i have been buying mini rolling pins and decorating them, but they wont sell

Kepp

Sambucus_Nigra wrote: »

No - not 'totally untrue'. Vaguely untrue in your friend's case. If she was making more money opening her shop at the weekends, she would do.

Your shop can be open at the weekend, with your staff running it. You can go to craft fairs to do the selling there - as you are the face of the business.

I'm not sure if you have the wrong impression of craft fairs? Yes some are small sales in a village hall and from that point of view I can see why attending would not be worth the time. Other craft fairs attract 100s of people, most of whom will have gone there with the intention of spending money - why would you not tap into this market?

mildred1978

nat21luv wrote: »

Rather than aiming these at an adult market (essentially dust collecting stuff) how about aiming these for children? Write their name on it and like another poster said, sell it with cookie cutters ect. All kids want to help in the kitchen and even more so when a utensil has their name on it you could draw cookies on it, possibly cartoon characters ect but I strongly recommend changing the colour scheme, think shabby chic pastel colours

I have to take issue with this. Painting these rolling pins will make them unsuitable for use with food. Selling them with cutters or anything else that would be used for food preparation, or in any way implying they are suitable for use with food could get the OP into a heap of trouble.

POPPYOSCAR

beccie wrote: »

Your shop can be open at the weekend, with your staff running it. You can go to craft fairs to do the selling there - as you are the face of the business.

I'm not sure if you have the wrong impression of craft fairs? Yes some are small sales in a village hall and from that point of view I can see why attending would not be worth the time. Other craft fairs attract 100s of people, most of whom will have gone there with the intention of spending money - why would you not tap into this market?

There does seem to be an increase in these types of fairs.

Also our local town centre now has several stalls selling craft items and speciality breads and other food stuffs.

We had a Christmas market in the high street last year for the first time that was awash with this sort of thing, and they did seem to be doing well.

nat21luv

mildred1978 wrote: »

I have to take issue with this. Painting these rolling pins will make them unsuitable for use with food. Selling them with cutters or anything else that would be used for food preparation, or in any way implying they are suitable for use with food could get the OP into a heap of trouble.

Well I wouldn't suggest using poster paints but I'm sure if the OP looked she would find edible paints? Perhaps food dye would work if the OP was particularly good at artwork(don't comment Mildred!:D)

Kepp

It's a good point - but I believe there are food safe paints?

nat21luv

Some lovely coloured food sprays around too, pearl, gold ect. Found them in my local cake shop.

mildred1978

nat21luv wrote: »

Well I wouldn't suggest using poster paints but I'm sure if the OP looked she would find edible paints? Perhaps food dye would work if the OP was particularly good at artwork(don't comment Mildred!:D)

Oh my. Food dye would leach out if used on pastry, dough or icing. And I strongly suspect the reason there isn't a multi-million pound market for painted kitchenware is because there is no paint that is a) suitable for use with foodstuffs and b) that wouldn't flake over time (with washing).

You could personalise an apron to go with the rolling pin/cutter/tray/bowl/whatever.

mildred1978

nat21luv wrote: »

Some lovely coloured food sprays around too, pearl, gold ect. Found them in my local cake shop.

They cost about £7 a can. And they are to spray on food, not wood!!

Kepp

mildred1978 wrote: »

You could personalise an apron to go with the rolling pin/cutter/tray/bowl/whatever.

There seems to be a big market for aprons on Etsy etc especially with the whole vintage/shabby chic trend still going strong.

I think a personalised apron with the things mentioned above sounds excellent and something I would be very likely to buy for a child (or even some adults!)

POPPYOSCAR

beccie wrote: »

It's a good point - but I believe there are food safe paints?

http://www.curbly.com/users/capreek/posts/13493-make-it-diy-paint-dipped-wooden-utensils