Table Linen Product Line to Sew & Sell (free patterns)
This article outlines the products I would include if I were launching a business selling table linens.
I could sell this product line:
- at craft shows
- on Etsy
- through retailers
This product line includes the different types of products that help build a successful business that:
- Targets a niche – all products work together and target the same customer.
- Increases units per transaction – more customers buy multiple items from you.
- Encourages repeat customers – if a customer loves multiple items in your line, they’ll come back to buy again and again.
1 – Core Products
Core products are the primary offerings within a product line.
They’re mid-priced (within the price range of your product line) and tend to be more popular products (either popular with consumers in general, or more popular within your product line).
You’ll likely sell the most of these products and/or they’ll make up the bulk of your revenue.
Placemats
These would be matching or coordinating sets of 4, 6 or 8.
Napkins
These sets would match or coordinate with the placemat sets and be sold in the same number groupings: set of 4, 6, or 8 napkins.
Hot pad set
I would offer sets that include a small, medium, and large hot pad in colors/materials that match or coordinate with the placemats and napkins.
2 – Upsell Products
Upsell products are the most expensive in your product line and are how a committed customer can “level up”. Levelling up may be buying the better version of one of your core products, or simply buying a more expensive product.
You’ll likely sell fewer of these items.
Casserole Cozy
A casserole cozy would be the most expensive item in the product line and is more of a “luxury” item, rather than an essential.
Better placemat sets
These placemats may be better because they’re:
- insulated
- reversible (2 placemats in 1)
- spill-proof/waterproof/stain-proof
- better quality materials (e.g. if your core product placemats are made with quilting cotton, your upsell placemats may be made with linen)
Table runner
A table runner can be considered an upsell because it will be a more expensive item and is a way for a customer to uplevel their table decor.
These table runners should match/coordinate with the placemats, napkins, and hot pad sets.
Other options include:
- Offering larger sizes (e.g. table runners may be your core products and upsell may be longer lengths in the table runners, or you may offer small placemats as your core product and large placemats as an upsell)
- Customization – you may offer customization, such as monogramming the napkins.
3 – Add-on Products
Add-on products will be the lower-priced products in your line. Shoppers may buy them on their own, but they’re designed to be added to an order.
Coasters
These should match the core/upsell products and be sold in sets of 4, 6, and 8.
Napkin rings
These may be made by you or purchased wholesale and marked up to retail for you to resell them and make a profit.
Entry-Level products
Entry-level products will also be lower in price, but more ideal to buy and use on their own.
These items are designed for the shopper who:
- has just discovered your business and needs more time to research/build trust to spend more money with you.
- doesn’t have the budget to buy an item from the mid-high range of your prices.
- needs a lower-priced gift (that feels complete).
Bowl covers
I would bundle these bowl covers in sets. Either a set of two or three. They may be the same size but vary in color/print, or be different sizes (e.g. small, medium, and large).
Casserole Covers
These could also be sold in sets, however, size variation would be a better option, as most people don’t need to cover multiple large casserole dishes at a time. Perhaps square and rectangular casserole dish covers would be a good set.
5 – Bundled Products
We’ve already created bundles of products since most consumers buy placemats, napkins, and coasters in sets.
However, adding a bigger bundle and discounting it slightly can encourage customers to invest in the full table setting.
For example:
- Bundle #1 – placemat set, napkin set, coaster set
- Bundle #2 – placemat set, table runner, hot pad set
- Bundle #3 – napkin and napkin ring set
These bundles can be in sets of 2, 4, 6, or 8.
Play around with your bundles and base them on what people tend to buy together.
If several people check out of your online store with placemats and their matching coasters, bundle those together and sell them at a slight discount.
Collections
To add more options and bulk up your product line, you can create collections.
You may offer multiple product collections at the same time (I find 1 – 5 collections are manageable for a small handmade business), and/or you may launch new collections throughout the year.
For example, I may launch new collections 2 times a year:
- Spring/Summer collection
- Fall/Winter collection
And I may have 2 collections within each season:
- Spring/Summer collection
- Light greys and white
- Beige, cream, and white
- Fall/Winter collection
- Dark greys, black, and tan leather
- Chocolate brown, gold, and cream
All collections should appeal to your target market and follow your signature style (which is explained in How to Sew & Sell Table Linens that Stand Out), but each collection will target the different preferences within that target market (e.g. people who prefer browns over greys).
Now that you know what you’re selling, it’s time to make sure you can price to profit and figure out how to make it stand out.
