Looking to start a scrapbooking business, part time and looking for marketing ideas?

Question

Looking to start a small business through friends and family at first, but then eventually looking to get bigger, any marketing ideas for people other than family and friends? Also what should I be charging? I've heard different things, should I charging per hour or per page? If so what are the going rates? Any help would be great!

Answer 1

i agree that you should check out your competition & you can do that easily online by looking up scrapper for hire websites...however, i disagree with starting cheap and then raising your rates, i think you'll lose clientele that way...just be reasonable, charge according to what you think it is worth and don't forget about the **time you put into the project**, the materials are easy to add up, but also think about all the effort it takes as well! if you start your business "officially" and get a Federal Tax ID#, you will find some great wholesale pricing on some 'name brand' websites for product (they usually require an Fed Tax ID)...as far as marketing...there are so many avenues:
~1~ LSS local scrapbook (or craft) stores
~2~ flyers, postcards, business cards, greeting cards
~3~ daycares, schools, community rec center, local learning center
~4~chamber of commerce, women to women business groups
~5~ online...blog, website, chat rooms
~6~ booth @ craft fair, baby fair, bridal fair
these are just some ideas, i have also considered going into business for myself with scrapbooking and one thing that was suggested to me was to solicit local businesses to do their Christmas Greeting Cards; make a portfolio of 5-10 for them to choose from priced @ $3 each (w/envelope) or a discount for a certain quantity...
good luck and i hope it works out for you...

Answer 2

I think part of the allure of scrapbooking is making them yourself. It's a craft, creative sort of outlet for most. I've visited a number of scrapbooking stores and most are very quiet. Not much going on. Not much traffic. Overall, I'd summarize it that way. of course, your success level could be different depending on the market in which you are located. maybe you could create "templates" or pages specifically designed for special events that happen in people's lives. Births, deaths, graduations, birthdays, pets and so on. let folks build their own scrapbook with the appropriate number of pages for the occasions they're looking to document. in that sense, maybe you could help them create their scrapbooks. have a page with dog silhouettes, and with a grad cap and tassle, themed pages. Think about who your potential clientele is and how to best reach them. find bulletin board space at relative businesses where these people would go. contract with a day care center to create some "kids" scrapbooks for their moms. I bet that would work well. Place "lead" generation boxes and draw from the names for a "free" something or other. gather the other names for some direct mail flyers. Send some coupons or invite them to a scrapbooking class. wow, i thought of more than I thought i would. Good luck and i hope you are in a fairly good sized market. at least 60k-100k population.

Answer 3

Try to look at competition and see what they charge. Start off cheap so you can gain customers and a reputation. Then when you are more established, raise your rates.

Answer 4

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