The world of laser engraving is buzzing with creative possibilities, and for many entrepreneurs, it's a gateway to a profitable side hustle or even a full-time business. But with so many laser-engraved products flooding the market, finding the most profitable niches and items can feel like searching for a needle in a haystack.
"What SELLS well?"
"I want to start a laser business. What should I make?"
This blog post will unveil the most profitable laser engraved products that are really SELL in 2024, giving you a head start on identifying lucrative niches and crafting a winning strategy. We'll also dive into actionable marketing tips to help you stand out from the crowd and attract customers eager to buy your unique creations.
Get ready to unlock the secrets to success in the exciting world of laser engraving!
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Are you looking for a quick selling product to make with your laser engraver, especially in this back to school shopping season? Custom pencils is a simple laser engraving project that sells really well and, more importantly, helps you grow your laser engraving business. This strategy has been proved effective. Curtis, a seasoned maker, sent out a text message to six people advertising 10 custom pencils for $10 each, with a name on each pencil. Within five minutes, he sold out his entire first run!
The important thing isn't necessarily how much you make from the pencils themselves. While $10 for 10 pencils isn't a fortune, the real value lies in what you gain.
The critical concept here is that if you sell a customer something for $10, it's going to be much easier to sell them something for $50, $100, or $200 later on. You're building relationships and creating a loyal customer base.
If you're looking to start a laser engraving side hustle or go full-time, here are a list of easy and profitable products you can start laser engraving today to bring in some extra cash and jump-start your business.
When choosing the RIGHT laser engraved products to sell, consider the three key factors:
Here are 12 product ideas that fit the bill:
1. Slate Coasters
Slate coasters are affordable, stable, and ideal for a 20W laser. Their natural stone appearance adds a touch of elegance, making them a popular choice among consumers.
Pricing strategy: price each coaster between $5-$10, or offer them in bundles of 4, 6, or 8 to encourage higher sales.
Tips for selling: offer discounts for bulk purchases to attract customers looking for value deals.
2. Round Slate Coasters
Round slate coasters are easy to display, well-rated, and affordable. Their unique shape can appeal to a broader audience.
Pricing strategy: similar to square slate coasters, price these at $5-$10 each, with bundle options available.
Tips for selling: consider offering custom designs at a higher price and provide bulk purchase discounts to boost sales.
3.Slate Cheese Boards
Slate cheese boards are great for entertaining, have a unique appearance, and are easy to engrave. They are perfect for adding a personalized touch to any kitchen.
Pricing strategy: sell each board for $10-$15, depending on the size and complexity of the engraving.
You can also offer custom engravings with names or quotes to make the product more appealing.
4. Aluminum Business Cards
Aluminum business cards are ultra-thin, easy to engrave, and leave a lasting impression. They are ideal for professionals looking to stand out.
Price single-sided cards at $1-$1.50 and double-sided cards at $2-$3 each. Other tips for selling?
Provide pre-designed templates for quick engraving and offer a free engraved card with another product purchase to incentivize customers.
5. Anodized Aluminum Business Cards
Thicker and more durable, anodized aluminum business cards have a luxurious feel, making them ideal for high-end clients.
Pricing strategy: sell these premium cards for $5-$7.50 each. You may target professionals and businesses that need a high-quality, professional look.
6. Anodized Dog Tags
Durable and available in various colors, anodized dog tags are perfect for keychains, dog tags, or medical alerts.
You may price each tag between $3-$5, and offer a variety of colors and chain options to cater to different customer preferences.
7. Stainless Steel Bottle Openers
Affordable, durable, and a popular party item, stainless steel bottle openers are a hit at any event. Sell each opener for $5-$10. Besides, you can offer custom engravings with names, dates, or humorous sayings to add a personal touch.
8. Stainless Steel Flat Bottle Openers
Compact and easy to store, flat bottle openers come in various colors and are convenient to carry.
Price each opener at $3-$5, and you can also provide a variety of colors and designs to attract a wider audience.
9. Wooden Serving Trays
Wooden serving trays are versatile and can be customized with logos or designs, appealing to a wide audience.
You can offer free laser engraving with a purchase and consider partnering with local businesses like barbecue retailers to expand your market, with the price of $10-$15 for each.
10. Custom Engraved Cutting Boards
Custom engraved cutting boards are popular kitchen items that can be personalized with names or designs, offering a good profit margin.
Price each board between $15-$25, depending on the wood type and size. You may offer a variety of wood types and sizes, and add value with services like free engraving or complimentary board butter.
11. Laser Cut Wooden Toys
Wooden toys appeal to families, educators, and gift-givers and can be customized with designs or personalized messages.
You sell each toy for $5-$10, and offer a variety of designs and themes, and consider selling them as DIY kits to engage creative customers.
12. Personalized Leather Goods
High-demand items like personalized leather goods can be customized with names or initials and offer a good profit margin.
You can offer a variety of leather types and colors, and consider selling them as sets to increase sales.
That is, DOING BUNDLES!
You can sell them in a package of 4 or 6 or whatever amount.
Doing a bundle is a great way to push quantity as well. People also feel like they are getting a better value.
If you're planning to start a laser business and aren't sure what to sell, getting inspirations from other successful sellers might be a good way.
We list these product ideas and business insights shared by ChadsCustomCreations. Chad started his custom product line, allowing him to leave his teaching career and dive full-time into a thriving laser engraving business.
Here are the 25 lasered products and ideas he has made and sold successfully:
1. Keychains: Realtor Favorites
Chad kicked off his business with keychains made from maple, mahogany, and walnut, which quickly became popular among realtors.
2. Coaster Sets: Quick and Easy
Coaster sets are not only quick and easy to make but also cost-effective. Chad sprays them with Minwax satin lacquer to add contrast, making them stand out.
3. Pallet State Cutouts: Etsy Hits
These state-shaped cutouts made from pallets gained traction on Etsy, with laser engraving enhancing their appeal.
4. Cutting Boards: Personalized Perfection
Pre-made cutting boards are personalized with laser engraving, making them perfect gifts and popular items.
5. Business Signage: Repeat Orders
Local restaurants and stores kept coming back for custom business signage, a testament to the quality and appeal of Chad's work.
6. Rolling Pins: Baking School Special
Chad's engraved maple rolling pins became a hit with a local baking school, adding a unique touch to their baking tools.
7. QR Code Plaques: Modern Touch
These oak plywood QR codes are a modern solution for restaurant tables, combining functionality with a rustic charm.
8. Bootjacks: Unexpected Popularity
Engraved bootjacks turned out to be surprisingly popular, showcasing the diverse possibilities of laser engraving.
9. Military Plaques: Honoring Service
Custom plaques for challenge coins, including those for the Coast Guard, Army, Navy, and CIA, highlight the versatility of Chad's engraving skills.
10. Photo Op Props: Realtor Essentials
Simple yet effective, these props are used by realtors during photo sessions with clients, adding a professional touch.
11. Stainless Steel Dog Tags: Durable and Stylish
High-quality engravings on stainless steel dog tags offer durability and style, making them a sought-after product.
12. Customized Drinkware: Popular Choices
Tumblers, Yetis, and coffee mugs personalized with laser engraving are always in demand.
13. Engraved Boxes: Endless Possibilities
Custom wooden boxes offer endless design possibilities, making them a versatile product in Chad's lineup.
14. Christmas Ornaments: Seasonal Hits
These high-demand seasonal items bring festive cheer and are a consistent seller during the holiday season.
15. Custom Signs: Client Communication
Profitable custom signs are created through effective client communication and digital design, ensuring satisfaction.
16. Leather Products: Fashion Forward
Engraved leather patches for hats combine fashion and personalization, appealing to a broad audience.
17. Educational Tools: Learning Fun
Custom puzzle pieces for children’s learning make education fun and engaging.
18. Bottle Caddies: Party Favorites
Engraved bottle caddies are a popular item, perfect for parties and gatherings.
19. Trophies and Awards: Celebrating Success
Custom trophies for schools and organizations highlight achievements in a unique and memorable way.
20. Custom Stamps: Branding Tools
Unique stamps for branding offer businesses a personalized touch, enhancing their marketing efforts.
You'll likely find some of his top sellers are similar to the high-profit products we discussed. It seems like we're on the same wavelength!
Laser cut games have seen a surge in popularity on ETSY, with customers looking for unique, handcrafted items. Various types of laser cut games are available on ETSY, such as board games, puzzles, card holders, and dice towers.
But the big question remains:
IS IT PROFITABLE?
Exploring existing laser cut game sellers and see how they are doing their business may help answer the “profitability” question.
By analyzing these examples and identifying potential improvements, you can also carve out your niche in the laser cut games category.
No1. Decision coin
A 3mm wooden coin with engraving options on both sides. It’s a simple yet clever product with 12,101 reviews, indicating high sales volume and customer satisfaction. Customers can choose between two types of wood and different engraving styles. It sells at $3.10 for blank coins and goes up to $12 for fully personalized coins with a gift box.
Thoughts? Low-cost items like this greatly help generate sales and reviews, boosting your shop's credibility and visibility.
No2. Personalized Game Piece Holders
This is a popular board games by Wooden Essence Co. This shop has 6,839 lifetime sales and a five-star average review.
The shop offers custom-designed holders for Settlers of Catan pieces, made from 6mm walnut plywood or hardwood and 3mm birch base. The top piece includes cutouts for game pieces and spaces for engraving. This simple product has gained 686 reviews, all five stars, with praises of product's design and functionality.
For legal considerations, you should be careful about using trademarked names in listings, which may cause IP issues.
No 3. Stacking Cats Puzzle Game
The stacking cats puzzle game features thick pieces of ½ inch plywood, with clean, intricate cuts. The base is a thinner 3mm piece, and the game includes engraved instructions.
Mostly five stars ratings highlight the product's quality and the seller's excellent customer service.
If you are considering this niche, you may expanding the range to include different animals and specific dog breeds, to attract more niche audiences.
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Pros |
Cons |
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Laser cut games are popular on Etsy and make great gifts. |
The low barrier to entry means there’s a lot of competition. |
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Most products are made from simple materials like 3mm or 6mm plywood. |
Many products are priced between $10 and $40, so efficiency in production is key. |
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You can easily build on existing game concepts without infringing on copyrights. |
Creating accessories for trademarked games may cause legal issues. |
Laser cut games on Etsy present an exciting and potentially profitable niche. While there are challenges, the benefits of creating unique, customizable products for a growing market make it a worthwhile venture.
“Is there money to be made in laser engraving?”
What if I told you there were shops on ETSY right now selling laser cut products for hundreds, or even thousands of dollars?
These three ETSY shops are just doing that!
Instead of playing the high-volume, low-price game, they are selling their products pretty well at even high prices, due to their unique designs and craftsmanship.
Philip Roberts Art sells stunning layered wood art pieces, with prices ranging from $545 to $4,299, some even reaching up to $12,000. His products features intricate designs, multiple layers of plywood, stained colors, and distinct square-edge borders, appealing to art enthusiasts willing to pay a premium for unique pieces.
Dromota offers beautifully crafted laser-cut dollhouses priced at $100 to over $2,000, available as both finished and DIY kits.
These features, including simple designs, thin plywood construction, detailed painting and wallpaper, attract families, collectors, and those who enjoy DIY projects.
Dan Shop Designs specializes in deity masks made from layered wood art, targeting a specific niche market of those interested in deity and headdress masks.
These shops offer inspiration for creating your own unique and profitable laser cut products. Don't be afraid to think outside the box and target a specific niche. By focusing on a particular customer base, you can command higher prices and stand out from the competition.
Being laser-focused on your products and marketing is crucial for startup maker businesses.
The decision on what niche and product you're going to make and sell will drive all of your other business decisions.
You may get niching down wrong, or you don't know how specific the niche need to be.
For example, don't just identify your niche as "woodworking" or "custom laser engraving" while these are technically niches what you really need is a super specific Niche.
Here are some examples of broad niches and their specific ones:
Broad niche: handmade jewelry.
Specific niche: custom laser engraved locket necklaces with coordinates of significant locations.
Broad niche: laser engraved wine glasses
Specific niche: personalizing wine glasses with engraved poetry or favorite literary quotes from book lovers.
Broad niche: handmade candles
Specific niche: long burning soy candles with specific fragrances designed to help people relax while meditating.
So, go as specific as you can, so your laser business becomes easier to identify and reach your ideal customers, which can stand out in a crowded market.
This process will help you determine the best laser engraving product ideas for your business. It's the same process that successful business sellers followed to increase their sales by 400%!
This is the foundation of your laser engraving business. If you're not passionate about what you're creating, it will show in your work, and your customers will notice. Think about what you enjoy making, what excites you, and what you'd love to spend your time creating.
If you love woodworking and have always enjoyed making unique cutting boards, this could be a good starting point.
Think about the things you've made in the past that people have loved. Maybe you've made some custom gifts for friends and family that were a big hit. Or perhaps you've participated in craft fairs and received positive feedback on certain items.
If you've made a few custom engraved pet tags for friends and they've been a huge success, this could be a sign that there's a market for this type of product.
This is where you need to do some research. Is there a demand for the product you're considering? Are people willing to pay a price that allows you to make a profit?
If you're considering making custom cutting boards, research the average price of cutting boards on ETSY or other online marketplaces. Also, consider the cost of materials and your time to determine if you can make a profit.
Once you've considered your passion, popularity, and profitability, you'll likely have a few potential laser engraving product ideas. Take some time to reflect on these ideas and choose the one that excites you the most. This is the niche that you'll be focusing on for your business.
The potential earnings for selling laser engraved products vary greatly depending on your niche, pricing strategy, marketing efforts, and sales volume. Some laser engravers make a few hundred dollars per month, while others make thousands. It's important to do your research and set realistic expectations.
Starting a laser engraving business can cost anywhere from a few thousand to tens of thousands of dollars, depending on the equipment and scale of the operation.
Yes, with the right equipment and safety measures, laser engraving can be done at home, making it a viable option for home-based businesses.
The best materials for laser engraving depend on the product you're making. Some popular options including wood, metal, glass, acrylic, leather, and plastic.
When pricing your laser engraved products, you need to consider the cost of the materials you use, the time it takes you to design, cut, engrave and assemble your products. Prices of similar laser products on ETSY, Amazon, Shopify, and other online marketplaces, and the profit margin can also be taken into consideration when pricing your products.
The best laser engraver for starting a laser engraving business depends on your budget, the types of products you plan to make, and your desired production volume.
For beginners focusing on metal engraving, like iron, steel, copper, bronze, brass, and aluminum, a fiber laser engraver such as EM-Smart Basic is a good fit, especially when you are starting small and on a tight budget.
20W fiber laser engraving machine for stainless steel, aluminum, silver, gold and others metals. Portable and affordable.
Learn More >You can sell your laser engraved products online through platforms like ETSY, eBay, and Amazon Handmade, and promote them on social media like Instagram and Facebook. Don't forget to connect with customers locally by participating in markets, craft fairs, and partnering with shops.
The time it takes to engrave an item depends on the complexity of the design and the material.
Here are some tips for starting a laser engraving business, such as, do your research, and create a business plan before you get started. Choose a laser engraver that meets your needs and budget, Learn the basics of laser engraving is also important.
Remember, this is just a starting point. You may need to adjust your niche as you learn more about your target market and the industry. But by following these steps, you'll be well on your way to finding a profitable niche for your laser engraving business.
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