Starting a successful creative Scrapbooking Business, part II

It is ironic; What makes a company unique creative scrapbooking that attractive for entrepreneurs looking for a venture work-at-home is also what makes it so incredibly challenging. After all, there are no definitive "rules" when it comes to price your creations Notepad or determine where and how to advertise your services.

However, there are general business planning techniques you can use as a starting point to your creative scrapbooking company the best opportunity for long-term success.

Determining your creative Scrapbooking price rates

Or you specialize in wedding scrapbooks, memory scrapbooks, price/EEA scrapbooks or other creative scrapbooking creations, you will have to develop a guideline price. Otherwise, it will be difficult to negotiate with the clientele.

Determining your creative scrapbooking business price guideline may seem daunting at first glance, but it's actually not as complicated as divided into "bite-sized" pieces.

Hourly rates or standard price per Scrapbook?

First, you need to determine whether you want to set the prices per project or per hour.

A huge advantage for charging per creative scrapbooking project is that consumers are used to pay for products this way. After all, people do not buy a pair of shoes based on how long it took to make a shoe maker; they just look at the price tag or retail value and decisions if they feel that it is a valuable investment.

That being said, setting of a price per creative scrapbooking project may not always beneficial to you, and if you discovered that you are spending excessive amount of time for each Scrapbook that you create, your original quoted price might not match your efforts. (Remember the old adage: time is money.)

In essence, you can expect to experiment with your creative scrapbooking cost methods at first. Maybe with some clients, you could offer a rate "per project", but with others, you could try an approximation per hour. There is no "right or wrong" process-you just want to find the best one for your company with creative scrapbooking.

Don't forget to consider "hidden costs"

Before "public will" with your Notepad price structure, make sure you have accounted for the many costs (both direct and indirect) that is linked to owning a creative scrapbooking company. Be sure to take the amount that you expect to spend on basic creative scrapbooking supplies such as special paper, a scrapbook, adhesives, stickers, markers and fabrics.

Add to your creative scrapbooking price figures phone calls, mileage (if you will travel for consultation), Babysitting/child services costs and overhead.

At this point, maybe your estimates of the original price seems too high or too low. Consequently, you can change them accordingly, although you should never underestimate what people will pay for a one-of-a-kind Scrapbook.

Selling your creative services for Scrapbooking

You have your basic Scrapbook priced. Creative scrapbooking supplies are to side and on order. You are organized, primer, and ready to go. But wait! You still need to attract those first important customer.

Advertising and marketing are stumbling blocks for many creative scrapbooking starting; Consequently, numerous scrapbook enthusiasts from the road becoming entrepreneurs because they assume that they'll never be able to publish their talents. However, if you are selling your creative scrapbooking services pragmatic approaches, you have an excellent opportunity to attract customers.

Initially, you can try a technique that has worked for many other creative scrapbooking aficionados-scrapbook "parties". These meetings are related to the meetings of the "tupperware" famous in the 1970s. Simply put, a friend offers to host a scrapbook party to his or her place of residence for several people interested in the world of creative scrapbooking.

Your role will be on the ClipBook feast them to creative scrapbooking and talk about what you can do for them. It will of course be crucial to carry business cards (why not design hand-made "mini Scrapbook cards" for the occasion?) as well as sample scrapbooks you created. Coupons for discount Scrapbook services make beautiful scrapbook Add-ons and party guests will encourage you to hire. Of this party, you can expect to get a few "nibbles" and perhaps one or two customers.

Of course, it is essential to do a fantastic job on your first Scrapbook command. You must give the "your all"; in this way your customer will have a reason to brag about and showing off your custom (and exceptional) creative scrapbooking services to friends, family and colleagues. You can also your satisfied customer (if he or she agrees) as a "spokesman" for your creative scrapbooking company in the future advertising campaigns.

Next ... Outside 101 on the market

In the last article of our three part creative scrapbooking business piece, we investigate particular creative scrapbooking business marketing ideas and tips about running your creative scrapbooking company wise, ethical and efficient.

Michele Cardello, Director of marketing and creative stamp for life [http://www.lifeimprints.com], a creative scrapbooking supplies company also offering contemporary photo frames, in Cleveland, Ohio, has worked in the photo packaging industry for 10 years. Cardello helps customers find creative ways to preserve and appreciate a lifetime of memories.

Starting a Successful Creative Scrapbooking Business, Part III

Every scrapbook is unique and inviting; as a creative scrapbooking professional, your marketing should be as eye-catching and irresistible as your creations. Even if you have only a few hundred dollars to spend, you can absolutely woo clientele using grassroots methods to showcase your creative scrapbooking acumen.

Educate Others in the Art Form of Creative Scrapbooking

One of the fastest ways to turn yourself from an unknown scrapbooker into a creative scrapbooking "expert" is to teach a class on the art of creating a fabulous, memorable scrapbook.

Though you might initially be wary that if you tell others your creative scrapbooking "secrets", they won't use your creative scrapbooking business, that usually doesn't happen. Instead, what occurs is that your students see you as a professional in the arena of scrapbook design and development. Thus, when they want an important scrapbook (e.g., for their daughter's Bar Mitzvah or husband's retirement celebration), they will immediately think of you. After all, they might enjoy creative scrapbooking, but they don't necessarily feel confident enough to construct a special scrapbook on their own.

You can work with many community centers, schools, college campuses, and libraries to offer your creative scrapbooking courses. Expect to spend a bit of money on advertising, room rental (though you can often snag a free space if you're a start-up), and creative scrapbooking paraphernalia, though it's still much less of an investment than if you paid for a full page, 4-color ad in the Sunday paper.

Write About Scrapbooking

Another way to become an instant creative scrapbooking "guru" is to write articles or tips about creative scrapbooking. Sometimes, smaller community papers will print such items as "filler" for their circulars. Alternately, if a local sewing center or arts and crafts store offers a newsletter to patrons, you might be able to become a "guest columnist." (Or perhaps you can offer to write your own "creative scrapbooking newsletter" gratis if they agree to pass it out to consumers.)

Will you receive a ton of creative scrapbooking business from this type of subtle "marketing"? Probably not. But you will be building your reputation as your area's premier creative scrapbooking authority. You will also be able to tell prospective customers that you've published items on the topic of creative scrapbooking, always an impressive credential to tout (and a resume booster as well.)

Start a Scrapbooking Blog and/or Web site

In today's cyber society, blogs and Web sites are fairly inexpensive, so there's no reason not to get online and start talking about your creative scrapbooking know-how and burgeoning creative scrapbooking company.

For example, you could quickly set up a blog 100% devoted to the tricks of the creative scrapbooking trade in an effort to attract persons from around the world to your site. Though most of them won't become clients, you stand to gain instant exposure. And who knows? The family down the street may wind up stopping by your creative scrapbooking Web site and hiring you to redo their three sons' baby books!

Never Stop Selling Yourself or Your Scrapbooking Abilities!

It's critical that you never stop selling yourself and your creative scrapbooking business if you are serious about succeeding in this infant industry with huge profit potential.

This may mean stepping out of your "comfort zone" and becoming a master at self-promotion. If you have an innate fear of networking, it's time to overcome your worries and learn how to shake some hands. Remember that you won't be the first entrepreneur who took a plunge into the unknown.

To become a better press generator on behalf of your creative scrapbooking business, you'll have to force yourself to try again and again. However, if the process becomes achingly difficult and hampers your desire to scrapbook, it may be time to hire someone to promote your business on your behalf. Yes, this is a "last ditch" measure, but if it keeps your dream alive, it's worth the cost to bring on a partner who isn't afraid of a good sales pitch. (And many individuals will work with start-ups on a commission basis, which is terrific news for your budget!)

A Final Note about Ethics and Your Scrapbooking Venture

Though it's imperative that you keep up standards and operate ethically and legally (the tax man will cometh whether you like it or not!), that doesn't mean you can't be innovative. Constantly seek out ways to differentiate yourself from other scrapbook artists and allow yourself to grow personally and professionally.

Love your work, and that positive attitude mingled with creative scrapbooking talent will draw customer inquiries and have you wondering why you didn't begin your creative scrapbooking company sooner.

Michele Cardello, director of marketing and creative for Life Imprints, a creative scrapbooking [http://www.lifeimprints.com] supplies company also offering contemporary picture frames, in Cleveland, Ohio, has worked in the photo packaging industry for 10 years. Cardello helps customers find creative ways to preserve and appreciate a lifetime of memories.

Starting a Successful Creative Scrapbooking Business, Part I

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...

Michele Cardello, director of marketing and creative for Life Imprints, a creative scrapbooking [http://www.lifeimprints.com] supplies company also offering contemporary picture frames, in Cleveland, Ohio, has worked in the photo packaging industry for 10 years. Cardello helps customers find creative ways to preserve and appreciate a lifetime of memories.