This is an excerpt from the full article by guest author Brigitta Kral hosted at MyShoppingConnection.com
We’ve heard it all before: shopping handmade supports an individual artisan (or a team of artisans), not a faceless conglomerate. Buying handmade goods helps to bolster local economies and can often be more eco-friendly. Yadda. Yadda. Yadda.
Even though I sell my own handcrafted goodies online and have a bit of a handmade-shopping addiction, I worry that the reasons listed above aren’t compelling enough for the average shopper. Sure, we all want to teach the world to sing in perfect harmony. But, we also want high-quality goods, fabulous customer service, a gift sure to be loved (if a gift) and yes, a good price. It just so happens that buying handmade gives you all of this and a bag of chips.
No worries, dear shopper, you needn’t just take my word for it; read on and see for yourself.
Bargains Galore
When considering the price of a handmade item, it’s important to take into account the creative process, the cost of materials and the quality (think sweatshop vs. individual artist). These factors can make it difficult to compare the prices of handmade goodies to those mass produced.
At the same time, there are plenty of bargains to be had on handmade items, especially in the shops with a dedicated “sales” or “clearance” section.
Click here to read the full article and explore all the shops Brigitta recommends…
Images courtesy of and copyrighted by Tobyboo, A Spoonful of Chocolate Hope, bdb world and YourOrganGrinder.
Researched and written by Brigitta Kral, an artist and freelance writer, editor and teacher who recently starred in her nephew Toby’s 6th birthday party as Master Yoda. Sadly, our heroine was unable to match the light saber skills of her nephew (and Toby’s older brother) Matteus who played the role of Darth Vader.
Check out Brig’s handmade gifts, including cufflinks, in her Etsy shop BrigaBauble. Follow BrigaBauble on Twitter; Become her friend on Facebook.
