Turned your hobby into a business?

[Britesea]

We are here. Talk away!

 

[Denim Deb]

Sounds like you're making a real go of it.

 

[cknmom]

I am slowly trying to make a baking business work. Right now I am just selling occasionally to people that my DH works with. I don't drive so I cannot get to the local Farmers Market in town. I have been thinking about an Etsy account but don't know if the fees would offset. I also sell (at DH's work) sweat bands for hardhats. Trying to get that going other places also. I also do other crafts I could sell. I don't like making the same things you see everywhere. I have no other income of my own, so I get supplies as we have funds to do so.

 

[cknmom]

A few years ago I started baking and selling bread to a handful of regular customers. It was fun and the customers enjoyed it, but I found the profit margin was way too small for the amount of work I put in, so I stopped after a few weeks.

If you can find a way to get to a farmer's market that will help a lot. Maybe there is someone in the area that you can hitch a ride with?

I do have a neighbor I me once that said I could go with her. I'm not sure I want to get that close with her though.

 

[cknmom]

Do you have any construction companies or unions in the area where you might be able to sell the sweat bands?

I might . I will have to check into that. We do have a welding/gas shop I was thinking about asking. They sell the cheap ones that are no good there. I didn't think about const. cos. Good idea- Thanks!

 

[cknmom]

A few years ago I started baking and selling bread to a handful of regular customers. It was fun and the customers enjoyed it, but I found the profit margin was way too small for the amount of work I put in, so I stopped after a few weeks.

If you can find a way to get to a farmer's market that will help a lot. Maybe there is someone in the area that you can hitch a ride with?

I keep getting asked to make wedding cakes. I do it, but I REALLY don't like making them. Too much pressure! Some, when I quote them a price they think it is too much even though I sell them relatively cheap. Then they go and spend much more anyway.

 

[cknmom]

These are mainly people DH works with. Most of them I haven't even met. When I used to make doggie crackers I gave samples to friends. They raved about them , many said that their dogs wouldn't eat any treats but gobbled these up. But did they want to pay for them?? NOOOO.

 

[cknmom]

I love to bake and decorate cakes, all self taught. I don't care to eat cake much though. People think that the price is high but they don't consider the time it takes me to make it, the cost of energy(which I don't add into the price) and the fact that everything I make is from scratch- I don't buy cake mixes! I had some people say that they could get the same thing cheaper at Wal-mart. GO AHEAD.
Mine is bigger around and taller and better!

 

[cknmom]

An old lady taught me to crochet years ago, but I never got into it. I may one, but at the moment I enjoy sewing more. The funny thing is I hated sewing until our neighbour showed me a quilt she made, 100% hand stitched…. I'm working on my 8th quilt at the moment! I got hooked after the first one. I found that not many people are willing to pay the price I have to put on a quilt for the 100's of hours of sewing I put into each of them, so I gave 5 of them away, sold 2 and the current one and the next one will finally be for myself.

I had someone ask me to make them a custom quilt. I designed it, did several hrs. of searching for the unique materials, figuring my cost, hrs of work, etc. Gave him the price and he said he'd just buy one at the store instead!

 

[cknmom]

I have made most of my grandchildren embroidered baby quilts. I only think one of them really appreciated it. My youngest one I just sent hers a couple of months ago, she seemed to like it.