If you’re reading this, it is very likely that you love creating resin art and would like to learn how to turn it into something profitable. But, on the other hand, maybe you’re new to resin art or looking for a side hustle or ways to make some extra money and stumbled across a resin business by accident.
Whatever the case might be, you’re probably at the point where you are asking yourself a bunch of questions like whether it is possible to turn resin art into a profitable business. Is starting a resin business worth it? Is there a market for resin art?
And the answer to all of these questions is a resounding yes. Not only is it possible, but it is also not as difficult as you might think.
To turn your hobby or love for resin art into a successful and thriving long-term business you’ll need a combination of three things—a little business planning, a whole lot of marketing, and most importantly, the ability to create art pieces that resonate with people. If you’re a bit lost and all of this sounds a bit overwhelming, don’t worry we’ve got you covered!
To kickstart your resin art career, we’ve compiled a list of some helpful tips that you can use to start your resin art business and set it up for success. In this article, we’ll answer the question: how to start a resin art business?
We’ll talk you through all the steps that you’ll need, from the planning phase to setting up shop and even making your very first sale online. These easy-to-follow steps can take you from an employee to a business owner in a matter of weeks.
So, without further ado, let’s dive right in!
1. Plan It All Out
Like any business, planning is the first step to starting a resin business. This is probably the most important step that will determine the success of your business. This is also the step that most people tend to either overlook or that they don’t pay much attention to.
However, it is crucial for any business to go through the first phase where you plan everything out. And by everything we mean EVERYTHING! Think of this phase as the foundation or blueprint of your business. Here you will define everything from your business idea to your business and financial goals, your branding, your measurements of success, etc. Though this part might be a bit time-consuming, there’s no need for it to be complicated.
There are a lot of very helpful resources online that can help you to draw up a pretty professional and neat business plan that you can hold on to and follow during the different growth phases of your business.
Some websites even offer free printables that you can print, fill in, and then file. This really takes the guessing work out of business planning and will set your resin art business up for success.
2. Research the Market
Next, you’ll have to do some market research.
The field of resin art is very broad and can range from anything like furniture to something as intricate as handmade jewelry or keychains. Take some time to research other people or businesses that have found success in selling resin art products.
What are they selling? How many people are selling the same product? Is the market saturated or is there a shortage? Are there any gaps in the market?
Gathering all of this information is very important and will help you come up with some good resin business ideas. You’ll want to find the sweet spot between something that has high demand, but where the market is not already over-saturated – meaning there’s not a lot of competition.
For example, resin keychains are one of the most saturated markets in the world of resin art. This means that there’s a lot of competition from businesses that have already established their brand – which can be hard to compete against.
Home decor items, on the other hand, are a market that is less tapped into, with high demand! This makes products like resin coasters or cutting boards an easier market to get into.
Don’t be afraid to let your mind wander a bit! Try to incorporate something that you love or that inspires or interests you into your artwork. Be creative! The sky is your limit…
Tip: A good market to always look into is weddings. People love the idea of having a unique wedding that leaves guests with a lasting impression. If you can find a way to display your resin art pieces, or decor in this scenario, in a way that is elegant and romantic, you might just be able to make this your niche.
In this scenario, there’s no need to limit yourself to only the wedding decor. You can create thank you gifts for the guests or even make a memorable art piece from the bride’s bouquet. The possibilities are truly limitless!
That brings us to our next step; to find your niche!
3. Find Your Business’s Niche
We’ve all heard the phrase “find your niche,” but what does that mean? Simply put, to find your niche means to find a product or service that you can sell to a small group of people with the same needs or interests.
By finding a niche for your business, you can target customers who would be interested in buying products from you.
For example, if you make resin jewelry, your main audience may be young women between the ages of 20-30 years old. This means that any marketing materials or content should focus on this type of person: their interests, goals in life, etc. This will allow you to market more effectively, which will lead to more sales.
Now that we know what a niche is and how it works to help us reach our target audience, it’s important to know what kind of resin art sells the most. Let’s look at some good niches for starting a new resin art business:
- Handmade Jewelry
- Customized decor items (i.e., wall hangings or coasters)
- Unique sculptures
- Furniture
As a next step, it’s important for you to actually choose the products that you are going to be creating and selling. This is an important step in starting your business.
You want to pick a product that you’re good at and enjoy creating, but also one that will appeal to customers. It’s also helpful if the product is popular and in demand.
Selecting a variety of sizes and colors will also make it easier for customers to find what they need, which means more sales for you!
Tip: Don’t discard a resin art business where the “product” that you offer is actually a service.
If you are very skilled at resin art, why not consider a resin business where you teach your hard-earned skills to people who would like to learn them? Offering resin art classes in-person or online on platforms like Youtube, Patreon, or Skillshare can be very profitable. They are also high in demand!
Another avenue to consider is doing commissioned pieces. The biggest plus here is that you know that you already have a buyer for the product that you are creating. But the downside is that you might end up creating art that you do not enjoy!
4. Get To Know Your Target Market
After understanding your products and what you offer, it’s time to start finding the right market for it.
Next, you’ll need to identify your target customer or audience. This is a marketing term you’ll hear time and time again, and that’s because it’s so important!
When you figure out what your ideal client is like (the person most likely to buy your work), you’ll start to understand how you can promote your pieces more effectively.
Here are some questions that you can ask yourself to help you understand and find your target customer:
- What age group would your art appeal to?
- What income level can afford your pieces? Are they meant to be collectors’ items, or can anyone afford them?
- What are your client’s goals, and how can your art help to achieve these goals?
- Where do your customers buy art? Online? At a market? Or somewhere else?
- Where do your buyers live, hang out, or travel?
- Do your buyers have any hobbies?
- Is there a connection between your art and your buyers?
- Who is your competition (selling similar art pieces), and how is their work priced?
- What kind of marketing would be the most effective (social media/ email/ word of mouth?)
The answers to these questions will give you a better idea of who you will make your art for. Marketing directly to your target audience will save you a lot of time and money and it will also lead to more sales.
5. Create Your Inventory
Now that you’ve decided on the products you will sell, it’s time to create your inventory!
To start off, it might not be wise to have too many products. A better option might be to dip your toe into the water and first test the waters. By this, we mean that it might be better to have about 10-15 pieces ready to sell and then see which products are higher in demand.
More often than not, clients are full of surprises and tend to like the pieces that we think very little of. That’s why it’s wise to first get an idea of what your clients are actually buying.
6. Price Your Work for Profit
Pricing artwork is one of the things that most artists struggle with. And figuring out how to make a profit can be even harder. But that’s the goal of starting a business, right? To make a living from it.
Success all comes down to your business strategy, and a great deal can be attributed to how you price your art. So how do you price your art? Is there a general rule of thumb? A recipe to follow?
Unfortunately not, but there are some guidelines that you can follow to price your art for success. Firstly, it’s essential to know your costs and to ensure that your price covers all your expenses. It’s important to include your time, materials, and shipping.
If you are renting a space to display your work or where you create your work, it’s essential to include this expense as well.
For your time, decide on a reasonable hourly wage that you would feel comfortable with and work it backward. The US Department of Labor lists the average hourly wage for fine artists as $33.18. Use this number as an estimate for your hourly wage.
You can also use some of the popular art pricing formulas to price your work. You can find the art pricing formulas with a simple Google search. There are also a lot of Youtube videos from some remarkable artists online that give some helpful tips and formulas for how they price their art.
Factors that might come into play when selecting a pricing model for your art are the size of your work, the labor time and costs, or your skill level.
However, no matter what pricing formula you choose just make sure that it is geared for a profit and that your pricing is consistent for all your art pieces. Don’t undersell yourself!
Tip: If you are still unsure about how to price your resin art, look at what your competitors are asking for their art and use that as a reference.
7. Assemble Your Supplies
With resin art, your supplies will vary depending on your chosen niche. However, regardless of the style or niche you choose, you’ll likely need:
- A mold/molds
- A mold release
- Casting resin
- Mixing cups
- Safety gloves
- Protective glasses
- Mixing cups
- Stirring utensils
- A heat gun or blow torch (to remove bubbles)
- Resin colorants (for bright and vibrant colors)
Also, be sure to work on a flat surface in a well-ventilated area. The fumes of the resin can get quite intense! It’s also important to remember that you will be working with chemicals, so it’s always wise to check the safety requirements of the chemicals that you will be working with.
8. Set up Shop
Finally! The step that we’ve all been waiting for – setting up shop!
We highly recommend selling your art online in stores like Resin Creator Market, Shopify, Amazon Handmade, or Etsy.
Though we won’t be able to advise on which one is right for you, many resources are available on all of these platforms to help you choose the right option. However, each has unique features and limitations, and it’s essential to consider where your business is heading before selecting an option.
If you would like to have a physical shop, the most important factor to consider is location. You want to find a place that has good visibility and access to customers as well as safety and security. If your shop will also be your studio, your workspace will also need appropriate ventilation to keep you from inhaling all the fumes.
Another factor to consider is lighting! Select a place that is well-lit so that you and your customers can view the pieces properly.
If none of these criteria are met in any given space, don’t be afraid to look around until one does meet them all!
9. Take a Lot of Photos!
When you’re starting out, you’ll want to take a lot of photos of your work to post on your new website and on all of your social accounts.
You need to be able to show potential customers and buyers what they’re buying into: The product itself, as well as the story behind it. What better way than through images? Maybe even include a few video clips of your art space and how you create your pieces. It’s all about building trust and relationships with your clients!
Tip: Since photos are supposed to be representing your art online, you have to ensure the photos are a good representation of the art that you’re selling. It’s important to have good lighting to ensure that the picture is well-lit and clear.
Try taking photos from different angles to get an interesting composition.
10. Build Your Social Networks
Not only do you need a website, but you will also need a social media presence.
Social networks are a great way to build your resin art business. You can use them to promote your work, find customers, connect with other resin artists, and find inspiration.
In the early stages of your resin art career, you might not have much more than a basic social media presence. But that’s okay! A little bit goes a long way in terms of making connections and getting your name out there.
Just remember that if you want people to follow you on social media (and trust me – you do), then it’s important to post regularly and interact with people who like or comment on posts from time to time.
11. Get the Word Out
Today it is nearly impossible for your business to take off without an online presence. And yes, this includes marketing!
In fact, this includes marketing on social media platforms- which is the leading marketing platform in this day and age. It’s not necessary to market on ALL social platforms, but it is important to think about what audience you’d like to appeal to (your target audience) and focus on these platforms.
Tip: Select two or three social platforms, based on where your target audience spends most of their time, and focus on marketing your work there. Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Pinterest are all good options for marketing.
Remember to be real and transparent with your audience. Customers tend to be more willing to buy a product when they not only find a piece that resonates with them but also when they feel connected to the artists. Tell a story with your art. Maybe give the backstory of where your love for resin art began or what inspired you to create the piece.
The biggest advantage that small businesses have is interpersonal connection – use this to your advantage!
Tip: Ensure that you have a cohesive online presence. Think about what branding colors you think would fit your brand and stick to them.
Pick a resin business name and decide on a logo and the tone of voice you’d like to communicate in. Will you be informative? Energetic? Transparent? These are all things to consider when deciding on how you are going to market your products.
Final Thoughts
As with any business, there’s a lot of work to do and some risk involved. Starting a resin art business will take time, planning, effort, and dedication.
But if you have a good product and are willing to put in the time and effort, resin art can be a rewarding way to make money. If you do decide to start your own resin art business, we hope that this article will help ease the process.
If you’ve enjoyed the article, feel free to share it with your fellow resin art enthusiasts.
