Hi guys! Is your yarn stash getting out of control? As fiber artists, or yarnies, we have probably accumulated a lot of yarn over time. And chances are, that while we have been trying our best to work away at this stash, we can’t use it up as quickly as we would like. In this post, we are going to talk about 10 tips for selling yarn on Facebook Marketplace, to help you de-stash and put some money back in your pocket. Whether you are selling brand new, never been used skeins, or partially used skeins, you need a strategy; so without further ado, let’s dive in.
Why Should I Sell my Yarn?
As much as we love yarn – it is the primary tool that we need to create beautiful things – at some point, it can get overwhelming. This feeling of overwhelm can put a damper on our love for creating, so it might be time to look into selling, donating, or swapping some of our yarn. Here are a few reasons for selling yarn:
- You feel overwhelmed when looking at your yarn stash.
- You no longer have any place to store your yarn – you have run out of shelves, bins, bags, and floor space.
- There are 3+ year old skeins in your stash that you still haven’t used. Ask yourself: Will I ever use it? Be honest. If the answer is no, it’s time to get rid of it.
- You want to buy new yarn, but either do not have the room, or the budget. If you no longer love some of the yarn in your stash, selling it will help you get money back, so you can buy new yarn. Alternatively, if you do not have room for new yarn, selling your old yarn will make space for some new skeins.
Use Your Stash Instead of Selling It
Making a dedicated effort to use up your stash is always an option when you need to clear out space in your home. Eventually, I will put together a pattern round-up for stash buster projects and one-skein projects from other crochet designers, but in the meantime, here are some that I have shared on the blog: scrap yarn projects and one skein projects. I hope they give you some inspiration!
Benefits of Selling Your Yarn on Facebook Marketplace:
- Make some of your money back, so you can save it or use it to buy new yarn!
- The yarn goes to someone who will love it AND use it.
- Helps you declutter and clear out space in your home.
- When you have less yarn (and yarn that you will actually use) in your stash, your creativity will return!
- When you let go of things you no longer need, it creates a sense of calm within your space and your person!
Pin this Yarn Review for Later – Here
10 Tips for Successfully Selling Yarn on Facebook Marketplace:
First of all, why Facebook Marketplace? Selling yarn on Kijiji, Craigslist, eBay, or Etsy, just never seem to work for me. Yarn is not a popular category on Kijiji; I do not have access to Craigslist in Canada; and you have to take shipping fees into consideration when selling on eBay or Etsy. Facebook Marketplace is a fairly popular selling platform these days, and I find that I can sell most of my yarn and crochet supplies in 1 – 2 days. So here are some strategies that have worked well for me:
1. Take Clear Photos in Natural Light (From all Angles):
This seems like a no-brainer, but I cannot count the number of times that I have seen people take dark, dimly lit pictures, and use those to advertise a product they are selling. First of all, dark pictures do not showcase the true colour of the yarn, and they are not appealing. So chances are, people will skim right over your listing, without clicking on it.
Tips:
- Wait until the sun lights up your space to take pictures.
- Use a light coloured background to showcase the yarn: white piece of poster board (bristol board), light gray sweater, or light coloured carpet.
- Do not overcrowd your image. Keep it simple by just showcasing your product on a backdrop.
- Take pictures of the yarn from different angles to instill confidence/trust. Try photographing the yarn label, so that it is clear and easy to read.
- If your photos do not accurately capture the colour of the yarn, edit the pictures using a photo editing app. I use Snapseed, a free app that you can download, to change the brightness, contrast, saturation, and details.
- To photograph a bundle, place all the skeins (or as many you can fit) in the first photo, and then take additional pictures to show each product or colour available in the bundle. You can have up to 10 pictures in each listing!
1. Photographing a Bundle of New Skeins (Example)
2. Photographing the Label of the Yarn (Example)
3. Photographing a Bundle of Partially Used Skeins (Example)
2. Use Tags, Brands, Titles, and Categories
You are more likely to sell yarn, if people see your listings. To ensure that you optimize each listing, use tags, brands, titles, and categories. Facebook Marketplace gives you these options, so take advantage of them.
Categories: If you are selling yarn, you will need to select the “Hobbies” and “Arts and Crafts” categories. This way, when people choose these categories to filter their search, your listing will be included!
Brands: Whether you are selling one skein of yarn or an entire bundle, list all of the brands included in your listing. If you are selling Red Heart Super Saver Yarn in the Colour Green, list “Red Heart Super Saver” as a brand. This means that if someone types in Red Heart Super Saver into the search bar, your listing will pop up!
Tags: Tags are anything that you think customers will search for when looking for your listing. Here are a few examples to get you thinking: crochet, knitting, yarn, red heart super saver, grey yarn, worsted weight yarn, lion brand, etc.
Titles: The title is one of the most important parts of your listing because it is the first description that people see. Clearly state what you are selling in your description.
- New Skein Example: “Yarn: 1 Skein of Red Heart Super Saver in Green” or “Twinkle Baby Yarn by Mary Maxim in Colour White (7 Skeins Available)”
- Partial Skein Bundle Example: “4 Skeins of Red Sparkle Yarn Bundle” or “Grey Yarn Bundle”
3. Price Yarn to Sell
Choosing a price for your listing is one the hardest parts of selling. Most of the time, you will not get all of the money that you put into a yarn, back. It sucks, but it’s better to get some money back in your pocket, especially if the yarn has been sitting in your stash for years, and you know you will never use it.
My one piece of advice is price the yarn to sell. Your customers know how much yarn costs; they buy it at craft stores, like Michaels, Joann’s, Hobby Lobby, Walmart, etc. So they come to Facebook Marketplace to find deals, and if your listing is priced too high, they will skip right past you.
Think about the yarn that is available in your area. What is the regular price? Can you use a coupon to get a discount on this yarn? If so, what is the listing price after tax and the discount? This is the sweet spot! You should try to price your yarn just below this discounted price, to entice customers.
Example: When selling yarn like Red Heart Super Saver that you can find at Walmart for $3.99+ tax, and no coupon is available, I price the yarn at $2 – $3/ball, depending on the colour. You could also price the yarn at $3.50 or $4/ball, but then give customers a discount if they buy multiple skeins of it.
If you are selling a yarn that is in high demand and is always selling out, you can price it at regular price, or a little higher than retail price, while still keeping it under what a customer would pay to have it shipped from the yarn store.
Example: Caron Latte Cakes is always selling out of the Earl Grey Colour. It is priced at $11.99 + tax, but with a 30% off coupon from Michaels, you can buy it for $9.48. When the yarn is sold out, the only options are to buy it from Michaels online, with a $14.99 shipping fee, or buying it from Amazon for $20+. If you know that this yarn is not currently available in the stores in your area, you can price the yarn at $12+.
When selling partial skeins of yarn, try to bundle it with other similar yarns or colours to make it more enticing for customers. As soon as people see bundles and multiple skeins of yarn at discounted prices, they are interested. Never charge full price, and always give customers a great deal because this yarn has been used.
Example: I sold 20 partially used balls of blue yarn (with different brands and weights) for $20.
4. Listing Description: Everything a Buyer Needs to Know About an Item
The listing description is a way for you to provide additional information to the customer. Think about all the things that you would like to know as a buyer:
- For new skeins, include the brand/type of yarn, yardage, colour, weight, recommended hook size, and more details about the price.
- For partially used skein bundles, list all of the yarn included, and the total price.
Providing the customer with all of the information up front, gives them an idea of what they are getting, builds a sense of trust between you, and there are fewer questions to answer. I guarantee that you will only get questions from interested buyers!
5. Do Not be Afraid to Stand Your Ground on the Price
If you have priced the yarn well, do not be afraid to stand your ground. The customer knows they are getting a good deal when they message you, but they still want to see if they can get a better one. Stand your ground if there is no wiggle room on your end. This is especially true if the item has only been listed for a few hours; it is still early, and someone is bound to come along that will pay what you are asking.
For example, a customer wanted to buy 2 yarn bundles and some crochet hooks. The yarn bundles came to a total of $14, and he asked me if he could get them for $10. I knew that he was getting a good deal, so I said, “Perfect! These are available if you’d like to pick them up. The total is $14 for both.” He said, “Okay,” and proceeded to message me about crochet hooks.
6. Be Available and Flexible with Your Time
When you list something on Facebook Marketplace, be available that same day and/or the next day. People have short attention spans and if they have to wait a few days, or even a few hours to pick up an item, the chances of them backing out or cancelling, increases.
Bonus Tip: Ask the customer when they would like to pick up an item. Once an exact time or a time-range has been set, (ex. “I’ll be there after 2”) ask them to message you when they are on their way. This holds the customers more accountable, and it gives you the freedom to do things around the house, without being glued to the window.
7. Porch Pick Up vs. In-Person Pick Up and When To Do This!
Now that people are trying to keep 6 feet apart at all times, there is a thing called the, “Porch Pick Up Option” on Facebook Marketplace. This is when the seller leaves the item on the porch, and the buyer comes to pick it up; the buyer and seller have no interaction. This is a great option for introverts (me), or people who are wary of getting too close to strangers during these times. However, the porch pick up option should only be used under the following circumstances:
- The customer has paid you via PayPal, Venmo, or Interac e-transfer before picking up their item. This means that you have been paid before they take the goods.
- The customer ordered a $5 and under item. In this case, the customer will agree to leave the money they owe you ($5 and under) in the mailbox or somewhere on the porch. With this option, you are putting your trust in the customer to pay you. I would recommend being home during the time of this pick up, so it holds the customer more accountable.
You should not use the porch pick up option for expensive items or bundles over $5 that the customer has not already paid for. It is just too risky in my opinion, and as much as I would love to trust people, you need to be cautious.
8. Tell the Customer the Total Price Before Pick Up
This tip is for customers who are buying multiple items from you. When a customer is interested in one of your listings, they tend to look at your other listings to see what you are selling. A customer might order 3 bundles from you, so make sure that you message them, saying something like, “Perfect! I will have the blue, grey, and red bundle ready for you. The total will be $50. When would you like to pick these up?”. This let’s them know that you have their order organized, and reminds them of the total price, so there are no surprises or math errors.
9. Get organized!
To avoid getting overwhelmed with orders and pick-ups, have everything ready in a plastic bag with a price tag on it. Placing the yarn in a plastic bag makes it easy for customers to carry it, and keeps the orders organized. Consider writing the person’s name on the bag as well, so you don’t get confused between the orders!
10. Choose an Alternative Pick Up Location
If you are wary of people knowing where you live, I get it. Instead of giving customers your address, arrange to meet them at a local Tim Horton’s or common public place, to exchange money and products. It’s important to do things that make you feel comfortable and safe, while yarn selling on Facebook Marketplace.
Check out some fun and budget-friendly crochet patterns on the blog.
Thank you for reading!
It’s always nice to de-stash, but selling yarn on Facebook Marketplace can be overwhelming. I hope these tips help you sell your new and used yarn with ease.
Have an amazing day!
Love, Dayna
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