Since the first industrial revolution, there has been a constant decline in the demand for blacksmiths. Back in the medieval days, blacksmiths were forging everything from horseshoes to farming equipment. But in modern times, there are several ways to start and run a profitable blacksmithing business.
Blacksmith’s workshop was essential to any locality. A blacksmith forged nails, shovels, armor, and even weapons.
If we talk about 2020, blacksmithing might not be the best option for a full-time career, but still, you can make a fortune out of it. Modern-day blacksmithing is about specialty projects, artistic blacksmithing, and crafting something different.
Do you want to earn some bucks from blacksmithing? Are you confused about how to start? Is blacksmithing profitable?
Let’s see how you can run a profitable blacksmithing business:
Online platforms
If you don’t want to go out a market your word around the country, post it on the internet. You can access 4.5 billion people just by a single click.
You can post your services on online platforms like Etsy, Artfire, and Amazon handmade. Countless blacksmiths are earning hundreds or even thousands of dollars through these websites.
Set up an online store
There is no need for you to rent out an expensive store in a well-off locality to showcase your work. It is one of the best ways to start with profitable blacksmithing business. Websites like Shopify and WooCommerce allow you to create your very own virtual store.
Pro tip
What to post on your online shop? You can visit Etsy or any other similar website to see what is trending. You can offer to forge the same items in your digital workshop or maybe something only you can forge.
Although the profession has been more about face-to-face dealings, it is 2020! Nobody wants to get up from their comfy couches.
Post ads to generate traffic
If you have set up an online store, it is time to generate some external traffic.
Traffic? What traffic?
In simple words, you want people to visit your store and browse through your items. To do so, you can advertise on social media through ads, promoting your services, and engaging with your audience.
Quick fact
With over 3.8 billion social media users, social media marketing is an effective way spike a profitable blacksmithing business.
Create your own website
If you have developed yourself as an experienced blacksmith, you can go for your website. Although handling it would be difficult compared to an online store, but you don’t have to pay any commission or service fee.
You can boost it through social media marketing, Facebook ads, eBay auctions, and google ad network. You will have to spend some money on advertisement but if orders exceed the marketing cost, what else do you want. These features will help you start and run profitable blacksmithing businesses.
Reaching out to potential customers through the internet is a lot easier than traveling around to showcase your work.
You can go for the traditional method
If you are good at in-person dealings, what’s better than reaching out to local businesses. You will have to spend a lot less at marketing, but your interpersonal skills should be on point.
Traditional dealing is more about long term customers as there is a lot less room for new ones as your workshop is restricted to the said locality.
Conclusion
Blacksmithing has become more of a hobby or a part-time business rather than a full-time job. There are several ways to run profitable blacksmithing business. The industrial revolutions and mechanized manufacturing have significantly reduced the demand for handcrafted metal pieces.
But still, blacksmiths can forge some of the most artistic and exquisite metal works; and people are willing to spend hundreds of dollars to include them in their room décor.
If you are an aspiring blacksmith, there is a lot of room for you to grow. Think of ways you can revolutionize this business because you are the future.