Craft involves using the hands skillfully to make useful things or render services that can meet human needs. Most importantly, the majority of these crafts don’t require a huge start-up capital. Crafts bring extra income for students and if properly nurtured, can become a successful business. People pay huge amounts of money for crafts because they use them to adorn themselves, beautify their environment, or give them out as gifts. One of the advantages of learning a craft is that students can use it as a side hustle and earn while they learn.
LIST OF BEST-SELLING CRAFTS THAT STUDENTS CAN LEARN
Estimated annually earning potentials for these crafts are given in US Dollars, the reader can covert to his/her local currency. Although you can earn in US dollars depending on your skill level, your location and how well you are able to market yourself (talking about digital marketing).
- BEAD MAKING
Beadmaking or beadwork is the art of stringing beads to one another through a thin wire. Students can learn how to make necklaces, wallets, key chains, center tables, boxes, anklets, bags, shoes, and earrings using beads of different colors. It is a lucrative craft that can bring an annual income of $37,000. Beadwork doesn’t require much capital and it is a great way for students to showcase their design skills and creativity. This craft is easy to learn. Students can earn while they learn. They can sell their craft at a craft show or list them for sale at an online store such as Etsy. Learning beadwork usually takes a month and it can be done from the comfort of one’s home using tutorials or in training centers.
- ARTWORK/PAINTINGS
Artwork includes paintings, sculptures, drawings, and other aesthetic designs that are of commercial value. Artworks are used to beautify homes, and event centers or pass across a message. Artwork is a very lucrative job that can be sold online, physically in an art fair or gallery. Painting can be done anywhere the painter finds comfortable. Painters who are good at their craft generally make from $50,000- $200,000 per month.
- FASHION DESIGN
Fashion design is one of the best-paying crafts in the world. It involves designing, tailoring, and sewing clothes for all ages. Fashion designers make clothes for men and women. Learning fashion designing takes at least 3 months to learn. This craft can be done either at home or in the workplace. Students can learn fashion design from fashion training centers, online tutoring, and YouTube tutorials. Making money with this craft is easy as everyone loves good clothes and would do anything to get the best outfits themselves. Fashion designers make about $45,000-$70,000 per month.
- PHOTOGRAPHY
Photography is another lucrative craft that involves taking good pictures of people, landscapes, or objects. It is a great way to start making a skill. Learning photography in either a studio or online tutorials will take approximately 3-6 months, thereafter the newbie photographer can then purchase some photography equipment like a digital camera. The photographer can also start taking pictures with his/ her smartphone with added features from the camera and picture editing apps. Photographers make about $30,000-$75,000 annually.
- 3D PRINTS
3D printing is a unique craft that involves creating designs on objects with a 3D printer. 3D prints can be learned in a 3D training center, through YouTube tutorials, or online videos. 3D prints pay a lot as clients may need the prints for advertising or gift items. 3D prints can also be used to make toy models to sell to young children. 3D prints are quite affordable and pay well. Students can earn around $50,000 per month. The pay depends on the demands from clients. 3D prints can be done from the comfort of the student’s home.
- WIG MAKING
Women love looking good at all times. Wig making is a lucrative business because most ladies own more than one wig. Wig making means acquiring hair extensions and fixing them on wig caps. Wig making can be learned from hairdressing salons, online tutorials, and YouTube videos. Wig making requires little capital to start up and students can earn massively from this venture. Students can earn $15,000 and above. Wig-making can be done from the comfort of the home.
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- HAIR DO
Hairdo or hairdressing is another lucrative craft to learn as a large population of men and women love looking attractive. Learning a hairdo takes about 3-6 months. The business does not need a huge amount of capital to startup so students can take advantage of it. A hairdo can be done in salons or from the comfort of one’s home. A student can learn the latest hairstyles from hairdressing training centers, YouTube videos, and online tutorials. Students can earn about $60,000 annually from this craft.
- MAKEUP ART
Makeup is an act of applying medically enhanced beauty products to the face and some other parts of the body for beautification. Becoming a makeup artist usually takes about 3 months of intensive training. Students can earn between $60,000-$90,000 especially if they work for celebrities or in the entertainment industry. Students can easily learn from online tutorials. Students can quickly earn from clients who attend weddings, birthdays, school contests, bridal showers, and special occasions. The good part about makeup is that one can still earn while learning on the job. Makeup artists can either do the makeup application in their homes, client homes or photo studios.
- EMBROIDERY/ CROCHETING
Embroidery or crocheting is a money-making venture as most people love crocheted or embroidered items such as sweaters, infinity scarfs, ear warmers, hats, blankets, and baby clothes. Embroidery or crocheting takes at least 1 month to learn. Afterward, students can start up their embroidery or crocheting businesses with very little capital. The tools needed for crocheting and embroidery are very cheap. This craft can be learned from embroidery training centers, online tutorials, or YouTube videos. It can be done from the comfort of the student’s home and pays a lot ($20,000 – $60,000 per year). Students can earn more by selling their crocheted items in boutiques, or on online stores like Amazon and Etsy.
- FURNITURE MAKING / WOOD WOOK
Woodwork involves making different items such as cabinets and doors from wood. It is one of the businesses that moves fast and generates profits in no time. Learning the art of furniture making or wood craft can be done via online tutorials, YouTube videos, or furniture-making workshops. Furniture making or woodcraft is a very lucrative business. Once started, one can earn a lot (around $48,260 and above monthly) from it especially from furnishing a hotel or school. Furniture includes chairs, dining tables, and chairs, armchairs, stools, and sewing tables amongst others.
- INTERIOR DECORATION / POP
Interior decoration involves enhancing the aesthetic and interior look of a house. It is the art of decorating the home with fixtures that help beautify the home. Anyone who has a home needs the services of an interior decorator. Other fashion and hospitality companies such as hotels pay a huge sum of money for interior decoration and design. Learning interior decoration can take about 3-6 months. Students can learn from online tutorials, YouTube videos, and interior decoration training centers. Students can expect to earn around $57,000 and above annually.
- BAKING
Baking is a lucrative craft to learn as people will always want to eat food such as snacks and confectioneries when they get hungry. Baked products like pizza, biscuits, meat pies, cupcakes, and baked pies can bring lots of income for students. Baking can also fetch more money when students bake for birthdays, weddings, baby showers, and other events. Baking is a very demanding and stressful venture; hence it is important to plan your business with school life. Learning how to bake takes 3-6 months. Baking can also be learned from online tutorials and YouTube videos. Students can earn while learning. Students can set up online stores where they can take orders from clients. Baking can be done from the comfort of the home and requires very little capital to start up.
- LEATHERWORK / SHOE OR BAG MAKING
Leather work/shoe/bag making is a predominantly practiced craft. It deals with the use of leather from livestock as raw materials to produce bags, shoes, footwear, wallets, belts, furniture coverings, clothes, and football. Students can learn leatherwork from a professional workman for 3-5months. Students can list their products for sale online and earn about $60,000 monthly.
- PLUMBING
Plumbing is another lucrative handiwork that should be considered by students. It involves connecting water systems, connecting sewage tanks to toilet systems, and repairing plumbing problems (such as pipe leakage). Learning to plumb takes at least 3 months. Plumbers get paid a lot when their services are needed for house construction. The start-up capital for plumbing handwork is small. Plumbing is a highly demanded handwork and it pays very well. Students can make as much as $59,000-$100,000 per month.
- PHONE REPAIRS
Phones are extremely useful and beneficial. Hence when phones develop a fault, phone repairers are called upon to save the day. Most individuals can’t function without their phones; hence phone repairs can prove to be a very legit source of income. Learning how to repair phones can be done in phone repair shops, online tutorials, or YouTube tutorials. Learning usually takes like 3-6 months. Phone repairs pay as much as $30,000-$70,000 per month. Phone repairs can also be done from the comfort of one’s home.
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Crafts are a great way to offset living expenses and build a successful business that has the potential to create employment for others. Students should consider learning any of the above-mentioned crafts and explore their creativity.