SacMomsClub.com

A week or so ago I did a blog about working for yourself. Being a "momtrepeneur." I thought about this blog because I get a lot of questions from other moms wanting to know how to get started. As I said in the other blog, it isn't easy to get started on your own. It's good to get help and advice.

I recently met another mom from this site for coffee who is trying hard to do just that. She has a great business concept and some inventory already created, but didn't know where to go from there. Here's what I told her...

#1) Figure out what your starting product will be. Jewelry is hard to sell as there are SO many people who do it. Vintage and recycled are always in (especially now), so that's a good angle.

#2) Choose a business name. Don't get so specific that you're locked into making that one item forever (like Janes Necklaces).

#3) Get a website. I like Blogspot. They're free and very easy to use. You can also easily convert pictures and text to HTML to copy and paste onto other sites (like MySpace) if you aren't good at HTML. Did I mention they're free? http://www.blogger.com/home

#4) Get a digital camera if you don't already have one. If you do have one, practice practice practice!!! A photo of your items is worth $1,000 (not a thousand words).

#5) If you are making your items (which I'm assuming you are for the sake of this blog), get an Etsy store. Etsy is like Ebay for handmade items. You get your own "store" for free. It is 20cents per item you list, but it stays in your store for up to 4months and includes up to 5pictures of the 1 listing. You can't beat it! Link up with PayPal and you have the cheapest website in town. My sister-in-law dumped her expensive personalized website to switch to Etsy and is making a lot more profit because of that move. http://www.etsy.com/

#6) Get business cards and start handing them out to everyone you know. I LOVE Overnight Prints.com http://www.overnightprints..... For $9.99 you can get great quality thick paper stock cards (that you design using their very simple on-line tools) delivered right to your home. Do I sound like a commercial yet? See why you need to know how to take a good product picture? Use it on your card!

#7) Tell everyone. Send e-mails with links to your store. Pass out cards. Be your own model and wear your product. When someone compliments you or comments, hand them a card!

#8) Craft Show or Shop? There are 2 major ways to now sell your product. Craft shows, or shops. Shops will take a 30% standard cut from your price. So you'll need to price higher than you would in-person, or make less. Shows usually have a table fee of $20-$60 for a 6foot space. You'll need your own table, chair and display items. I suggest the Dollar Tree for the last necessity. When you're first starting out, don't pay more than $20. Make sure you have plenty of change and everything priced and ready to go.

Second Saturday in Downtown Sacramento is a great place to start doing craft shows. http://www.sacramento-secon... Many art galleries and coffee shops will encourage vendors to come down and set up a table for the $20 fee. Try and hook up with stores or other vendors who are doing similar items you are. Like jewelry, vintage, clothing, etc.

#9) Seek advice from others! I've only been doing this since June and have had a TON of help from the pros along the way. Search the web for help and advice. Check out other people's work, but don't get discouraged. If you're having fun and your initial cost is low... it's worth it!!!

#10) Keep your expectations realistic, or you'll get discouraged. Expect to "break even" for a while, especially at shows. That way if you do great, it'll be a surprise. It took months before I even made one sale on my Etsy store.

Hope this is helpful!

:)