Let’s turn 2023 into your best year yet as you build your dream handmade business from scratch. 

So, in the spirit of the new year, we’re all for exploring new opportunities that will lead us to have a special, fulfilling, and happy year ahead. If you’ve been thinking about putting up a business but don’t know the specifics yet, read this post.

Last year, I wrote a blog entry about the Top 10 Trending Handmade Products to Sell in 2022. This year, I’m going to be helping you decide what unique handmade products you can sell and earn well from it.

Now, I get it. You’re excited about the idea of building a business where you can sell your creations. But at the same time, you’re terrified of what could go wrong. 

Starting a business is scary, especially if you don’t have any background in running a business.

There are a lot of limiting beliefs about starting a handmade business. 

Maybe you’re thinking that you’re not good enough, or that people might not find your art impressive, or that your idea is a little bit too unique and it won’t sell. 

You’re afraid to fail and lose time, money, and energy.

I understand where you’re coming from. I get it, I’m a perfectionist myself and I always want to start right. 

10 Handmade Business Ideas You Can Explore This Year

So, to help you get overthinking out of your system and figure out your first step in building your handmade business, I have prepared a list of 10 handmade business ideas you can explore this year. I put this list together after seeing which handmade products are growing in terms of popularity on Etsy and on Tiktok. 

Let’s get started.

1. Amigurumi plushies

Amigurumi plushies are popular crochet products. They are so cute! 

The word “amigurumi” is a blend of two Japanese words: ami, which means crocheted or knitted, and nuigurumi, which means a stuffed doll. So, basically, amigurumi are 3-dimensional crocheted stuffed toys.

People of all ages love plushies. Children love cuddling with them, while adults love making or collecting them. 

Plushies have been around for a long time, and these are still popular handmade products that people love buying.

2. Tufted rugs

Speaking of soft and fluffy, tufted rugs are also good products to sell. These tufted rugs can be made by hand or using a specialized tufting gun. 

I even saw some people making tufted coasters, cushion covers, and even mirror frames! 

These are amazing ways to add your personal touch and a splash of color and texture to your home. 

It improves your overall interior design and gives off a comfortable and cozy vibe. Tufted rugs are trendy items that people find nice to have since they’re fuzzy, warm, and luxurious.

3. Flower arrangements

Flowers never go out of style, whether dried or fresh. 

Everybody loves a pick-me-up, and receiving flowers generally does the trick. You can create colorful bouquets, corsages, centerpieces, and ornaments. 

Floral design is easy to learn, and there are so many designs you can make. We get flowers simply because they’re pretty, and because we want to feel happy. 

Whether it’s a gift for any occasion, a fresh home decoration, or just to completely change our mood, flowers do the trick. 

Flower arrangements are timeless handmade products you can sell, and the demand only grows.

4. Stickers and stationery

Did you know that putting up a sticker business opens up a whole new world of possibilities? 

The sticker market is huge as there are many sticker enthusiasts and collectors out there. 

By designing stickers, you can express your unique art style. Some sticker products you can sell are planner stickers, deco stickers, and wall decals.

People love using stickers to personalize their favorite things like journals, phone cases, and laptops. Stickers are typically used to express personalities and display passions and interests. 

These are great conversation starters too! For example, when you see someone whose phone has a sticker with a Brooklyn Nine-Nine reference, you automatically find something common between you two and maybe strike up a conversation.

Stickers represent something in a person’s life.

This is especially true for Gen Z, but even Millennials and Gen X love collecting stickers too.

5. Resin lamps

Resin is a popular medium nowadays, and the typical handmade resin product you’ll find online are coasters, trinket dishes, and keychains. 

So why not specialize in resin lamps or nightlights to bring a unique idea to the table? If you’re already comfortable using resin, then all you need besides that is lamp base wiring. 

Resin lamps provide mood lighting that people enjoy when relaxing. 

Typically, resin lamps also feature unique and beautiful works of art that, when lit, produces interesting shadow figures. 

There are a lot of reasons why people love resin lamps, as the resin art market is a steadily growing niche.

6. Unique scented candles

Scented candles sell well. 

For many years now, people have loved buying and using scented candles. 

But instead of selling basic scented candles, why not explore creating candles with unique designs and scents? 

There are a thousand different techniques out there to create beautiful styles. 

For example, you can add other media like dried flowers or even crystal chips into the candle vessel or you can use intricate silicone molds to create realistic designs. 

Designing candles is a fun experiment, and people seem to love having pretty candles to decorate their homes.

Also, since everything that happened in the last couple of years, more people have bought and collected scented candles to bring a bit of peace into our private spaces as we were all stuck at home. 

Scented candles help reduce anxiety and set the atmosphere to improve your mood, and the demand for scented candles isn’t ending anytime soon. 

7. Tinted lip balms

I know lip balms aren’t new, and there are a lot of businesses out there selling handmade lip balms. 

Since these are essentials in everyday life, lip balms are another product that has proven to sell well and are likely to continue in the future. 

So to stand out in the lip balm space, you can explore making hundreds of different-flavored, scented, and tinted lip balms. 

You can also even create your own signature formula. Plus, people love buying organic and handmade lip balms rather than commercial and synthetic ones. 

8. Printed tote bags

Design your own art prints and get them printed on tote bags. This is a stylish yet practical way to get your art seen in public.

As a form of self-expression, people love buying wearables with designs that clearly express their personalities. 

Other products you can print your designs on our pouches, coin purses, t-shirts, and even face masks.

Tote bags are usually collected since there are millions of tote bag designs in the world. 

The only thing you need to stand out in the tote bag competition is your original designs and focusing on a specific niche.

If your target audience loves your designs, you will be able to sell a lot of tote bags and grow your business easily.

9. Bento cakes

Now, this one is for food business owners out there! 

Who says “handmade” can only be home decor and wearables? 

With the rise of bento, mini, or “lunch box” cakes, you can put your creativity to good use by decorating these small cakes using different-colored frosting for trendy designs too.

Because of what’s been happening for the past few years, we’ve stopped hosting big celebrations so having smaller, more minimalist cakes became more appropriate. 

We didn’t have to have a cake big enough to feed a lot of people anymore, so having these smaller, cuter cakes was more inexpensive and fun to eat.

10. Enamel Pins

Another product that you can design on your own is enamel pins. 

These tiny pins are usually overlooked accessories that can subtly personalize your whole look. Create custom designs and pin them on jean jackets, backpacks, or hats.

Enamel pins have become popular in the fashion industry since it adds a lot to your outfit.

It makes you feel cute and expressive. Like stickers, enamel pins also allow people to display their personality – only this time, in the form of tiny fashion accessories.

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There are a lot of opportunities you can tap into in the handmade business space. So why not try exploring a little bit more on platforms like Skillshare, Youtube, and Udemy. 

You can learn new skills you can use in building a business – whether these skills are creative like painting and crocheting, or administrative like marketing and sales. 

These can be a big help when you’re still starting out. It’s so easy to learn specific skills online nowadays so it’s up to you to carve your own path. 

Which of these handmade business ideas do you think you’ll explore this year? Let me know in the comments. 

And don’t forget to check out my YouTube channel for more great handmade tips and tricks.