So you want to start a resin art business, but you’re not sure where to start. You’re in the right place, we’ll provide you with the knowledge to help you start your own resin business.
Resin is a growing trend in the arts and crafts world. You see celebrities like Blackpink’s Lisa, BTS’ Jungkook, Bella Hadid to Dua Lipa wearing accessories like resin rings and bangles. It’s a trend that’s reminiscent of the early 2000s, and the brightly colored statement piece is now making a comeback.
It’s not just pieces of jewelry that are becoming popular, resin art is booming thanks to the influence of social media. You’ll find that more people are buying resin kitchenware, centerpieces and other products as well.
What exactly is resin?
There’s a variety of different resin materials. Synthetic resin is made of carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, sulfur and oxygen among other things. On the other hand, the natural resin is a composition that’s sourced from plants.
Synthetic resin is a form of unprocessed plastic but is much stronger than and impervious to water damage. Part of what makes it popular is that it can mimic metal and stones in terms of looks at a much cheaper price.
Humans have been using resin for thousands of years, dating back to ancient Egypt where resin is used for the mummification of important figures. It’s also used to make incense in the Medieval period for churches and other places of worship.
What can you make out of resin?
Here are some of the things that you can make for your business.
- Rings
- Earrings
- Bangles
- Necklaces
- Pendants
- Phone beads
- Sunglasses
- Centerpieces
- Paintings
- Keychains
- Bowls
- Plates
- Cake stand
Resin furniture is more difficult to make and can be more lucrative as this type of furniture can cost thousands of dollars.
How to Start a Resin Business
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Choose your products
First, you have to decide which products you’re going to make. Resin art is so broad and can offer you many different choices; you just have something specific that’s going to define your brand.
Having a particular specialty and being good at it will gain your customers’ trust and will bring you the exact clients you’re targeting to serve. If you maintain a general “jack of all trades” status with the goal of casting a wider net, you may have a difficult time convincing clients to choose you over a competitor who specializes in a product they’re looking for.
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Do your market research
It’s easier to do market research with the internet and social media. You get to hear what people are saying just by looking at comments, blogs, or tweets.
Look at the market before you decide on anything as you want to know if people would want to buy the products you’ll be making and selling.
What you’re looking for is an area where there is high demand for the product, but fewer competitors.
Resin jewelry is popular but depending on the area, it could be quite saturated. On the other hand, not many are creating resin-made kitchenware, like dishes, trays, coasters, so you may also want to look into that.
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Pick something you’re passionate about
When you’re creating a product you’re deeply passionate about, from custom resin necklaces to .resin kitchenware, you’ll be inspired to put in the time and effort necessary to succeed commercially.
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Gather your supplies
Supplies selection becomes less complicated once you choose the products you want to offer.
There are many different supplies for different kinds of products. But you’ll need the following materials no matter what you’re making.
- Casting resin. Casting resins are used for containers like a mold. They make it easier to pour large volumes into molds without bubbles because they’re thinner.
- Stirring utensils. Stirring utensils are very important in making sure that your resin cures without any sticky spots. Plastic stir paddles are one of the most commonly used stirring equipment.
- Mixing cups. You need to get accurate measurements when casting resin so that it will cure or harden properly. Mixing cups help you get all measurements right so that your resin solidifies. Get a resin mixing cup that has measurement lines so you know that you’re getting accurate measurements.
- Safety equipment. Resins are still chemicals so it’s important to stay protected with safety equipment like gloves and goggles or glasses. These will protect your eyes and hands from accidental splashes.
- A surface for casting. You need a level surface area that’s also flat on the surface. An even table will make sure your molds are straight.
- Wax paper or other protective mat. Expect things to get messy. You’re going to experience some resin splashes here and there so protect other surface areas by using wax paper or tarpaulin. In any case that a resin spilled, you can let it cure then peel it afterward.
- Molds for resin. Make sure that you have your resin mold to pit your mixture into. Ensure that your mold is compatible with resin to prevent any melting or cracking.
- Mold release. This material helps release your castings from the mold. Twisting your mold can warm or crack it and reduce its lifespan, so it’s good to have a mold release to prolong the life of your resin mold.
- Resin colorant. Make sure that you get colorants that are designed for resin as this will help you produce more consistent results.
- LED light. Bubbles can be annoying when it comes to resin art. To ensure that you’re detecting all the bubbles, you need a bright LED light in your workroom.
- Heat tool. Another equipment to help you eliminate bubbles is a heat gun, this is much safer than using propane or other kinds of flame.
Read up on resin art before you begin. You’ll be working with chemicals, so it will do you much good if you’re as knowledgeable and prepared as possible.
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Build your inventory
It’s time to prepare your inventory. Once you know what products you’ll be making and you have a list of things you need to create those products, stock up without creating too many products.
You’re still in the experimentation phase, so you need to get a feel for which items customers will be more interested in.
Start with a dozen or two ready-to-sell items and see which products will sell more. After that, you’ll get an idea of which items you should be making more of.
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Create your store
After getting everything ready, think about the best place where you can sell your products. A physical store is traditional, but with online shopping on the rise, think about building a virtual store.
Create a professional website, this way, you’ll be more in control of what you can show and how you want your products to appear to customers. Browsing and checking out will be much easier for your clients, too.
Once you have a solid website, don’t forget to create social media accounts on platforms where your target audience are.
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Invest in marketing
Marketing lets you stay competitive and visible. Paid ads, social media, SEO, influencer marketing, and outreach programs are just some of your options.
Social media may be a good start if you’ve built up a decent following, from several hundred to thousands. If you have sufficient funding, look into partnering with influencers. Start with micro influencers, those who have 10,000 to 50,000 followers, to get exposure for your resin creations. Sometimes, micro-influencers are followed by bigger celebrities; when they see something that catches their eye, they may want to get a piece for themselves and promote it as well.
SEO is highly recommended for marketing because customers won’t be able to know about your resin products if you’re not showing up on search results.
Make and Sell Resin Art
Resin art has been around for a long time and can be a lucrative source of income. There are just so many things you can do with them, and more ideas can pop up in the future as well. It’s flexible, durable, aesthetically pleasing and versatile.
When you’ve done your research, learning more about the business and implementing strategic marketing, your resin art products could help you earn well.
