Getting Started

If you have ever thought about taking your scrapbooking to the next level and start your own home business then this ebook is for you. There are very few ebooks available that address starting a business in the scrapbooking niche and this book fills that void admirably.

“Scrapbooking - A Profitable Business” gives plenty of detailed information about starting a business, advertising, marketing, service pricing, tips and techniques, time management, and very helpful information on how to deal with the many types of customers that you will come across. There is even a sample contract that can be altered to your specific needs and desires.

All in all, this is a very useful and well written book aimed specifically at the scrapbooking industry. As the industry grows there is more and more opportunity for an enterprising entreprenuer to cash in and make a good living doing what they already love to do. This book will help that person in every area.

If you have ever even considered starting your own scrapbooking business I would highly recommend you get this book. It will guide you and provide you with information you need to be successful.

Is it really possible to turn your beloved scrapbooking passion into a profitable business? Can passion really mean profits? The answer is yes! Thousands of passionate, creative people are beginning to realize their hobbies and passions are indeed worthy of thriving business status!

Victor Hugo once said, “No army can withstand the strength of an idea whose time has come.”

It may seem hard to believe that something you love as much as scrapbooking can evolve into a profitable business. We’re just not wired to think that “work” and “fun” can be synonymous. When you realize passion can take you places you never imagined an amazing entrepreneurial spirit takes over — it’s truly magical.

Nancy Anderson, California-based career counselor and author of Work with Passion writes about a wonderful new trend that has entrepreneurs doing what they love and adding authentic meaning to their lives. Her book also describes and features real people who are letting go of the belief that it is impossible to make money and do what you love.

It makes sense that anyone who is truly passionate about their business is far more likely to succeed. If you’re working with passion it can take you far beyond just making money; it takes you to a level of fulfillment.

When figuring out how to price your scrapbooks, DO NOT under value your work. Besides your time, cost of supplies, revisions, etc. don’t forget your talent. Remember, your creativity and what makes your service unique is valuable. Another thing to consider is if you price your work higher, clients will equate it with quality. Whether or not that is true, it is a common perception. On the flip side, cheap=cheap.

Theme Pricing
Theme pricing can be done in several ways. You can charge per album, per page, or per spread. Theme scrapbooks can be individualized for a specific person or event. You can charge per basic album and then charge additional for extra pages.

Charging Per Side
Charging per side is one way to increase your revenue. Set up some basic prices and then allow your clients to add additional pages for an additional price. The more artistic and professional the page, the more you can charge.

Charging Per Style
Offer different styles from a more basic page to a page that contains more embellishments and techniques. Adding more embellishments requires a higher cost, while technique requires more time. Some clients may prefer a simpler album or one that puts the focus on the photos. While another client may like the “artistic” approach with more added.

Pricing your products or services appropriately is a challenging part of any home business. You know what you have and what you can do, but do you know how much you should be charging, without putting yourself out of business? Consider these few ideas when you are picking your price points.

First find out what the competition is charging. If they are selling a similar product or service do some research, make some calls, find out what they offer and how much it costs. Now compare their prices with your own. How do they measure up?

Keep in mind that just because someone else is selling for less doesn’t mean you should lower your prices. It is not always a good thing to be the cheapest out there. You might be surprised to know that you can take away a competitor’s business by increasing your value and charging a higher price. One of the biggest secrets of pricing is that people assume a higher price means better quality and more value.

The Top 3 Money-Making “To Do” Activities
By Jimmy D. Brown
http://www.HomepreneurHabits.com

I’ve always been impressed with those who can take overwhelming things and handle them with ease and poise. It never seemed to work that way for me, until I discovered the secret for tackling those daunting tasks.

The secret is simple: make things simple!

With just about every major undertaking, things can be simplified into a handful of “core” components. That makes them manageable. Manageable fosters productivity simply because I can work on something that seems accomplishable. And when productivity goes up, desired results come.

I received the following question from one of my clients…

“If you have to pick, what would you say are the top 2 or 3 things we should concentrate on? I’ve heard the domain/site(blog) are the most important, then others say writing info products, others say lists. For short term and long term investment, what is the most important things to be working on?”

This client wants things simplified. And rightly so. He knows the secret to success is getting things down into manageable chunks.

If you already have a business plan, great! However, now may be a good time to revise it to meet your goals for 2009. If you don’t have a business plan, why not?

Writing a Business Plan
You’re ready to get your home business started in every way except one. You need a plan. How do you expect to get to where you are going if you don’t have a map to help you get there? You may also need money. Either in the form of a loan or from investors, but where do you start? One thing you will need before you can get capital for your business is a business plan.

What’s a Business Plan? A business plan is simply a list of answers to questions that people might have about your home business. You will not get outside funding without one, because the people giving you the funding want to know that you have thought your venture through completely. A business plan says: I’ve considered this from every angle, and I am ready to get going.

Your business plan should include: a description of your service. Just what is it that you plan to do? Which market do you intend to market and why you’ve chosen it.

You could be losing clients, profits and peace of mind if your business is lacking this one thing. Organization. Organization makes any business more efficient, but in scrapbooking, it plays a key role. If you scrapbook for others, nothing is more frustrating than trying to sort through piles of embellishments to find just the one that you need. You know you purchased it and you know you put it somewhere. Now that you need it, it is no where to be found.

It can be costly to your business as well. How many times have you repurchased a tool, a certain piece of paper or an embellishment, because you either could not find it, or had forgotten that you purchased it in the first place? Not to mention the time you spend looking. Time is money. All the time you spend searching you could have been scrapbooking.

When meeting with potential clients, you need to be organized as well. If you portray disorganization, what does that say to your client? If you are disorganized in your meeting, how organized will you be with their pictures. In essence you are organizing their memories. Therefore you want them to feel comfortable working with you. A sense of disorganization on your part is a major turn off and could lose you the sale.

So you want to sell your products or service online and make some decent money; but you ultimately fail because you don’t take the time to sell the right “thing”. If you are looking to be a success selling online, you should start by selling yourself!

Why Do I Need To Sell Myself?

It’s a difficult idea to grasp, isn’t it? Actually it’s not, when you think about it this way: People tend to buy from others they trust. The internet is full of internet marketers from all walks of life. They come from so many different corners of the world. Some are true to their word and will sell the best products possible; while others are only in it for the money.

Customers are well informed of internet scams and how to look out for them. The horror stories that cycle the net are plentiful from people who have been scammed and lost a lot of money on deals or products. So, when it comes time to buy something, they usually look to those whom they know or they feel is an expert in a particular field.

Why Do They Do That?

Many new business owners start a home business and don’t take the time to write out a business plan. By failing to write a business plan, you greatly decrease your chances of success. The following are some reasons why every business needs to put a business plan into writing.

You have probably heard the old saying, “If you fail to plan, you plan to fail.” That is very true when it comes to your business. The more planning you do in the beginning, the greater success you will see in the future.

If you decide to take your home business to the next level, a business plan can help you secure financing. A financial institution will want to see, in writing, the reasons that they should loan you money. Simply walking in and telling them why you know you’ll be a success isn’t good enough. However, if you can hand your lender a document that states your business idea, your business goals, a list of steps you plan to take in order to reach your goals, as well as your estimated earnings, you will be seen as a professional and the lender will take you more seriously.

In the previous post, I discussed the best way to find scrapbook customers. In two words, the best way is with craft fairs. Why? Because that is where your potential customers are shopping. I understand your initial reaction may not be in agreement.

Overcome Craft Fair Negativity
The sheer thought of building up an inventory that may or may not sell, packing up the car, driving, unpacking the car, setting up an attractive display and sitting all day hoping for some sales is just not my idea of a productive Saturday. Does this sound like you? If so, I’ve been there. However, are these thoughts realistic? In reality, this negative attitude probably will yield the results you fear.

Positive Attitude
If you want to succeed at a craft fair, you must start with a positive attitude. As you prepare for the craft fair, think positively about each part of the process. As you are setting up your display, think about your creations, what are the hot selling points? What are some conversation starters?

Be where your scrapbook customers shop!
What if there was a place where potential customers hung out and came on their own volition?( ones who enjoy a hand-crafted keepsake) Imagine if you will, a place where you can “set up shop” displaying samples of your work, finished albums, layout ideas and fun projects where these potential customers already are shopping. These places do exist and can be found in the form of craft fairs or craft malls. Selling at craft fairs is an excellent way to gain business and grow your customer base.

Take the Time to Plan
Before you sign up to sell your keepsakes at your first craft show, be sure to attend a few. Discover who is selling, what kinds of products are featured(and selling) and at what price range. Take some time to chat with the vendors to ask questions and get a feel for the environment. Find out which fairs are best for your creations.

Gather all the information necessary before you take the plunge. Be sure to find out the cost to have an exhibit and what the expected attendance is. When calculating costs it ’s important to factor in travel, shipping costs and the cost for your table and display. Determining your potential profit and loss will help you make an informed decision.