Wood projects, in a nutshell, refer to items crafted from wood, usually by hand, to fulfill specific customer requirements. If these projects are of high quality, they have the potential to be sold at a substantial price.
To create products to sell, all you will require is the wood, a saw, a drill, glue, and protective goggles and gloves. Although having woodworking skill is preferable, some simple wood projects only demand a basic level of knowledge.
If your intention is to earn money from your wood projects (which is recommended), you will also require a means of marketing and selling them on the internet, like having an online store or utilizing a marketplace.
Basic woodworking tools
Before starting any woodworking project, it is important to have a basic set of woodworking tools. However, it is worth noting that each project idea will require different materials, tools, and levels of expertise.
- Scrap wood, pine wood, or your wood of choice.
- Wood planks
- Wood glue
- Handsaw for cutting
- A cutting board or mat.
- A power drill
- A mallet or hammer
- Safety goggles and gloves if preferred.
Profitable wood projects that sell
1. Wooden signs
Wooden signs of varying shapes and sizes are available in abundance and are widely utilized by individuals both indoors and outdoors for various purposes. Consequently, wooden signs serve as an exceptionally effortless woodworking endeavor to embark on. For those aspiring to transform their woodworking pastime into a supplementary income-generating business, wooden signs serve as an excellent initial venture.
You may come across wooden signs used as decoration in people’s homes or at events such as weddings and parties, serving as welcome and directional signage. Offering personalized signs with a family’s last name, for instance, can be a thoughtful idea. Having a few high-quality wall signs hanging in your home is simply unmatched.
To create wooden signs for sale, you can employ various methods based on your abilities, materials at hand, and imaginative goals. Embrace your creativity while exploring the process of crafting wooden signs.
If you hand paint designs on wooden pieces or cut out letters and shapes from the wood itself, it is possible to create wooden signs using basic scrap wood that can be tailored to meet your target audience’s requirements.
2. Wood pallets
Wood pallets are utilized by shippers and ecommerce companies for the transportation of substantial quantities of merchandise. However, despite their effectiveness, these wooden pallets are seen as wasteful, yet they possess great potential as material for numerous woodworking endeavors that can generate income.
When considering wooden pallet projects that are profitable, the ideas listed below offer several options. All the items mentioned below are excellent choices for successful pallet projects.
- Planter box
- Decorative sign
- Coffee tables
- A wooden bench
- Chair or small bench
- Wooden business card holders
- Mail sorter/key holder
- Wooden serving trays
- Raised garden beds
- Bed platform
- Shelves
Wood Pallet Wonders, available on the Shopify store of Infinite Abyss, offers a variety of woodworking projects in its DIY guide. Additionally, Infinite Abyss sells exquisite handmade wooden serving trays and shelves, several of which are repurposed from wooden pallets.
It is important to consider shipping and handling when selling products online. This includes protecting the product during transit and minimizing shipping costs, especially for larger and heavier items. Research is crucial to evaluate profitability, as the products that sell the most might not be the most profitable when factoring in shipping costs.
3. Surfboards
Despite what you may believe, surfing is a sport that can be enjoyed all year round, resulting in a relatively constant demand. However, numerous surfboards are constructed using foam, fiber, plastic, and other materials that are not particularly environmentally sustainable.
David Dennis of Ventana Surfboards and Supplies has discovered that using wood is a method to enhance the sustainability of surfboard manufacturing. Additionally, this approach is more cost-effective, enabling potential reductions in prices and/or increased profit margins.
4. Wood turning
Wood turning is considered a more advanced set of skills in the field of woodworking. By mastering this technique, you can greatly increase the chances of your woodworking project achieving immense success. With wood turning, you can craft numerous items mentioned in this compilation.
To begin with, we need to establish the definition of wood turning: wood turning involves placing a piece of wood on a rotating axle and utilizing handheld tools, such as a lathe, to sculpt a symmetrical shape in the wood that is consistent all around the axis.
A&D Woodturning is focused on producing stair posts, newels, spindles, and similar items. They offer their products for sale on their website and additionally share an insight into the production process on Instagram. This strategy effectively showcases the craftsmanship involved in creating each item and reinforces the notion of acquiring a meticulously handcrafted product.
5. Picture frames
It is a well-known fact that people enjoy taking pictures (especially selfies!) and cherishing them as memories. Therefore, it is obvious that when individuals are interested in designing and marketing exquisite wooden crafts, they naturally consider picture frames as their initial choice.
Picture frames, which are easy to assemble, only require a basic skill level. Therefore, they are perfect for novice woodworkers who want to start with smaller projects before moving on to more complex ones.
6. Kitchen utensils
Kitchen utensils are a lucrative market. Additionally, by using quality wood and showcasing craftsmanship, they can also serve as a profitable wooden item for sale.
You can have just as much fun with kitchen utensils as you can with picture frames. There is a wide range of options available to mix and match in the kitchen, including forks, knives, spoons, spatulas, potato mashers, and many other utensils. In this creative space, the kitchen becomes a playground for your imagination.
7. Boxes
We predict that the world will always have a necessity for wooden boxes. Wooden boxes are widely used in the hospitality industry, particularly for packing wine and food, and they have an almost endless range of applications.
From decorative to functional (this writer acknowledges owning one for his vinyl records that he cannot live without), wooden boxes can be made with relative ease. Additionally, considering their immense popularity, selling them should be an even simpler task.
8. Children’s toys
Wood can be more than just practical – it can also be enjoyable, from train sets and racetracks to giant snakes-and-ladders boards.
When working with wooden children’s toys, there are endless possibilities for creativity and unique style. Unlike other items such as picture frames, chopping boards, and boxes, you are not restricted by their shapes or designs. Instead, the only limitations are what you can construct and, naturally, your own imagination.
9. Planters
It is not surprising that wooden planters are highly sought-after, as they have the ability to bring a warmth and charm to any outdoor space.
Luckily, they also belong to the group of chopping boards, picture frames, and boxes as they are relatively easy to make. Nevertheless, the larger ones can still fetch high prices – particularly if you apply a smooth varnish and add a set of wheels for enhanced mobility.
10. Birdhouses
Birdhouses are a popular garden ornament, whether they are used as a simple decoration or to attract local birds. Luckily for those interested in woodworking, birdhouses appear most attractive when made of wood and can be sold at appealingly high prices.
You’ll have plenty of opportunities to showcase your creativity, from birdhouses that draw inspiration from the hobbit holes of The Lord of the Rings to ones with a distinct cubist architectural style. The range of birdhouses available on Etsy is a great source of inspiration for exploring the limitless possibilities of your inventive ideas.
11. Chopping boards
If there is a place where wood consistently appears aesthetically pleasing, it is undoubtedly the kitchen. Therefore, there is no reason for your customers to not desire exquisite wooden chopping boards that complement their stunning wooden kitchen utensils.
Crafting chopping boards requires some skill in sanding, but they can be made relatively easily and sold at high prices. To offer customers a wider selection, create chopping boards in various sizes and bundle them in multi-buy packages.
12. Shelving
To create the effect of a room full of books and turn entire rooms of their homes into libraries, your audience will first need shelves. There isn’t much that is more wholesome than walking into a room full of books.
Prepare yourself by getting your nails and selecting the appropriate type of wood, such as pine or mahogany. Begin the process of constructing wooden shelving and simultaneously engage in the activity of selling them.
13. Wine racks
If there is anything more satisfying than entering the previously mentioned room filled with books, it would be having a lovely pinot noir readily available to relish it together with. However, the question arises regarding the precise location to keep those wine bottles. The obvious choice would be wine racks, and what could be a more suitable material for constructing them than wood?
Even though wine racks typically serve a single purpose, they can still come in various fascinating and distinctive designs. Therefore, don’t hesitate to showcase your imaginative skills and explore unconventional and marvelous ideas. The wine racks that are most groundbreaking will demand the highest costs!
14. Jewelry boxes
Wood is an ideal material for jewelry boxes due to its strong and long-lasting nature, along with its added touch of sophistication and style.
Jewelry boxes are considered one of the most technical wood projects to sell and make, due to their numerous moving parts and small compartments. We advise against woodworking beginners attempting to create these boxes. However, for experienced woodworkers who possess a steady hand and ample patience, jewelry boxes can prove to be very profitable.
15. Bath trays
Bath trays, also referred to as bath caddies, are both simple and ingenious. They are placed on top of a bath, providing a convenient spot for placing a tablet or electronic device. Additionally, these trays have circular grooves for easily keeping beverages or candles nearby. With the help of these trays, bath time becomes even more relaxing.
Additionally, they have a magnificent appearance when crafted from wood, making them a simple wooden project that can be sold and manufactured. Despite limited opportunities for creativity or expression, this is of little importance as your contented customers will not be concerned.
How to sell wood projects online: A quick step-by-step
If you have found inspiration for your product, you may be wondering how to start selling wood projects online. Here is a straightforward guide to help you get started.
Decide on your preferred online selling platform.
Regardless of whether it is through social media, an online marketplace like Amazon or Etsy, or exclusively through your own ecommerce store.
Establish your online store in a systematic manner by following a step-by-step approach.
We suggest using an ecommerce platform like Wix or Shopify, where you can construct your store according to your preferences, giving you ample creative control over its appearance. Subsequently, you can select a pricing plan to initiate your venture.
Fill your online store with products.
Afterward, you will have to populate your new website with inventory, which entails capturing high-quality product images and composing thorough product descriptions.
Calculate the prices of your products systematically.
Wood projects vary in terms of time and cost. Consequently, not all wood projects should be priced equally. It is important to establish prices that are suitable for you and that accurately represent the level of effort and energy invested in creating your wood projects.
Choose a payment gateway and establish shipping.
By accepting payments online and implementing secure and cost-effective methods, you will have the capability to ship your wood projects to customers.
Market your wood projects on the internet.
To spread the word about your exquisite woodwork, make sure to promote it extensively through various channels such as social media, your website, email, and content marketing. If your budget allows, consider investing in SEM (Search Engine Marketing) as well.
