Craft and Home Business Ideas

One of the most amazing things about the hugely successful MySpace website is that it’s success is in large measure down to the activity of the members.

The members of MySpace create the content (which is regularly spidered by the Search Engines), the members routinely promote the site to their friends, colleagues and associates without MySpace having to do anything. There have been a lot of products recently which have focused on how an Internet Marketer can tap into the potential of MySpace.

However, whilst there are miliions (80+ million at the last look) of users of MySpace the biggest problem is that they are a very diverse and untargetted group of people. Therefore tapping into the potential involves an immense amount of work!

Having said that though for the Internet Marketer Social Network sites do offer an opportunity to absolutely dominate any niche that you are involved in or want to be involved in.

But you might be think that creating a site with the capabilities of MySpace seems like an overwhelming prospect! But just imagine if you were able to bring together the people in the niche you want to dominate by creating a MySpace clone for that Niche and properly target the members?

There is a solution which does not involve you spending tens of thousands of dollars in having a site created for you by a coder. The people at phpFox have put together an affordable (you can buy or lease the product) price and it’s an amazing product. Take a look at it by clicking on the phpFox link.

Craft and Home Business Ideas

Quilting is a huge hobby industry right now. While in the past, many quilted purely for pleasure and only gave their quilts to family members, people are now seeing lots of business opportunities. With advances in technology, it is easier than ever to sell your quilts for profit.

But making a quilt, especially making a full size quilt is a big investment of time and money. You have to buy the fabrics and spend a great deal of time designing, sewing and quilting. You want to be sure that there will be a market for the quilts you design. Here are a few simple suggestions of things to keep in mind when trying to decide on a quilt decide you hope will sell.

1. Size Matters

When just starting out on your homemade quilt business, you might want to start with smaller quilts. You can start out trying to create lap quilts and wall hangings. See how those sell and what your most popular color and patterns are – this will make it easier to know what kinds of full quilts to design when you take that next step.

2. Tradition

Though there are always new and exciting techniques and patterns to try out, a lot of your customers will be looking for traditional types of quilts. They are purchasing something that will hopefully stay in the family for generations so they will be looking for a quilt that is timeless. Your customer will probably not be as excited by these new trends as you are, but you should try any new items you feel comfortable with. The majority of customers are looking for a family heirloom, not the latest quilting craze. Log cabin and double wedding rings are two of the most classic patterns and will appeal to a really wide range of customers. It’s important to try new things and not lose your passion for designing, but it might be best to try some of these new designs on smaller pieces – just until you see how your customers respond.

3. Stick to Safe Colors

Many of the same things apply to your color selection. You want to try and select fabrics that will appeal to a lot of different customers. Not everyone is going to like the same things, but there will probably be very few customers interested in a quilt of hot pink and fluorescent yellow. You also need to try and keep your personal preference out of it. The colors you like may not appeal to a lot of your customers.

It is important to know about current interior design trends, but you do not want to base all of your selections on the “in” color of the moment. It can change so quickly and as was discussed earlier, your customer is looking for something that will last many years and through a dozen interior re-designs.

Softer colors or “safer” colors are best when designing quilts with no specific buyer in mind.

4. Research

It is good to get as many different viewpoints as you can. Be sure to talk to family and friends when you have a new design or color scheme in mind. They can often bring a different perspective to the mix. Also be sure that you are in touch with your customers. Talk to as many customers as you can at local craft shows and see what kind of designs and colors they like.

5. Diversify

Making large quilts is quite an investment of time and money and the result is that your price point is quite high – not in terms of the work put in to them, but in terms of what the average craft show customer is willing to spend in one weekend. Try to diversify your products. There are lots of things that you can make applying the techniques and methods of large quilting products. Consider creating placements and table clothes for your next craft show. This can be an excellent way of using up all of those bits of material you gather over time and these smaller, less expensive products will appeal to a broader range of customers.

Wherever you sell or market your quilts, be sure to specify that you will do customer orders depending on size and the customer’s time frame. Your customers will appreciate knowing that they can customize their own quilt design and colors – if they’re willing to wait a bit for that personal touch!

Craft and Home Business Ideas

Craft and Home Business Ideas

Maybe you were lucky enough to find a way to make money out of your passion for crafts, and even launched your own crafting business. But now you find yourself wondering how to make extra money from your crafts. One of the best and easiest ways to supplement your crafting business is by offering craft lessons.

How can you start your own crafting classes? A good way to begin supplementing your crafting business is by organizing small home parties where you can invite friends, family members, and co-workers. This is a wonderful way to ease into teaching. If you’re a little nervous about the idea of teaching, remember that a home party is basically just a small gathering of friends. Focus on your love for your craft have confidence in your skills, and the rest will follow.

At your home party, ensure that your guests have a memorable experience by making the lesson as pleasurable as possible. Prepare well, provide light refreshments, and send your guests off with a completed craft, or if this is not possible, some sort of sample or party favor. You can bet that if your guests have a good time and enjoyed the experience of crafting with you, they will tell their friends, and positive word of mouth will begin to spread.

If you feel comfortable teaching at a professional level, you may want to seek out your local community college. Many community colleges offer non-credit crafts classes that are always in need of instructors. Teaching part-time is an excellent way to supplement your income. Be aware that to get this type of teaching position you will have to demonstrate significant knowledge and experience in your field. If you are a novice in your craft area, the chances of getting hired for this type of position is slim.

Teaching at a local college is not only a good way to make extra money, it also allows for an excellent opportunity to network and make contacts. When telling your students about your expertise and background, mention your crafting business. This type of exposure is invaluable because you are targeting a room full of individuals who have a deep interest in your craft.

Teaching at the college level will also force you to become better at your craft. This is a benefit of teaching that is invaluable. You will undoubtedly improve at your craft in the process of teaching. Teaching at a local community college may also serve to boost your crafting business by designating you with the unofficial title of ‘expert’ of your craft. Where do people often go to seek expert advice on a very specialized topic? Most people will seek out colleges, of course. People who are interested in the type of craft you specialize in may begin to seek you out because of your status as a professional college instructor.

Another way to supplement your crafting business by offering craft lessons is to visit your local crafts store or hobby shop. As a professional craftsperson, you are probably already very familiar with these types of businesses. If you haven’t done so already, introduce yourself to the store management. Explain that you operate your own crafting business. Be well prepared with professional business cards and, if possible, a portfolio or a sample of your work. The more professional your presentation is, the better your chances of landing an opportunity to teach.

If the store does not offer a class or workshop on your area of expertise, offer to design a workshop. Many of the workshops featured at local hobby shops are run by volunteers. If you are truly interested in using teaching as a valuable networking tool for your crafting business, you should be willing to volunteer your time. Most of these classes are run on a short-term basis (most only meeting once or twice), so you won’t necessarily have to spend a great deal of time teaching these workshops. Remember to be prepared with business cards and your portfolio during these workshops.

Craft and Home Business Ideas