Start a 'cottage industry'... official MoneySavingExpert.com discussion

RosaThorne

That's fab... Off to find the sewing machine!!

caleo

That motivational post was excellent, now I just need to find time!!!;)

I have had an idea for months now, and have been trying out the patterns etc, but finding the time to actually sit down for a long solid stint it quite difficult with a toddler and a baby!

I have sorted out a website, and hosting, but now just need to perfect my item, so I can get the pics on the site.

I was looking at Ebay for selling, but TBH, I have found it really slow at the moment, and people don't seem to want to pay for quality. So I was wondering what Ebid was like?

I have registered with them, but it seem so much quieter than Ebay. I just wondered if people had much success selling items on there?

I have 2 weeks beefore I return to work (3 days), and I want to have a perfect prototype by then..........so, maybe I should get off here and get sewing!!!;)

Frugaldom

I just found some more motivation, and it was FREE! I found it in the online version of the newspaper Check this out if you are interested in setting up sales online - it shows that more and more people are turning to virtual reality as they have fewer and fewer places they can go to relax. What better way to spend a Saturday night than online browsing for bargains?

eBid is much, much quieter than eBay if you expect to just list items and sit back waiting for customers to walk past and spot your bargains. It's a bit like comparing a tiny workshop/studio in a remote village to a huge flashy stall in a London Shopping Mall. HOWEVER - even the remote village studio/workshop can generate a fair income if it offers exclusive items and promotes itself in the right manner to the right niche market I'm building my website around eBid because it has everything that I need for free, including a few extra customers that I may not have planned on targetting in the first place.

PS: I have 3 [STRIKE]major[/STRIKE] minor addictions - Dosh, MSE and eBid. Please excuse my favouritism but my dosh & MSE habits prevent me from splashing out on eBay :rotfl:

caleo

Thanks for the link....I was actually already motivated today, and have been sewing like mad!!:rotfl:

I wanted to nip out now for a photo opportunity with my girls, but they are both fast asleep!! So the pics will have to wait for tomorrow.

I have now got the motivation, but can't do any more until I know whether my Prototype fits or not!!!:rolleyes:

Time for a coffee I suppose, while I have a mooch around Ebid. I was looking at using it as a little buffer to help me along with a few sales, as well as part of the market test, so it should be good to use. Especially as it is free to list!!

Frugaldom

Has anyone got any ideas for alternative uses for paperback books? I had started listing them for sale but they are nothing special and only worth pence, so nobody will be interested in paying the postage & packaging on them. I have been racking my brains for some time now, but can't come up with a worthwhile way of recycling them and I'm not sure of there are any laws concerning defacing books! You never know these days! :eek:

How is everyone doing with their cottage industry earnings? Am I the only one who isn't making much progress? I know that I NEED to get my act together if I'm ever to make anything of it, but I just haven't reached that 'lightbulb' moment in my homebased career ideas. Still searching.

Hardup_Hester

Hi
As I said in one of my earlier posts I sell (or try to) organic lavender toiletries. Last year I tried to sell them at local fairs, but both of them were rained off, this year one of them isn't being held at all as they lost too much money last year, the other one is over subscribed & I can't get a stall there either. I've advertised in our local magazines but had no response.
Before everyone thinks I jumped in with both feet without looking, I did give some of these items as gifts & they were very well received, this is what gave me the idea in the first place.
I'm now stuck as to where else to sell these items, I have put posters up in various locations again with no response. I don't think online selling is appropriate as the postage costs are expensive. Any suggestions gratefully received.
Hester

misspixierocktastic

Nykmedia my etsy store is slow going but i've made 12 sales since the middle of march :-) its not enough to give up my full time job lol but it helps

RosaThorne

People just aren't buying much these days... credit crunch? Or are people starting to make their own things? :eek:

Well done to those of you who A: Are motivated enough to craft, and B: Are selling their crafts

Frugaldom

I think I need to agree with Rosa Thorne - people who visit MSE are cash conscious and tend to be trying to do more for themselves with regards to homemade gifts, cards, crafts, savings and budgeted expenditure. But is there a website that deals mainly with the rich? Or are they all too busy earning millions, investing and spending their disposables in designer stores?

Idea - don't call your items homemade, describe them as exclusive, original or individually designed and then bump the price up a few hundred pounds before approaching exclusive outlets in the posh parts of towns. I mean, Stella McCartney isn't exactly a highflying, posh, 'okay yah' sort of name, her dad came from Liverpool and played in a band, for goodness sakes. :rotfl:

Or, have you tried eBid and join us in the selling challenge? Not quite Harrods, but it's a start and you can mask your free listings behind your own domain name and web page. Who would know that Rosathornedesign.com is just a doorway to some free listings of they saw it on a business card? :cool:

RosaThorne

My Mum did quite well with knitted bootees in some "shabby chic" style shops, the one's that sell Cath Kidston stuff - Not cheap shops at all, but she made got about £6 a pair... Best thing was, she only used scraps of wool left over from other projects!