Would You Pay?

[pippadaisy[$]]

I"Ve been looking for a business idea to do something I can do on my own time without impacting the kids schedules, at least until they are all in school.

I Was thinking of going back to some kind of programming, but as G pointed out, I Don't love it. NEver really did.

HE suggested I get into custom painting furniture. So far I"ve done two sets (stupid me doesn't have a "Before" picture of the boys' beds, but I Do have some somewhere of BEanie's) to match the kids' rooms. Beanie's was my old white furniture that had turned yellow, and we redid it white with flowers and fairies and then did a frosted overlay. The boys were stained walnut and we painted them red with space stencils.

Both sets of furniture were bound for the dump. MY mom yelled that I Moved my bedroom set, but even she was pleased with how it turned out, and the boys' set was going out to the curb when a neighbor didn't want it. There is some really nice furniture available on curbs, at garage sales, and at places like Vietnam Veterans around here, but is it something people would actually pay for? I generally don't stain stuff (too time-consuming) so it's a paint overlay with lacquer finish. I could probably also redo people's own stuff.

[theworm[$]]

There is definately a market for it, and you can make some big bucks. The problem is that you need people to see your stuff, and unless you get into local craft shows or have a really great world of mouth network, it will be difficult. Also, sometimes people want you to come to their house and do walls and stuff to match furniture.

You can get lots of old furniture on the curb, freecycle, garage sales etc, and you can make them into big money.

Can we see pics of the ones that you did?

[pippadaisy[$]]

YEp. I'll hop up and take some in a few minutes.

[mtomm[$]]

I'm thinking consignments possibly. I think people would pay, I think people like originals just like Lynn's jewlery.

[phoenixx]

Great idea, very lucrative. A friend of mine does that and makes a nice second income.

An option to sell your stuff would be to get into a co-op antique or craft shop - you pay a minimal fee for the space, but because it is a co-op you share selling hours. Every artisan or antiquer takes 4 - 6 hours over a two week period. Your stuff is color-coded or bar coded so others can sell it. At the end of the month the co-op pays out your money made in sales minus the rent fee for the booth or shelving space you use.

[theworm[$]]

Oh! Leslie's smart. You can also talk to Lynn about consignment. I'm sure there are stores that would sell stuff on consignment. Just need to make sure that the stores move stuff.

[amykhar]

Ebay may also be an option for things you find on the curb and fix up without a customer in mind.

[lynnzop[$]]

The problem with eBay is the shipping for big stuff like furniture. If you can find local buyers (like we do for tractors and stuff ) you can do well, however.

I think there's definitely a market, and unless your work is butt ugly (which I doubt ) you have a lot of potential.

Consignment/getting space in a co-op is a great idea. I was thinking more along the lines of an antique shop or crafter's mall..the thing you DON'T want to do is haul that stuff all over the country over and over again. Have any touristy areas that have little shops where people will furnish their cottages, etc.,? That might be perfect.

Scope out your potential outlets before you get too far. One thing I learned from reading about approaching shops (just recently) is not to mention the "C" word until the shop owner does. Sometimes they'll just buy outright at a discount, which is loads better for you than consigning. Consignment rates vary by shop - I have one that does 50-50 and one that does 70-30. Myself, I'd rather just say "here's what I want out of it" and then let the shop owner set the retail price. As long as I get my cut, I don't care what they charge.

Last bit of advice (now, I'm sure I can come up with more ) is to get yourself a portfolio - take some good photos of your work, both overall pieces and details - and bind them for show and tell. That way you don't have to haul a bed frame around with you.

I think it's a great idea, Pippa. Something you like, and there's undoubtably a market in your immediate area.

[phoenixx]

theworm said

Oh! Leslie's smart. You can also talk to Lynn about consignment. I'm sure there are stores that would sell stuff on consignment. Just need to make sure that the stores move stuff.

Leslie just wrote a 90 page how to book on opening an antique or craft store on the cheap for a client

[theworm[$]]

Leslie is a great resouce!

[lynnzop[$]]

Ooh! and where could one pick up Leslie's book?

Lynn
who would love to ditch the corporate world and go back into retail

[theworm[$]]

Lynn - if I move to Omaha, would you want to open a store together? I would love to buy for a gift shop and you can be the jewelry person and we could have a really cute place! Maybe even have a little tea shop!!!

[lynnzop[$]]

Sure! But what I really want to open is an affordable bead and hobby store on the CB side of the river. There is NOTHING. The one that was there that was my emergency stop is gone - too expensive and they moved out to west O. So the closest thing we have to a hobby store, of ANY type, is Wal-Mart. Even the fabric stores have stopped carrying most crafts!

We could still have gifts and serve tea.

[phoenixx]

Oh lord. Well, this is a client whom I create "write-for-hire" projects for. I do the research and write the first draft, then the company owner Jennie Bev mangles, er, I mean "edits" it into her preferred format. It pays very well, and the facts are solid (I know, because I research them), but the editor? Does not speak English as her first language. Sometimes the end result is interesting. But, it pays well. Really well. I get no royalties for this client (just making sure you know that you shouldn't purchase this e-series in hopes of helping me make a living or something), but I get mad amounts of steady work.

You can find all 12 titles I have submitted for them at stylecareer.com.

If you want to be a choreographer, voice over actor, online boutique owner, art gallery owner, photo studio owner, antique store owner, mall kiosk owner, etc etc etc then that series is the one for you.

(And, for what it is worth, Mall Kiosk Owners make a SH*TLOAD of money. Who knew? Think profit margins, after employees, rent, stock and the like, of anywhere from $2000 to $8000 per month. Holy cow.)

Oh, and i interviewed my step dad (professional photographer) for Photo Studio, so that was fun. And I got to interview people like Don LaFontaine for voice over actor (also fun). Plus, I learn something new with each book.

Hmmm, sorry Pip, I seem to have completely derailed the topic.... sorry!!!

[theworm[$]]

Ok Lynn. How about we start a store together. We sell all sorts of GREAt beads. You give beading lessons. We have a little tea shop - nothing to fancy - just relaxing. And them some other gifty items to bring in other folk who you can then decend on like a vulture to get them into beading.

Any great yarn stores in CB? We can sell beads, yarn and gifts.

[phoenixx]

and crochet lessons. and bead and crochet pattern creating contests.

[lynnzop[$]]

I'm sure there are, but I don't know where. Joanns and Michael's don't really qualify. I should ask my mom, she's a yarn fiend and probably knows if there are any good ones.

We need a good location. There's a really cute new strip mall that has several bays still open, and it has a neat deli/wine shop in it. Maybe we could have an adjoining door....drunken women buy lots of beads and yarn, I'm sure!

And don't apologize to Pippa. It's not like she doesn't derail threads all the time.

Lynn
ducking and running

[theworm[$]]

We can sell some of her furniture if she delivers it to the shop.

So - I imagine that rent in CB is much less than here. Leslie could help us with strategy and George with our buz plan.

I'm not joking, you know...

[lynnzop[$]]

Neither am I.

[pippadaisy[$]]

:P

How about y'all just get me some orders and I'll come in a couple of times a year to suck down tea and paint for people?

[pippadaisy[$]]

Here's a quickie of the boys' stuff:

[pippadaisy[$]]

ANd BEAnie's (the wall