Monopoly was my favorite game when I was growing up. When I was looking for artists for my craft gallery, I came across some interesting works of art that incorporated old Monopoly games. But even more intriguing was the ideas described in the video at the end of this article below. The hosts show how they picked up a used monopoly game at a yard sale for a couple of bucks.
They turned the little player objects into charm bracelets. They decoupage gift boxes with the monopoly dollars. They framed the Monopoly board and made it into a table top. Lots of ideas here of things to make and sell from just a few bucks investment and some creativity.
Repurposing things into arts and crafts is on the rise. When I ran a gallery in New Mexico, the most popular and most profitable items were made from recycled or repurposed materials.
When getting ready to open the store, I didn’t have enough inventory. So, I bought from a wholesaler of handmade items from Latin America. Among the top sellers was a line of purses made from recycled candy wrappers. At first, they didn’t sell. Then I raised the prices and shoppers started buying. It’s true that shoppers for handmade expect to pay more. If the price is too low, they think the item is machine-made.
A search on Etsy for “recycled” products brought back over 300,000 listings. But that doesn’t tell us which products shoppers are interested in. EtsyRank.com is a subscription service providing reports on keywords used by real buyers on Etsy and Google Shopping. (Search results reported below were gathered in late 2019. Your results will differ. Keyword search data changes daily.) Typing in the word “recycled” using EtsyRank’s Keyword Explorer tool revealed:
recycled sweater mittens: 19618
recycled art: 2321
recycled metal yard art: 786
recycled jewelry: 540
recycled tin earrings: 533
recycled leather bag: 516
recycled clothing: 497
recycled skateboard: 445
African recycled glass beads: 429
recycled earrings: 404
soy candles recycled: 335
recycled glass candle: 322
recycled wool mittens: 315
recycled wedding invitation: 308
recycled metal art: 287
recycled throw blanket: 260
The above comes from Start a Creative Recycling Side Hustle: 101 Ideas for Making Money from Sustainable Crafts Consumers Crave. The book gives examples of people around the world who are thriving in the gig economy selling recycled trash.
They have learned how to tap into the mega-trend: be a sustainable business:
* Consumers (almost 90% according to Forbes) want earth-friendly products that help save the planet.
* Etsy has seen a forty-three percent year-over-year rise in all categories for eco-friendly items (source: MarthaStewart.com).
* Lyst, a curator of fashion trends, has seen a 75% increase in searches for sustainable fashion since 2019.
* Repurposing trash not only supports a circular economy, it’s profitable. Multiple surveys report shoppers will pay more for environmentally friendly products (Fortune.)
If you are concerned about environmental issues, Creative Recycling describes side gig ideas to take you from waste bin to your wallet.
You will discover:
* Where to find thousands of recycled craft ideas to make and sell.
* How to get into and stand out on Etsy, Amazon, at craft shows and everywhere else.
* How to price your work for top dollars and avoid losing money.
* Master social media marketing to promote your side hustle on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest and Twitter.
* Discover the exact search terms buyers use to find sustainable products like yours.
* How to use influencer marketing to get your small business mentioned in the media.
* How to use the top crowdfunding sites to raise money to grow your sidehustle. And more!
If you like the idea of making money on the side while making a difference, then you’ll love James Dillehay’s examples of how to sell repurposed waste.
Buy Start a Creative Recycling Side Hustle today.
For more crafts to make and sell from Monopoly games, check out the very cool pins here.