provides a way to depict that – a popular item among families.

You can construct the reindeer and its red nose using our multi-colored MDF. It would cost $1.16 and you can sell it for $5. They can be sold in bundles. So, the potential of earning is significant per consumer.

2. Custom Acrylic Christmas Tree Ornament

Avg. Etsy Price: $8
Production Cost with xTool Materials: $0.48
Profit Margin: 95%

Acrylic Tree Ornaments are a festive favorite due their clear, glossy appearance that catches the light beautifully. People adore these ornaments because they can be personalized to commemorate special occasions.

The customization aspect is the key selling point for these ornaments. You can choose the clear glossy acrylic from the xTool material store. It would cost just $0.48 to make a piece. But such customized ornaments can easily sell for $8 on Etsy.

3. Personalized Stocking Tags

Avg. Etsy Price: $10.50
Production Cost with xTool Materials: $1.00
Profit Margin: 92%

Stocking tags serve a practical and decorative purpose during the holiday season. You can label individual stockings so each person receives the correct stocking on Christmas morning. This is helpful in households or gatherings where multiple stockings are hung, as it can avoid confusion.

Each piece can be produced for just $1 using the black MDF from xTool. With the ability to sell each tag for $10.50 on Etsy, the markup is substantial – over ten times the cost of production.

4. Wooden Snowflake Monogram

Avg. Etsy Price: $36
Production Cost with xTool Materials: $11.66
Profit Margin: 65%

Snowflakes are associated with individuality since no two are alike, which makes this decoration particularly meaningful. A monogrammed snowflake can be used as a door hanger, or a striking piece of wall art during winter. There’s a significant proportion of homeowners who want to showcase their individuality and style – so it’s likely a hit at Christmas.

The average cost of such items is $36 on Etsy. However, such intricate piece can be prepared with basswood sheet and a laser cutter for just $11.66.

5. Christmas Card Holder

Avg. Etsy Price: $24
Production Cost with xTool Materials: $4.67
Profit Margin: 83%

This Christmas Card Holder stores holiday cards and keepsakes. It is practical for organizing and preserving greetings from loved ones.

It’s one of crafts can that earn you a profit of approximately $20 per item. Just get the plywood sheet from xTool store, engrave it and sell the item for $24. The making cost is just $4.67.

6. Engraved Rolling Pin for Christmas Cookies

Avg. Etsy Price: $19.93
Production Cost with xTool Materials: $7.99
Profit Margin: 61%

This craft is perfect for making customized cookies with festive designs. It is popular among families, especially with children who enjoy seeing the patterns appear on cookie dough.

7. Personalized Christmas Card

Avg. Etsy Price: $4.75
Production Cost with xTool Materials: $0.09
Profit Margin: 98%

Who doesn't love getting a personalized Christmas card? They keep the holiday spirit alive and show someone you're thinking of them. There’s still a huge audience out there who continues to follow this warm tradition. For making, we recommend using the double-sided glossy inkjet paper.

8. Snowman Christmas Door Decor

Avg. Etsy Price: $12.23
Production Cost with xTool Materials: $2.50
Profit Margin: 80%

Snowmen are universally beloved symbols of winter. Adding them to door, means greeting every guest cheerfully and spreading the holiday cheer.

This adorable snowman decoration costs only $2.50 to make using the white acrylic from xTool Store. And it sells for $12.23 on Etsy. You can do the math on profitability.

9. Decorative Freestanding Tree

Avg. Etsy Price: $5
Production Cost with xTool Materials: $1.33
Profit Margin: 85%

Decorative freestanding trees are versatile little accents perfect for holiday setups or as year-round decor. They can be placed trees on tables, shelves, or any small space that needs a touch of festivity.

These freestanding trees can be made with the multi-color MDF, and it would collectively take $1.33 to make one. But the selling price of each piece is $5.

This concludes our list of money-making hacks for crafters. Try them out and let us know which one worked for you. We look forward to hearing your success stories.

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