Scrapbooking has been around for years. Teenage girls have taped prom tickets to notebook pages and written their memories of the evening along with pictures and other mementos. We arrange photos into albums and perhaps label them with dates and other information.
Scrapbooking as we now know it got its official start in 1980 by the Christensen family in Utah. These pioneers went on to launch the hugely successful company Keeping Memories Alive. It's been almost 25 years, but the scrapbook industry continues to grow at an exponential rate. And these past four years have really seen a growth spurt!
In the last several years, scrapbooking has taken on a new life. No longer are these albums simply photos and labels or a couple of prom tickets taped to a page. Now they are elaborately styled memory books with fancy embellishments and features. Some people consider scrapbooking an art form, and when you look at some of these pages, you might just agree.
Scrapbooking has blossomed into a billion dollar business. In fact, the latest figures reveal that it’s now a $2.55 billion per year business - and that's only in the U.S.! If true figures were to be told, the amount would certainly be well over $5 billion.
Many people are cashing in on the craze by starting their own scrapbooking businesses. There are many, many ways to make money if you love to scrapbook. The appeal of starting this type of business is easy to see.
You can operate your business out of your home. You set your own hours working whenever you want. Satisfaction can be derived from the creativity that you can display. But perhaps the biggest advantage of starting your own scrapbooking business is that it can be done for a relatively small start-up investment.
There are hundreds of places online that offer you the opportunity to pay them to show you how to start this type of business and some of them can be beneficial. However, all you really need to have is a love of scrapbooking and the desire to succeed by doing what you love.
You can pursue this business in many different ways. You can create pages for other people, you can sell scrapping supplies, or you can become a consultant for others teaching them how to do their own scrapbooks. Whichever route you choose, scrapbooking can be profitable and fun!
Many people think the only way to build a business in the scrapbooking world is by opening a retail store - not true! There are more than a dozen other ways you can make a living in this industry and some of them are much more profitable than retail! Let’s look at your options!
DIRECT SALES CONSULTANT
This is the way most people break into the industry. In fact, ask a successful retailer or product designer how she/he got started, and it was probably through direct sales!
There are currently many of these "home party" companies in the scrapbook/rubber stamp world, and they're a great way to get your foot in the door. Many consultants only join to get a product discount, but if you're serious about building this as a business as well as getting discounted scrapping supplies, there is the possibility of bringing in a good income, many times in the six figures.
Spending time digging through drawers and boxes looking for supplies is frustrating and time consuming and time is money. There are simple and inexpensive ways to help you spend less time searching for your supplies and more time exactly creating.
Sorting supplies by categories or themes is very useful and you can tell at a glance what you have in stock. Some useful categories are winter, Christmas, Easter, Valentines, Baby girl, Baby boy, etc. Create interesting labels using 2"x 4" address labels and your computer.
What to do with all those fibers and ribbons? Place fibers in small plastic bags and store them in your theme containers. Smaller plastic containers work great to store fibers by colors. You can also use recycled clear jars, cleaned and labels removed, and sort by color. Add your creative labels to these also.
You’ll also want to start some sort of inventory control system so you always know what you have on hand at any given time. This doesn’t have to be a complicated task. Start an Excel spreadsheet and update it every time you make a sale. We’ve included a sample spreadsheet at the end of this book for you to look at as a starting point.
When you become a direct sales consultant, you may wonder how you go about selling your product. Usually, the first outlet people think of is to sell at an online auction site like e-bay. However, many companies have restrictions against selling this way.
Home parties are going to be the best and most economical way to market your product. Tupperware ladies and Avon consultants have been selling this way for years. Count on friends and family to host parties for you. Don’t count out co-workers either. Distribute your catalogs and be sure your phone number and e-mail address are featured prominently.
SCRAPBOOKING INSTRUCTOR
Think you’ve got a knack for teaching? Sharing scrapbooking in classes and workshops at your local scrapbook store or on your own can be a good way to bring in some extra money. While this might seem like an easy way to make a few bucks, there are actually a lot of things to take into consideration before you venture into teaching.
Obviously, you’re going to have to be nearly an expert in the field before you can show other people how to scrapbook, but that just takes practice. This is a good way to promote direct sales as well if you’ve decided to sell scrapbooking products.
There are literally hundreds of people out there – even in the smallest town – who want to learn how to preserve their memories in gorgeous, impressive scrapbooks. The key here is marketing yourself and your classes in the most cost-efficient way possible.
The great thing about scrapbooking is that almost everyone has pictures. Anyone can learn to scrapbook. A passion to teach others how to preserve their family memories is a great quality to have if considering being a scrapbook instructor.
If you have a local scrapbook store, contact them and see if you might be able to hold a class at their facility. Usually, they’re happy to accommodate since they are selling the supplies that you will be using, so their sales are almost guaranteed to rise during your workshop.
Contact store owners and talk to them about being a "guest teacher" or a regular instructor at their store. Make an appointment with the store owner so that you can bring samples of projects and layouts that you have done. Have a list handy of all of the classes that you have taught or classes that you are willing to teach.
If you don’t have a scrapbook store or want to hold the workshop on your own, look into renting out a facility. You may also be able to find free accommodations with a local community center or senior citizen facility. This is a great hobby for the senior set, so you may want to trade services for facilities to instruct the older community.
When picking out a place to hold your class, make sure it is well-lit and that there is plenty of room for everyone to spread out and work efficiently.
When having classes, pick out a theme. A good rule of thumb is to schedule classes about 2 weeks after an important event. Then center your instruction on creating pages from the photos that your students have taken. Some ideas for occasions should include:
• Christmas
• Easter
• Valentine’s Day
• Fourth of July
• Graduation
• New Year’s
• First Day of School
• Thanksgiving
• Summer Vacation
You’ll also want to schedule periodic classes for other special occasions such as:
• Weddings
• Engagements
• Sports
• Military
• Retirement
• Anniversary
• Pregnancies
You need to figure out what your costs are going to be and how much you will need to make to realize a profit. Most instructors will charge a registration fee. You shouldn’t make it too steep - $5-$10 will suffice. However, you need to decide if you will be supplying materials or if the people attending will have to purchase the supplies themselves or bring along their own.
Keep in mind that you will be teaching people how to put together their own scrapbooks. This will be much easier if you’re teaching everyone with the same materials. Consider raising the entry fee a little and providing all entrants with the materials they’ll need to create a memorable scrapbook page.
Make sure your students understand from the outset what will be included in the class and what they need to provide, along with the time, date and cost. Good teachers do not assume that the retail store owner has provided all that information. Your store owner may be Wonder Woman but she will still have days when a crisis happens and she may not get your class members called.
When making up your class ideas, make some notes on any tricky things involved. What may seem simple to you might throw a new scrapper for a total loop. Look your sample over with a critical eye and see if there is anything that takes extra explanation or time, or if there is a new product that everyone might not have used.
You may also want to provide a free gift for attendees. One instructor reports that she likes to order bulk quantities of stickers and papers and hand them out at her classes to give her students the added satisfaction ng something just for showing up. We all love free stuff, don’t we? Your students will too!
EVENT ORGANIZER
There are retreats, crops, getaways, cruises, conventions, and more being held every single weekend now! Scrapbookers love to connect, and you can help provide the connection. If you're well-organized and can put together the kind of event that will generate excellent word-of-mouth, an event planning company could be a profitable venture for you.
While this is along the same lines as teaching a class, events are meant to be all day affairs – even multiple day affairs. So many women are hankering to get out of the house and get away from the stresses of every day life. A weekend scrapbooking retreat would be right up their alley!
One website we’ve found gives an account of her “Scrap Camp” that she hosts where a camping experience combines with scrapbooking to provide attendees with not only a getaway, but a way to talk and interact with other scrapbookers and get ideas from each other.
Just like the classes, you’ll need to set a price and decide whether or not supplies are included in the price. Obviously, the cost is going to be a bit higher, but often times, your attendees won’t blink an eye to paying it.
Concentrate a multiple day event on putting together an entire scrapbook. Encourage your students to bring along as many pictures as they can find and then show them how to organize them into beautiful layouts.
An event might require you to spend more one-on-one time with those attending, but personal service could be the difference between you and your competition.
Contact scrapbooking suppliers and let them know about your event. See if they would be willing to donate supplies in exchange for liberal advertising at your event. You might be surprised at how many companies would be happy to sponsor T-shirts, flyers, and even supplies. This is especially true if you really play up your event and have great attendance.
If you can find a company willing to donate toward your event, you want to keep them on your valuable contacts list. The best way to do this is to send a follow-up after the event is over to show how successful your event and their products were.
You can do this in many ways. We would suggest having all participants sign an over-sized card with personal comments and include pictures of that company’s products being used. They’ll surely appreciate the advertising and are more likely to sponsor one of your other events further down the road.
The best part about scrapbooking events is that you can plan other activities to go along with classes to enhance the experience. After all, you really don’t want to spend 12 hours doing nothing but scrapbooking, do you? It would seem too much like work.
Even though scrapbooking is the main reason for the event, networking, sharing ideas, and making friends is also important. This is an excellent way to promote scrapbooking in your community and share your love of the hobby.
PRODUCT DESIGNER/MANUFACTURER
Many scrapbooking products were designed by scrapbook enthusiasts, who saw the need for a product and filled it. Product designers can either license their idea to a larger manufacturer or take the plunge and start their own company!
Success stories abound in this industry about people who went from an idea to a multi-product corporation. And if you’re the next success story, prepare for profits! Of course, going it alone also means an investment of time and money, so be sure you have both before starting your company.
What types of qualities does a product designer need? Above all, creativity is the best thing you can offer. Perhaps you’ve come up with an excellent new die cut. How about inventing a new pair of decorative scissors? When you’re a product designer, literally anything is possible.
You need to find a niche that hasn’t been filled. Then do product research. See if your idea is feasible and what kind of investment you’ll need to make in order to bring it to reality.
Use the library or Internet to locate information about your product. While conducting your research, you'll notice that products with a good reputation or success story are easily located. That's because companies who've had success with a product are not afraid to boast about it.
Rely on your experience. All great success stories begin with a person that has knowledge or a great interest in the product they're selling. Is the product interesting to you? Will you use it on a continuing basis? What is the life expectancy of the product? Do you know people that are familiar with the product?
Contact a scrapbook supplier and tell them about your idea. See if they think it has marketable potential. A word of caution here – don’t be too specific about your new idea. You don’t want to risk someone “honing in” on your new invention.
However, an informed opinion about the product's potential in the marketplace and value is possible after you have gathered all the information possible. All you really need to know now is if there is a real need for this product in the marketplace so do not rush into making a decision prior to bringing all of your tools to bear analyzing the item.
SCRAPBOOKING “EXPERT”
Scrapbook enthusiasts who get published in the major magazines and idea books sometimes develop a “fan club” of other scrapbookers. That fame can sometimes be translated into connections with manufacturers to teach nationally or design products, retailers as “celebrity” guests, and other industry opportunities. So go ahead, submit your pages!
This is akin to being a freelance writer. If you think you’ve created an especially beautiful page, send a picture to a scrapbooking magazine. If they publish it, you’ve made it! If they don’t, keep trying.
Start out by subscribing to at least four of the major scrapbooking magazines. Some to consider would be:
• Creating Keepsakes
• Memory Makers
• Simple Scrapbooks
• Paper Kuts
• Paper Crafts
• Your Creative Spirit
• Scrapbooks Etc.
When submitting your pages, you have two options. You can scan your layout and submit it through e-mail or you can make a color copy and send it through “snail mail”. If you make copies to send, your costs can add up, especially if you're submitting to multiple magazines. Email might be your best option,
With each layout submission, you'll need to include your name, address, phone number, email, and supply list. The supply list is important, as magazines will not publish your layout without one. If you're working on a layout you think you'll want to submit, keep track of what supplies you use and the manufacturer of each one. Be as detailed as you can!
You can submit the same layout to every magazine, but be aware that when one magazine publishes your layout, other magazines won't use the same one. If you decide to submit, it's also a good idea to take those layouts off of the popular Web sites, such as ScrapJazz.com.
Magazines typically keep layouts on file and will ask for them when the need arises for a layout like yours. You might be contacted months down the line, so try and be patient.
Sometimes the magazines will say what types of layouts they're looking for in advance. Check the mags and their Web sites. Remember that most magazines are working on issues that won't be out for months, so your Kwanzaa page may be accepted in the summer.
Just do it! I've heard from so many scrapbookers that they haven't been published, but they "haven't submitted as much as they should." Write it on your To-Do list! Schedule a time to submit your layouts on a regular basis. It may seem elusive, but consider that the magazines need to fill space with as many excellent layouts as they can. So keep submitting!
If you are going to be published, the excitement will be great the day you get the call! Be ready for some down time while you wait for the issue to come out, and then it's excitement time again! You'll usually get your layout back when the next issue of the magazine is published.
If more than one magazine chooses to publish a layout, you'll need to tell the other magazines that unfortunately, another magazine contacted you first.
Some magazines pay with product and others with cash. But the opportunity to put "published designer" after your name is priceless! Good luck!
Set up your own website and publish your amazing pages on there. Offer up complete instructions on how people can re-create those pages for a small fee. Then watch your sales soar!
Once you've established a "name" by being published, you can approach manufacturers (or they might approach you first!) about teaching for them at national conventions and trade shows. That "name" might also unlock the door to getting your own product ideas and designs licensed to a large manufacturer.
Retailers can advertise the fact that they, or staff members and instructors, are "published designers." There is much power behind those words! Scrapbookers want to learn from the best, and some aspire (even in their own minds) to be the best – and what better way than to hang out with the "stars" and hope some of it rubs off!
PROFESSIONAL SCRAPBOOK ARTIST
There is a growing market for those who make scrapbooks for others. The appeal for scrapbook enthusiasts is great – minimal start-up costs - you really can start with almost nothing! You get to work from home, choose your hours, and make money. There’s lots of money out there, for many professional scrapbook artists.
See, a lot of people like the look of scrapbooks, but don’t have the time, knowledge, or creativity to do it themselves. And, as with other service businesses such as professional organizing and interior design, it’s easier for some people to hire out than to do it themselves.
This career has really started to grow in the ‘00s, bringing in hundreds and thousands of dollars per album for hard-working professional scrapbook artists who believe in their service and promote it to the target markets who understand what it is worth. This service has the potential for the most income – but again, that success is ultimately up to you.
Professional scrapbook artists who make scrapbooks for others can certainly use the fact that they have been published as a draw. Include it in your marketing materials, on your Web site, in your portfolio, etc.
As a scrapbook business owner, you have clients supply you with their photos and you use creativity and you artistic ideas to design the books. Professional scrap bookers also offer the written word and catchy captions to increase their marketability.
Anyone can throw some pictures, letters, postcards, and the like into a scrapbook. People who want the services of a scrapbooking home business, however, are looking for more. They want scrapbooks that are more than just things flung between the covers of a scrapbook to show their family members and friends.
Often people want to be sure they leave behind a legacy and hiring a professional to put together their life and memories is something many people will pay a lot of money for. Sometimes you will be asked to piece together fifty years of someone’s life in a chronological order of presentation. This includes anything from articles, high school items, pictures, certificates, etc.
This is a great gift business. A professionally designed scrapbook makes a wonderful gift for someone’s monumental birthday or special occasion, like retirement.
When you decide to make scrapbook pages for other people, a website can be crucial to your business success. With the worldwide web, you can attract customers globally instead of just locally. Of course, this will take a little know-how and a lot of customer service on your part.
You can have your customers e-mail you their photos or they can mail them to you. You need to thoroughly interview them as to what they are expecting from the pages you create for them.
You’re going to have to spend a lot of time talking with your clients to get the real story behind the photos, but it will be worth it for both you and them! When you are able to journal the events behind the pictures, the pages will be especially special. They’re hiring you to preserve their memories – you don’t want to let them down!
If you prefer, you can have them do their own journaling and then hire an outside service to turn that handwriting into its own font so you can print it out and include it in the scrapbook. Keep in mind this service will cost extra and it should be included in your bottom line cost to them.
You may want to devise some type of questionnaire that they can fill out online and submit it to you. Payment options are important as well. Consider signing up for Pay Pal if you haven’t already. You will be able to accept credit cards through this service without paying extra fees to each credit card company.
SCRAPBOOK RETAILER
Between four to six years ago, opening a retail scrapbook store was a viable option for most people who wanted to get involved in the industry. Although it can still be a successful venture for many, certain circumstances need to be examined carefully before jumping in.
A large initial investment and time commitment are needed, as well as detailed research into your local area of present and potential competition. Profits differ, depending on the area demographics and competition, and though many stores report not taking home a paycheck for at least the first year, other stores are quite profitable and open multiple locations.
This is the most expensive way to get into scrapbooking as a business. You will have to purchase a large amount of inventory and find a storefront to operate out of.
However, this can be a very profitable venture when you consider all of the options that you will have available to you. You can bring in guest instructors to teach classes for you which will increase your sales – especially if they use your inventory to create their pages.
ONLINE RETAILER
Opening an online scrapbook store gives you the opportunity to open up shop in your house or garage, but the business should be treated just as professionally as a “brick and mortar” store.
You’ll have the chance to choose your own hours and work in your pajamas if you want, but competition from the hundreds of other online scrapbook stores makes it necessary for things like in-stock inventory and professional design to be a priority.
Online retailers who research and develop a niche have a good chance of making this a profitable venture. E-bay can be a great place to market your wares. Whether you’re selling supplies or your services, you will be able to realize quite a bit of profit by marketing yourself at an online auction site.
Find out what people want from an online store. Find out your target market’s priorities – is it product selection? Is it cost? Is it free shipping? I would spend at least six months doing background research like that. Find out what’s already being offered by many online stores, then figure out how you can be different.
That difference is what will make your business viable. Then take that research and create a plan. It doesn’t have to be a formal business or marketing plan, but you need to define your business goals, and have a tentative idea of how you can reach them. Having a plan and goals for the future will also help your business stand out; your customers will perceive you as more professional.
PAPER PIECING AND EBAY
This is an amazingly lucrative way to make money by using your scrapbooking expertise and taking advantage of the global marketplace that is Ebay!
What is paper piecing? Basically, you put together pre-made scrapbook pages and sell them to people online. All they have to do is add their pictures and any journaling they want to write down and their scrapbook page will be complete.
Initial research on Ebay shows that people are willing to pay – sometimes pay BIG – for this service which can be an amazing way for you to make a lot of money with scrapbooking!
If you are unfamiliar with selling on Ebay, it’s really quite easy to do. You’ll first need to set up a selling account. It’s a good idea to include “scrap” in your name if possible.
Once you have your user name, you’ll need to establish your selling account. This usually means providing a credit card or bank account to Ebay and verifying it to get started. Don’t worry – it’s safe and secure.
We could write a whole entire book on getting started selling on Ebay – in fact, you'll get some ideas about an Ebay business in a future post –so we would suggest you visit Ebay’s website at www.ebay.com and look under “Site Map” to read information about setting up a seller account and getting started on Ebay.
When you have some product you want to sell, take pictures of it or scan it into your computer. Pictures will be a huge selling point, so make sure they are of good quality and you provide as many as you possibly can to give potential customers a better idea of what the product looks like.
Since Ebay charges an extra fee for more than one picture, sign up for Photo Bucket at www.photobucket.com and use them to host your Ebay pictures. There are a lot of other sites that host pictures, but we like using Photo Bucket because of its ease of use. You can make your own decision as to which photo hosting site will work best for you.
In your title, include the words “paper piecing” (without the quotation marks) since that’s how people will search for listings.
List the dimensions and a brief description of each part of the set. Also let people know if you used pens and chalks to add detail to your sets. If any part of your set is computer generated, it is a good idea to note this in the auction.
Let everyone know whether your background paper is included or not.
Make sure you let your potential customers know if you use all acid-free, lignin-free products when making your sets. A lot of people also list information such as "comes from a pet-free, smoke-free home."
At the end of the description list all payment and shipping information. You want to make sure that customers know the following: what payment methods you accept/prefer, your shipping rate, how the items will be packed, whether or not you offer insurance and how much you charge, and your email address for any questions.
Set the price at the absolute minimum you are willing to accept for this paper piecing. Most auctions start in the $3-10 range. Adjust your minimum bid price according to time, materials used, and the detail of the piece.
You have a choice of 3, 5, 7, and 10 day auctions. Most paper piecers use either 5 or 7 day auctions. It is a good idea to have your auction extend over Sunday evenings because it is a very busy time.
Each time you create an original paper piecing it automatically has copyright protection. You do not need to register a creation to have it protected. It is a good idea to put a notice with your auctions when it is an original design. If you are using a pattern from a Tole/Pattern book, you should not use a copyright notice.
Creating Piecings That Will Sell
Save some time by eliminating the "tracing" of patterns. Take your pattern, lay it over your cardstock and use your stylus to "trace" it onto your cardstock. You won't need a light box or copier for this and you can re-use your patterns again and again.
Use the Fiskars soft-tip micro-touch ones. They have an ultra fine tip that will allow you to get into small spaces and make precision cuts. You should also try to move your paper around instead of moving the scissors. This will allow you to cut a smooth and even line.
Sets that have more than one matching piece do better than a stand alone paper piecing. Even a title or matching smaller accent piece of paper helps! Other things that help are matching tags, journaling boxes, corners, borders, or stickers.
Learn how to do details. Invest in a very thin tipped black pen and a white gel pen to add detail to your pieces.
Use lots of shading on your paper piecings. Shade with chalk - use the small pompoms with hemostats to hold the pompom to do your chalking and shading in small places.
Take a look at some tole books to learn how to create proper shading on your sets. Practice shading techniques by taking a household object and shining a light on it. Note where the shadows and highlights are. Move the light and see how the shading changes.
Make your paper piecings special or unique. Try to use the latest scrapbooking trends in new and unusual ways.
Pay attention to color schemes. Invest in a color wheel and learn how to use it.
BEFORE YOU START ANY OF THESE SCRAPBOOKING BUSINESSES
It’s exciting to think about being your own boss. Some people really thrive on working independently, setting their own hours, and working only as hard as you want to. Before you “hang your shingle” and start your business, there are some very important questions you need to ask yourself.
• Do I want to do this part-time or full-time?
• Are there any supplies or equipment I need to buy?
• Will I need financial assistance to get my scrapbooking home based business going?
• What type of scrapbooks do I want to provide?
• Are my skills and talents suitable for this business?
• Should I have a partner?
• How much should I charge for my services?
• Is there a market for my scrapbooking home based business in my area?
• Are there any zoning regulations for my neighborhood that could prevent my having a home business?
• Should I get a business license?
• Would it be a good idea for me to take a scrapbooking course before I begin the process of starting a scrapbooking home business?
• What sort of accounting system will I need?
• How do I charge and plan for taxes?
• What’s the competition doing in my area?
• How will I market and advertise my scrapbooking home business?
• Should I think about incorporating my business?
• Where do I want my scrapbooking home business to be in six months?
• What is the goal I want to achieve through my scrapbooking business?
Once you’ve answered these questions, you need to devise a business plan that will lay out the steps you will take toward making your business succeed. Use your answers to these questions to formulate this plan and put it into writing – for yourself and to keep the focus on your goal.
Write down what you want to accomplish by opening up this type of business. It’s important to identify your goals so you don’t lose track of why you wanted to have this business in the first place.
These are some of the many questions anyone thinking of starting a scrap booking home business should ask themselves and plan for. Getting the “business” details nailed down and in place before you actually begin your scrap booking home business will be invaluable to you as you proceed. It will give you much less to worry about and allow you to thoroughly enjoy making scrapbooks for your clients. And, after all, that’s what your scrap booking home business is all about!
WHAT DO YOU CHARGE?
While there is a great potential to make money in the scrapbooking business, deciding what you will charge for your services is a big decision. Obviously, it will depend on what area you are located in and what the community can support.
If you are going to be a direct sales consultant, the prices will generally be set by the company you are selling for. However, the other careers in scrapbooking allow you a little more leeway in setting your prices.
If you are going to be a brick and mortar retailer or an online retailer, a good rule of thumb when you are just starting out is to add 25% to what you pay for the supplies and set that at your selling price to the general customer. A brick and mortar shop may need to mark prices up a bit more to cover the overhead of having an actual storefront and the expenses that are involved with that location.
When setting prices for services, there is always a general rule of thumb that many people agree on as a fair price. The rates are typically charged on an hourly basis or $15 to $25 per hour or per scrapbook. Costs can start at $50 and go up to over $300 for a fully complete scrapbook.
If you think this is a bit steep and are uncomfortable charging that much, look at the time that will be required to complete a page and decide what type of an hourly rate you want to make. If you think $10 per hour is fair – which we do – then figure out how many hours will be involved in creating the pages and charge accordingly.
Workshop pricing and crop nights should be priced moderately to get people through the door. As we said before, usually $5 - $10 is good for a one day/night workshop/crop. If you will be supplying the materials for the pieces your customers will be creating, up it to $20 - $25 inclusive.
Be sure to check and see if you need to share any of the profits with your host or hostess if you are holding these events at a scrapbook store. This should factor into your decision as to how much to charge.
When pricing scrapping retreats, you’ll need to secure group rates for the location and pass that on to the attendees. Charge a little extra for your time and the supplies you’ll need, but in general, all the activities besides the scrapping workshops should be passed on to the people attending.
They won’t be surprised at this, so don’t hesitate to tell them everything that is involved in the price being charged. What they’re looking at is the opportunity to get away and spend some time doing what they love with other people who love it too.
When you hold workshops, crops, or retreats, provide the people who are there with special perks like gift certificates, promotional merchandise, and a percentage off coupon for their next purchase from you. They are much more likely to book business with you again if you show them that they matter to you and you appreciate them.
Reward regular customers with bonuses for referrals. If they bring someone new to your next crop, give them a gift certificate or a goodie bag to keep the word of mouth spreading.
CONCLUSION
Yes, scrapbooking is a billion dollar business. Where is all this money going? Into supplies, workshops, classes, retreats, conventions, cruises, you name it. And innovative entrepreneurs are capitalizing on this obsession by designing new products, opening stores, writing books, organizing events, making scrapbooks for others, teaching classes, and becoming direct sales consultants.
Is there room for more? You bet there is! Most industry insiders say the trend isn't even near its peak yet, and there are still many areas that aren't educated or aware of the hobby yet. What does this mean for you? Opportunity – in all kinds of ways!
Memory preservation has always been a huge business, and as the technology improves for preserving photos and keepsakes, so do the methods and hobbies surrounding it.
If you have a passion for scrapbooking, and are talented at making original designs, you can create custom designed scrapbooks, scrapbooking for others, and scrapbook kits, templates, accessories, and stock.
You could also write how-to books and give classes.
Attend workshops and classes to hone your skills and learn the latest trends. This includes trade shows, conventions, workshops, and retreats. You want to be as good as you can be and these are amazing learning opportunities that shouldn’t be passed up!
In this business, you create scrapbooks and photo albums to help people organize and develop keepsakes of special events like birthdays, anniversaries, vacations or any milestones that are important to them.
Scrapbooking is a fun and exciting business that can be perfect for earning an easy part time income or a lucrative full time income. This is a business that is generating 1.4 billion dollars in sales each year. You deserve to have a part of that pie!
The only real requirement is that you be creative, open to new ideas and ready to learn what others have to offer. Make yourself be well organized so you can fully take advantage of all this type of business has to offer and get out there to market yourself.
You’re not just selling a business, you’re selling yourself and what YOU have to offer as the business owner. If people believe in you, they’ll believe in your business.
It doesn’t matter if you want to be a direct sales consultant, an online retailer, or open up a brick and mortar store, you can cash in on the scrapbooking craze while doing what you love. What better way to make a living?
There are many things you’ll have to do to be successful – the least of which is to get your name out there. Networking opportunities abound. Join your local Chamber of Commerce, attend various events around the community, and at every chance you get, talk about your business.
The best advertising is word of mouth, but it has to start with you! When you share your love of scrapbooking, bring others on board with you by displaying the fire you have for this wonderful venture you have undertaken!
Remember that there are countless occasions that people want to remember and have their memories preserved. Weddings, anniversaries, birthdays, holidays – the possibilities are endless.
You have the opportunity to do what you love and make others happy in the process. Making money is just the icing on the cake.
Starting your own business is an exciting venture – one that comes with its own built-in rewards. Working from home, setting your own hours, and experiencing the satisfaction of being your own boss are just a few of the perks.
There’s never been a better time to go ahead and start your own scrapbooking business. Strike while the iron is hot and get started today!
Good luck and happy scrappin!
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
101 Scrapbooking Tips (free direct download)
100+ Free Digital Scrapbook Layouts
Free Digital Scrapbooking Supplies
Free Digital Scrapbooking Creation Software
Free Digital Scrapbooking Downloads
Free Digital Scrapbooking Kits & Downloads Daily
