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Entrepreneurship:  Home business with no land?  |
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ArmyWifey
True Blue Farmgirl
712 Posts
Holly
Abilene
KS
712 Posts |
 Posted - Jul 11 2005 : 3:50:21 PM
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Any of you ladies have one like this? A Cottage industry so to sepak? I'm not sure what restrictions there would be as we live on an Army post.....I know most people who sell things are into Pampered Chef, Tupperware and the like. I would rather do something home made. Something the kids could help with.
Any help, thoughts, suggestions, comments, etc would be appreciated.
Thanks!
Holly
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As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord!
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therusticcottage
True Blue Farmgirl
4439 Posts
Kay
Vancouver
WA
USA
4439 Posts |
Posted - Jul 11 2005 : 4:02:22 PM
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Hi Holly -- What do you like to do? There are so many things that you could do from home. But pick something that is truly interesting to you and something you feel passionate about. I sew and I absolutely love it so it was a natural for me to make purses, pillows, and aprons. It feeds my addiction to fabric and I make some money too. If you took your things off base, such as craft shows or other events, would there be a problem? You could also sell on the internet. Hope this helps.
Kay - Living in Beautiful Washington State
North Clark County Farmgirls and
Sisterhood of the Traveling Art |
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Clare
True Blue Farmgirl
2173 Posts
NC WA State
USA
2173 Posts |
Posted - Jul 11 2005 : 4:06:19 PM
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My, Kay.... you nailed me. I have an addiction to fabric. This is an ah-ha moment. Oh well, at least I'm sober! 
****Gardener, Stitcher, Spiritual Explorer and Appreciator of all Things Natural****
"Begin to weave and God will give the thread." - German Proverb |
Edited by - Clare on Jul 11 2005 5:26:54 PM |
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ArmyWifey
True Blue Farmgirl
712 Posts
Holly
Abilene
KS
712 Posts |
Posted - Jul 11 2005 : 4:24:47 PM
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Decorating, Sewing, Scrapbooking, Fiber arts (I have three spinning wheels...all of which are semi broken), reading, writing (used to do poetry), I know how to can, make soap (have only done it once though), knit, smock, sew, used to do primative tye tole painting.
So it's pretty varied. Don't really know what to do, that would sell, fill a niche??? Be something fun that wouldn't take to much output but would bring in some cash?
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```)¨(´´´ | | | | | | | || |l±±±± |
¸,.-·²°´ ¸,.-·~·~·-.,¸ `°²·-. :º°
As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord!
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Edited by - ArmyWifey on Jul 11 2005 4:31:02 PM |
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MeadowLark
True Blue Farmgirl
2206 Posts
USA
2206 Posts |
Posted - Jul 11 2005 : 4:46:48 PM
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Are there lots of babies and tots on the base you could sew for? Every mom loves a little pair of knit booties or a blanket... Maybe design a fun diaper bag and sew some up! I made my oldest daughter a simple gingham diaper bag with a side pocket for a bottle and her little toys. I put on appliques of a rainbow, cloud, flowers and sun. Everywhere I went Moms wanted to know where I got my bag... My daughter loved that bag so much she carried her Barbies and junk in it in grade school.
"Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing and rightdoing, there is a field. I'll meet you there." Rumi, 13th century. http://www.xs4all.nl/~josvg/cits/sb/sb101.html |
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therusticcottage
True Blue Farmgirl
4439 Posts
Kay
Vancouver
WA
USA
4439 Posts |
Posted - Jul 11 2005 : 8:56:41 PM
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Diaper bags are what I started out with. Young moms especially like ones that are made from fabric that is not necessarily "baby". Something they can carry that looks like a regular purse too. Simple little kids clothes or baby quilts. Check around the local craft shows to see what's being made and what's selling. Hope this helps.
Kay - Living in Beautiful Washington State
North Clark County Farmgirls and
Sisterhood of the Traveling Art |
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Aunt Jenny
True Blue Farmgirl
11381 Posts
Jenny
middle of
Utah
USA
11381 Posts |
Posted - Jul 11 2005 : 9:46:41 PM
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I used to make cloth dolls and mannekins and sell them to small shops and at craft fairs..liked the shops better although I got less for them there so they could mark them up. Still make dolls alot, but for many years that is how I supported myself and two oldest kids. Did child care at home for a whole lot of years too, if you have the patience for it. That is a great home business and leaves you there at home to do other things too..I specialized in younger ones..babies and toddlers and they all took naps..
Jenny in Utah
The best things in life arn't things! |
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ArmyWifey
True Blue Farmgirl
712 Posts
Holly
Abilene
KS
712 Posts |
Posted - Jul 11 2005 : 10:11:40 PM
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The problem with doing child care on post is it's pretty highly regualted and they can come into your home spontaneously. I don't have the patience or the time with 4 of my own to homeschool, plus I could only take in one maybe two more and it's not worth the hassle.
Thanks for the thought
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,·´º o`·,/__/ _/\_ //____/\
```)¨(´´´ | | | | | | | || |l±±±± |
¸,.-·²°´ ¸,.-·~·~·-.,¸ `°²·-. :º°
As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord!
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Aunt Jenny
True Blue Farmgirl
11381 Posts
Jenny
middle of
Utah
USA
11381 Posts |
Posted - Jul 11 2005 : 10:18:12 PM
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that is true. You have to be in just the right situation to do child care. I can't do it right now since I have a child who's adoption isn't final yet in our family. In our state you can't do liscenced foster care and licensed child care at the same time..so I may do it again some time..but not for now. Gosh, for you homeshcooling 4 kids would for sure be enough kids to handle!! I have four at home and I know it would be so hard.
Jenny in Utah
The best things in life arn't things! |
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Lazycreek
Farmgirl in Training
39 Posts
Charlee
Mt Ida
AR
USA
39 Posts |
Posted - Jul 13 2005 : 4:57:46 PM
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Holly,
Do a search on Shibori and look at this website www.Iwearart.com/sharon.html. You need something portable that you could take anywhere. The kids could learn to fold and manipulate the fabric. Some artists just do fabric to sell at craft shows for quilters.
Charlee
Believe in the power of your dreams |
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Lazycreek
Farmgirl in Training
39 Posts
Charlee
Mt Ida
AR
USA
39 Posts |
Posted - Jul 13 2005 : 5:00:01 PM
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oops..............
try again. www.iwearart.com
Charlee
Believe in the power of your dreams |
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PhillyfarmGirl
True Blue Farmgirl
59 Posts
Yael
Philadelphia
PA
USA
59 Posts |
Posted - Jul 13 2005 : 5:12:55 PM
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Wow, I had to jump in here! Such great advice! I am also trying to do a cottage business. I would like to do just about everything, sewing, etc. I would also like to give classes, particularly to young ladies, like old fashioned home ec. I have also though about ebay as I have some items I think would go well there. There are lots of opportunites I know, it is just a matter of focusing and doing it! Thanks for letting me jump in here and read all this wonderful input.
All the best!
~It is easy in the world to live after the world's opinion;
It is easy in solitude to live after our own;
but the great man is he who in the midst of the crowd
keeps with perfect sweetness the independence of solitude.~
~Ralph Waldo Emerson |
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Aunt Jenny
True Blue Farmgirl
11381 Posts
Jenny
middle of
Utah
USA
11381 Posts |
Posted - Jul 13 2005 : 5:35:52 PM
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I have thought about old fashioned home ec classes too! I had a 13 year old girl from church today call and ask if if I could help her learn some embroidery stitches that she is having trouble with. I was shocked that her mom didn't know how!! Guess I shouldn't be. I will have her here tomorrow afternoon to help. I taught her older sister..who is about 17 now last year so I am sure that is who told her to call me. Thinks like spinning and soapmaking, canning and sewing, knitting and crochet as well as any other needlework are things that should be passed down..if not by moms, heck ..I suppose a great business could come of doing classes!!
Jenny in Utah
The best things in life arn't things! |
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Lazycreek
Farmgirl in Training
39 Posts
Charlee
Mt Ida
AR
USA
39 Posts |
Posted - Jul 14 2005 : 06:28:10 AM
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On the topic of classes. There used to be a place in Dallas that had 3-6 week classes on various things. These classes would be one night a week and covered things like faux painting, cooking, art, business, even classes on grocery shopping----you name it, they seemed to have it. The instructors were just average people that were excellent at what they did. Costs were any where from $25 to $75 for the class. I would think you could take that same idea into your home and teach various homemaking skills. Maybe do one month classes.
Believe in the power of your dreams |
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Lazycreek
Farmgirl in Training
39 Posts
Charlee
Mt Ida
AR
USA
39 Posts |
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ArmyWifey
True Blue Farmgirl
712 Posts
Holly
Abilene
KS
712 Posts |
Posted - Jul 14 2005 : 11:26:16 AM
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How bout photography? Anybody done this? I love to take pictures and would enjoy doing freelance stuff but that isn't really something the kiddos can help with.
¸...¸ __/ /\____ ____
,·´º o`·,/__/ _/\_ //____/\
```)¨(´´´ | | | | | | | || |l±±±± |
¸,.-·²°´ ¸,.-·~·~·-.,¸ `°²·-. :º°
As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord!
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Park Avenue
True Blue Farmgirl
57 Posts
Michele
Paradise Valley
Alberta
Canada
57 Posts |
Posted - Sep 23 2005 : 4:17:33 PM
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i have a friend who does a great business doing photography...she goes into their homes and does prenatal photos or newborns. She branched into weddings, and is now going through a divorce and able to support herself and kids doing this.
She does everything digital, with a laptop.
www.allaboutthebelly.ca
Michele |
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BamaSuzy
True Blue Farmgirl
138 Posts
Alabama
USA
138 Posts |
Posted - Sep 23 2005 : 7:07:42 PM
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Photography will likely be hard to break into if you're trying to do it as a business....I have been a news reporter/photographer for 25 years so definately have the photography experience but there are so many technical stuff you have to think about such as where to have prints made, etc. etc. etc.
With digital photography you could take mountains of photos and then just pick the best ones, or let your customers pick the best ones, but you might still run into problems with getting prints and enlargements....and to get a professional quality (I mean a really professional quality printer) for your home would not be cost-effective...
For casual stuff you could just use something like a Lexmark printer but for professional work you'd want something that did your work justice...
If you were going to take weddings and other events like that, or even birthday parties, etc. you'd need back up cameras, and back ups to all your other photography equipment because in those instances you don't get a second chance to take the photos again....once the wedding or whatever is over, it's over for good...
You might see if there is a local newspaper nearby (or one on base????) that would let you take freelance photos for them....such as shots at kids Little League games, parades, those kind of human interest sort of thing....
With digital now we get photos a lot through e-mail (I edit a weekly paper now) and that is great for getting casual photos of kids at school functions, that sort of thing. But there again it's really competitive because just about everybody has a digital camera now and can take pretty good photos with one...So we get so many FREE photos (and so do a lot of other smaller papers) we seldom have to pay for any or our staff does them...
If you're really good at photography you might want to teach a morning class on "how to take good photos of your kids," or "How to take good photos of your pets," that kind of thing!
Another thing you might want to look taking photos for folks to use in selling their crafts, such as photos of their soap, their dolls, whatever they're making, so they can use them on posters, on their web sites, etc.
Another idea might be have a Saturday morning where you have a special time where you'll take casual photos of people with their PETS! Say you'll give a certain portion of the money brought in to your local humane society or pet shelter....just have somewhere in a park or in a back yard where there is a good background and have a blanket on the ground, or a lawn chair for people to sit in or on with their pets and you snap the photos and offer one or two photos at a certain price....
I hope this gives you some photography ideas and is not to discouraging! best wishes!
You can bury a lot of troubles digging in the dirt! |
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mamamia
Farmgirl at Heart
8 Posts
Cher-Ami
Toquerville
UT
USA
8 Posts |
Posted - Sep 24 2005 : 7:35:05 PM
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| Hi girls! Please allow me to say that being a mentor is priceless. I am proud of those of you who have given your time to those who have requested your assistance. I am always honored when someone asks me for help or ideas (young or old). I am homeschooling and am always on the lookout for mentors. We must be open to give and to receive. |
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Park Avenue
True Blue Farmgirl
57 Posts
Michele
Paradise Valley
Alberta
Canada
57 Posts |
Posted - Sep 26 2005 : 07:20:57 AM
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My friend who started as an amatuer, had absolutly no expereince or equipment other than a really good digital camera, and a home computer. She just started doing b&W of pregnant bellies and newborns. She found printing was not cost effective at home, but she started using Staples, or other companies like that.
She would do up an album, and sell it, including all pics on a disk to the clients. Her business flourished through word of mouth.
Her customers loved her work, and she has branched into weddings, engagements etc.
She does have a certain flair for the work though which sets her apart from alot of the pros. She uses natural lighting, and does not carry around lights or anything like that.
It can be done, It really helps if you have a natural flair for capturing something different!
Michele |
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AnnieT
True Blue Farmgirl
287 Posts
Annie
287 Posts |
Posted - Sep 26 2005 : 5:06:13 PM
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ArmyWifey,
I'm a Marine wife, and although we are off base now, when we were in housing I could not invite people to my home to look at my wares (showroom) or sell things (store front) or maintain inventory (warehouse). I think as long as nobody could get you in trouble on those three points, you'd be okay. Raw materials on hand could easily be for personal use only. Your next door neighbor could be hostess to an open house for your wares. 60 sewn bibs for next month's craft fair could easily be stored in your car trunk.
Annie |
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Entrepreneurship: Home business with no land? |
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Home business with no land?
