When did you decide to begin your business?

[LoveTravel]

I just started making clips, I'm nowhere near starting a business, but I have so many things I'd love to be able to make and perhaps sell. It's amazing all the wonderful tutorials on showing you how to make all these wonderful "boutique" items! :)



When did you decide to begin your business?
Did you start out by focusing on one item only and then gradually worked at making other items?
Or was it when you were making a certain amount of $ that you decided it would be a good idea to do it full-time and open?


I'd appreciate all your advice, I'm thinking about all these things and I just started and don't want to get overwhelmed, but I love being able to re-create these tutorials and if it was ever possible for me to do it on a part-time business basis at first it would be great! :)

All advice/suggestions would be greatly appreciated! :D

[mamabrandy]

I just started selling. I opened up a Fan Page on Facebook back in January and just started getting sales. I wasn't pushing the issue at the time.

I posted some bows for sale on our local yard sale site and didn't get any hits on them, then I posted my St. Pat's bows and got one sale from that.

My friend (a photographer) posted the link to my Fan Page on her Fan Page because she has had some clients ask her about her props, which she made herself for her personal use. I have had one sale though that, and I am working with another lady now on a custom order. She is requesting a certain type of bow holder for her daughter, that I've actually only seen once or twice before.

First I was focusing on just the basic, twisted, and pinwheel bows, but the lady who gave me my first sale is placing another order and asked me if I made a few other things (korker and ribbon sculpture) and of course I do, so I'm adding those to my page as well.

I'm still working on trying to figure out what is going to work for me. Since up until now I've only been making bows for my daughter, I only have so much ribbon and was only ordering it in mainly 5 yard increments. Now I'm going to start buying in larger rolls so I have stuff on hand.

On another note, there is an application on Facebook called Storefront. It is free, and I know there are other bow makers who use it as well. I haven't fully set mine up yet. I've been working on getting stock together.

[pretend4u]

I cant offer much advice on your situation as I too am sorta in the same boat. But here is what I have done in the past 2 months....

I was put on bed rest for months with my most recent baby who is now 5 months old, and since then with all the extra time on my hands, have been asked to make many cakes, and hair bows, and diaper cakes, and such, so I decided why not sell them too. After all I decided not to go back to my former career.

So I am jumping straight into it, no real structure, just going on much advice and whim.

I started with a free website on google ( I dont have my own domain name, but it gets me the chance to show what Ive got)

I made some adorable business cards on Zazzle 16.50 for 100 ( got em 50% off)

I made some lables on 123 print (about 16.00 for 300) that I am using to attach to blank index cards as "bow display cards"

And invited all my friends and family to check out my site.

Thus far have had several small orders for bows, flip flops, cakes, and most recently asked by my daughters school to participate in their spring festival.

I dont know if any of this is helpful, but I am so excited to be part of group where others are taking the same ventures as my self!

i get kinda carried away, lol

[K's kustom bows]

I just started because i couldnt find a bow i wanted for my daughters easter dress. Then i had a friend that was messed around by a bow boutique place that couldnt get a tutu, so i told her i would make her one. Then, right after that, she was unable to get her bows she had ordered, so i decided to try to make those too. Come to find out, i really enjoyed it, and have in the past month bought a ton of ribbon on the 5yrd spools. I have a Facebook page w/ my bows posted to them when i make them. I have just been making them for my daughters clothes, and offering them on my page. I have had a couple small orders, but nothing else. I hope to grow more soon, but just taking it a little at a time. Seems I am just kinda experimenting with things to see if people like them.

[ghandte]

I just started because i couldnt find a bow i wanted for my daughters easter dress. Then i had a friend that was messed around by a bow boutique place that couldnt get a tutu, so i told her i would make her one. Then, right after that, she was unable to get her bows she had ordered, so i decided to try to make those too. Come to find out, i really enjoyed it, and have in the past month bought a ton of ribbon on the 5yrd spools. I have a Facebook page w/ my bows posted to them when i make them. I have just been making them for my daughters clothes, and offering them on my page. I have had a couple small orders, but nothing else. I hope to grow more soon, but just taking it a little at a time. Seems I am just kinda experimenting with things to see if people like them.

Since it sounds like you're new to this like I am, I hope you dont mind that I ask you a few questions.
I found a different forum that talked about LLC and Insurance and tax ID numbers. I got a little freaked out because I have none of that and have no idea if I should spend all that money to get all those to sell a few bows here and there. I have had several friends tell me to put a facebook fan page up but feel scared after reading all that stuff. They were talking about if their child choked on one of your bows they can come back and sew you. yada yada yada.. Do you have any of those since it sounds like you just started this as well. Sorry to be so long winded. :girly:

[K's kustom bows]

Nope, i dont have anything. I didnt even know about the lead test things till i was reading a little in the forums the other day. I use the same stuff that everyone else does, so i guess i am safe...lol I have a less than 2 yr old of my own, so i am always conscious of choking hazards anyway. I have made everything so far without little pieces, and always make sure everything is super secure. I have not charged tax on anything either, but always pay tax for my supplies. I dont know if i am the only one that does this, or the actual proper thing i really need to do. I havent even sold enough to recoup my expenses of my materials, so havent been worried about it yet.

[ghandte]

that's good to know. I know i have not sold enough to recoup my expenses. I'm not going to treat it as a business right now. Just a hobby that I enjoy.
Thank You
Nope, i dont have anything. I didnt even know about the lead test things till i was reading a little in the forums the other day. I use the same stuff that everyone else does, so i guess i am safe...lol I have a less than 2 yr old of my own, so i am always conscious of choking hazards anyway. I have made everything so far without little pieces, and always make sure everything is super secure. I have not charged tax on anything either, but always pay tax for my supplies. I dont know if i am the only one that does this, or the actual proper thing i really need to do. I havent even sold enough to recoup my expenses of my materials, so havent been worried about it yet.