Scrapbooking is one of the most popular crafts out there today, and there are more and more people starting to scrapbook every year. If you love to scrapbook, home based business might not be the first thing that springs to mind, but it is entirely possible to turn your love of scrapping into a profitable home business. In fact, there are several ways you could go about it.
Scrapbook, Home Based Business Idea 1: Teaching Scrapbooking
If you're already adept at scrapping, and you've been creating beautiful mementos for a while, you might be able to make money teaching new scrappers how to create their own albums or pages. Consider advertising in your community, include the cost of a set of basic materials in the cost of training, and teach people how to get started.
An alternative would be to create a series of training videos, have them put onto DVD's (or sell them as a downloadable product) and sell them through mail order or on a website.
Scrapbook, Home Based Business Idea 2: Your Own Online Store
Another great idea that can help you to turn your love of scrapbooking into a money spinner is to start an online scrapbook materials store. Look for websites that offer wholesale or dropshipped scrapping materials and tools, and create a site where you sell them to other scrappers online. You don't have to have an expensive retail store, you can sell globally, and thanks to super easy to use site builders, anyone can create a professional looking online store these days!
Scrapbook, Home Based Business Idea 3: Scrap for Profit
If you love creating beautiful, creative memories by scrapping, then you might just be able to create custom commissions for clients. Advertise in your local newspaper, online or anywhere else where people might be looking for this type of service. You can specialize in one type of scrapping (weddings, christenings and other special occasions for instance) or you can offer a general 'scrap to order' service.
Scrapbook, Home Based Business Idea 4: Write a Book!
These days, it's easier than ever to create an e-book, or even a book that you publish on demand. You can sell your book through online stores like Amazon and Barnes and Noble, and if you can't write very well, then there are plenty of freelancers out there who will take your ideas and put them in words. Self publishing costs very little to set up, and there are people who make a good living off of their self published books.
Whether you choose to start one of these types of scrapping businesses, or whether you have another idea up your sleeve, there are a few things you should do before you leap right in.
Scrapbook, Home Based Business Idea 5: Scrapping Kits
Another great idea is to make up scrapping kits for a variety of occasions, and for different skill levels. Sell them in your community, or by mail order. Include a variety of different scrapping safe papers, embellishments and other items, and include basic instructions for designing and making your own scrapping pages or albums.
Create a Business Plan
The first step in creating any business, including a home based scrapbooking business, such as the ones we've mentioned above, is to create a business plan. If you're not applying for financing, it doesn't have to be complicated. Just write down what you plan to do, and how you plan to do it. Work out how much you need to make to make your business idea worthwhile, and then work out how you plan to make that. Keep referring to and updating your business plan as you go along too.
Find Suppliers
Whether you're offering scrap book training or selling products, you're going to need suppliers for the materials required. The internet is full of sites for companies and wholesalers who offer a wide variety of scrapbooking products. Spend some time finding the best quality, best value products out there, so that you can maximise your profit.
Market Your Products or Services
Scrapbooking businesses are just like any other business, and you need to market them if you want them to work. Think about places that you can advertise your services. Community notice boards, local newspapers and public libraries are good for offline, local businesses. Social networks are good for any type of business, and free online classified sites also work well for all kinds of scrapbooking businesses. Look for cost effective marketing ideas for your home scrapbooking business, especially while you're getting started!
Partner With Related Businesses
Another good idea, when launching a home based scrapbooking business is to partner up with businesses in your area that offer related products and services.
For instance, if you are going to be offering commissioned scrap book services for special occasions, talk to local photographers about referrals from their clients, and offer them a commission in return. If you plan to offer scrapping lessons, find out if their are any other local craft trainers who would consider a reciprocal marketing service, where you each market each other's programs.
Slow and Steady Wins the Race
When it comes to building a successful home business, including a scrapbook business, you want to make sure that you start small, and grow at a pace you can handle. Work out what you capacity is to begin with (how many people you can teach at once, for instance) and base your planning on that. You can always expand later on, but if you try to start too big, too soon, you run the risk of burning out. Home based businesses are supposed to be profitable AND fun after all, so you don't want to stress yourself out before you've even started!