Creative scrapbooking
has taken the world by storm. It’s relaxing, fun, social… and, let’s face it,
incredibly addictive! After all, what scrapbooker doesn’t smile with pride when
she or he finishes a decorative project?
If you have
the talent to create eye-catching, creative scrapbooks, you can actually turn
your hobby into a lucrative creative scrapbooking career. In this three-part
series, we’ll show you some of the secrets to running a home-based creative scrapbooking
company that regularly adds extra coins to your coffers!
Why Creative Scrapbooking?
People from
all walks of life have photos and mementoes cluttering their homes. They’d love
to organize and arrange them, but don’t have the time (or, in some cases, the
ability.) That’s where you, as a professional scrapbooker, can step in!
Through creative
scrapbooking, you can create delightful, entertaining, and touching memory
books that will be certain to have a very long shelf life. Imagine… your
scrapbook creations could someday become precious family heirlooms passed down
from generation to generation!
What Types of Scrapbooks Sell?
Creative scrapbooking
is an incredibly versatile field because you have virtually no boundaries.
Graduation scrapbooks, family tree scrapbooks, baby scrapbooks, wedding
scrapbooks, and achievement scrapbooks are only a few of the countless styles
of creative scrapbooking inventions you can market.
Use your
imagination; anything that’s relatively flat can go into a scrapbook, so the
sky’s the limit.
Can Scrapbooking Really Be
Profitable?
Creative scrapbooking,
as with any legitimate business, won’t make you rich overnight. But if you’re
determined and plan your creative scrapbooking operation pragmatically, you can
absolutely make money from this burgeoning industry.
Best of
all, creative scrapbooking is a low overhead industry. You’ll need to start
with a modest amount of scrapbooking supplies, but you can build your stock
over time thanks to fast shipping and wholesale prices offered at Internet
scrapbooking supply stores.
How Can I Start Professionally
Scrapbooking?
Obviously,
the first step to starting a creative scrapbooking company (even one with a
single employee, aka “you”) is to develop a business plan. This document should
include an overview, financial information (including income and expense
projections, marketing ideas, local competition statistics, and realistic
growth rates.
Though you
may not be able to find exact data to work into your creative scrapbooking
business plan, try to be as complete as possible. The more information you
include, the better your chances of success.
Do I Need Any Formal Training?
Though
there are no credentials needed to call yourself a creative scrapbooking pro,
you may want to take a few community courses on scrapbooking design. Doing so
will keep you “in the know” as far as the latest products and trends are
concerned; it will also provide you with fresh ideas to propose when working
with clientele.
What Do I Need in Terms of Stock?
One of the
most essential items you’ll need to start a creative scrapbooking venture is
scrapbooking paraphernalia. Chances are, you already have some supplies around
your home, but if they aren’t organized, it’s time do so.
Invest in
some bins (dollar stores have a plethora of options) and label them according
to scrapbooking supplies, such as stickers, papers, backgrounds, adhesives,
albums, markers, scrapbooking magazines (for inspiration), and borders. This
way, you’ll always know exactly how much of each scrapbooking necessity you
have and can order more before you run out.
Do I Need to Rent a Space for My
Scrapbooking Business?
Though it
would certainly be wonderful to have an “offsite” locale for your creative scrapbooking
enterprise, it’s more likely that you’ll need to make due with your current
digs.
Anything
from a corner of your family room to a renovated closet can serve as your creative
scrapbooking “headquarters”. Just make certain that you have enough space and
light to work your magic and store your scrapbooking supplies!
What Will I Tell My Family?
If you’re
worried about “breaking” the news to your family that you’re setting off on an
entrepreneurial scrapbooking journey, you’re not alone. Many first-time
business owners are reticent to reveal their plans to loved ones for fear that
their significant others will not be supportive.
With that
said, it’s critical to the long-term success of your creative scrapbooking
business that you have the “buy in” of your kin. So take a deep breath, muster
up all your courage, and boldly state, “I’m going to become a professional
scrapbooker! And when the money starts
coming in, the first dinner out is on me!”
The Next Step
Are you eager
to start your creative scrapbooking adventure? In our next article, we’ll
explore how to set your prices and market and advertise your home-based
scrapbooking services…
