Forums: Discussions for entrepreneurs and small business.

I am considering starting my own business. I currently deliver newspapers at night, which does give me my entire day free. My son believes I need to go back to working a full-time job because obviously delivering newspapers does not provide much income. However, I have never had a job I enjoyed for very long and I have never, ever had what I would describe as a good boss. I have had everything from the boss that thought it funny to poke me in the sides everytime he came up behind me to the boss that threw things across the room in anger, to the boss who would fudge reports, procrastinate on everything to the point of panic...well, anyway I'm sure you get the idea. So, needless to say, I do not favor the idea of looking for a job again.

So, I've been spending my week trying to decide what to do about this situation. Suddenly, yesterday, I came up with an idea. I love to do crafts - scrapbooking i n particular. I made my 1 year old grandaughter a book for Christmas about animals. I used photographs I took for a year of animals and turned each into an embellished scrapbook page (decorative paper, stickers, large letters for each animal name). For Easter, I am making her a book all about her. I am taking photographs from her first 2 years (1st birthday party, pics of cousins, aunts & uncles, etc.) and making up a sentence or two about the picture for each page. Another idea I have is to take hand written recipes from my grandmother, mother, women who have had an impact in my life and turning them into an heirloom book.

My idea is to turn these books into a business by offering to do this as personal gifts to people. They could provide me with the photos (for the personalized children's book) and recipes and I could turn them into a special gift. My thought is to promote the children's book through Children's Consignment Shops and the recipe book through Bridal Shops as a shower gift.

Of course, as you can see I am in the VERY BEGINNING stages of this. I would love input on both the idea and on what my first steps should be.
Thank you in advance for your input!

It sounds like you have a great idea and the skills to make the books. I would think your next step is to determine if there is a market for your service (and, at the price you would be charging). There are several ways to do this...talking to the shop owners where you would like to advertise, talking to prospective customers and getting a feel for their interest and price point. This does not have to be a formal marketing study, but rather a way to gauge interest in the product.

Good Luck!

Molly Donaldson

I think it is a great idea. However, there are other similar companies already offering the same kind of things. Look up Creative Memories or Heritage Makers for some examples.

I am familiar with Creative Memories and I looked up Heritage Makers, but unless I'm missing something both companies, along with many others, sell the products that allow us to make scrapbooks. I am talking about actually producting completed scrapbooks for others, who would provide me with their personal pictures then I would create a keepsake for them. And in the case of the children'sk books (for instance, a book of animals) it would be actual photos I took of animals and then the pages would be created and decorated around the photo to allow children to learn their various animals (toddlers, of course). The difference from the traditional storybook would be the actual photos of the animals rather than drawings. Are you aware of other major chains that do this type of thing? I would be more than happy for the information.

The idea of yours is appreciable. I think that the business your are talking about is on very small scale. There will be lot of pain behind that and you have to work very very hard to get a single project. Instead of it I suggest you a better idea to deal with. As you have mentioned that you have a good craft skills and love to make scrap booking. I suggest you to make 2-4 page of gift cards. I think that will be a good business to start with. Prepare some cards and provide them to some gift shop. Just check it out if this works for you.

Hi,

I believe anything you have a passion for you can make into a money making proposition.

I know the best way to get leads is through creating a video of your works and what you have to offer people.  It's cheap and easy to make a video.  A logitech webcam is less than $50 and YouTube is free.

There are tons of other scrapbookers out there and tons of people that are looking for unique gifts and keepsakes.  I think you could make a killing if you promote yourself.

I teach people how to get leads on the internet so if you want to connect with me, please do.

JacquelineMcGinnis.com

The type of bosses you described were really funny and scary as well :-)

I personally think you should contact local gift shops in your area and see if they will stock your handmade items. Also does not hurt contacting households with upcoming birthday parties for their kids and offering them your personalized services.