Starting a Home-Based Scrapbooking Business

Scrapbooks have become a popular way to arrange and preserve photographs and other memorabilia. An improvement on its predecessor, photo albums, scrapbooking has created business opportunities for creative people who enjoy scrapbooking.

Getting Started

Starting a home-based, scrapbooking business can take several forms. A scrapbook business can be based on one of several business models, depending on the interests and skills of the scrapbook entrepreneur. These business models include scrapbook parties, direct product sales, scrapbook classes, scrapbook artist, and more. These business models may often overlap as successful scrapbook entrepreneurs seek to maximize revenues and profits from each customer.

Scrapbook parties are one model of a scrapbook business. This model is most common with entrepreneurs who are working as a "consultant" or "representative" for a scrapbook supply company. These scrapbook parties may seek to bring together potential customers in a fun, social environment to work on scrapbooks - and see new products, materials, and techniques demonstrated by the consultant or representative. The party model may earn most revenue from direct sales of scrapbook supplies, tools, and materials, but the business model is based on encountering customers and making sales in a group, party environment.

Direct sales of scrapbook supplies to customers is another model for the scrapbook business. Like scrapbook parties, this model may involve either selling as a "consultant" or "representative" for a larger, scrapbook supply company or selling scrapbook supplies that the entrepreneur has sourced on their own. The scrapbook entrepreneur who is involved in direct sales may (or may not) use scrapbook parties to drive some sales and meet new customers, but the sales focus is broader than just scrapbook parties.

Scrapbook classes are conducted by some scrapbook entrepreneurs. These scrapbook classes may provide an introduction to scrapbooking, focus on a particular technique or approach to scrapbooking, or may be based on another theme. This scrapbook entrepreneur may earn revenue by charging a fee to those attending the scrapbook class or seminar. Direct sales of related supplies or materials at the class can further increase revenue. Conducting scrapbook classes or seminars can be a stand-alone business or can serve as a profitable marketing tool to create new customers for scrapbook entrepreneurs who are also sellers or artists.

Scrapbook artists earn money by charging customers to create scrapbooks for the customer. Some people are impressed with the idea of having their photographs or memorabilia preserved in a scrapbook, but may lack the time, interest or artistic skill to create their own scrapbooks. The scrapbook artist creates the scrapbook using their own materials and supplies and the customer's photographs or memorabilia. Established scrapbook artists reportedly earn respectable rates for their artistic efforts.

These business models represent some of the most common models for scrapbook businesses. Scrapbook entrepreneurs often employ overlapping models that are complementary to each other.

Marketing

Successful marketing approaches for your home-based, scrapbooking business will vary depending on the model of the scrapbook business and the prospective customers for that business model. The different scrapbook business models may require different marketing efforts.

Business cards are essential for many business people. Scrapbook entrepreneurs can also benefit from professionally printed business cards - regardless of which scrapbook business model is chosen. Business cards can be handed out to attendees at classes or seminars, to participants at scrapbook parties, to customers who have purchased products, materials or supplies, and to anyone who expresses an interest in your scrapbook business.

Business websites are particularly useful marketing tools for many businesses. Setting up a business website for your scrapbook business provides the opportunity to display photographs or scans of scrapbooks, information on scrapbook parties, details about scrapbook classes or seminars, and information about any scrapbook products, materials or supplies that you sell.

Scrapbook entrepreneurs involved in home scrapbook parties will probably find most early bookings directly through family and friends. Additional scrapbook parties can be booked through people who attend scrapbook parties. The hostess or host of a home party is often offered a product or service discount in order to entice them to host the scrapbook party.

Maintaining a mailing list, whether e-mail or postal mail, is a great way to follow up with customers and to announce new promotions, materials, or classes. Mailing lists usually work best when the recipient feels that they are getting actual value from their membership on the list. Offering scrapbook tips, scrapbook industry news, or other useful information in the mailings can encourage people to subscribe to the list.

Scrapbook classes or seminars can be advertised in trade publications, community newspapers, Internet forums, and announced on community bulletin boards. Scrapbook classes or seminars can also be promoted through a mailing list, at home parties, and on brochures distributed to customers who are purchasing scrapbook materials or supplies.

Cautions

Business insurance may be worth considering, particularly if you use your own vehicle in your own business or maintain a large inventory of scrapbook supplies and materials in your home. Seminar or class organizers may find that some facilities also require business liability insurance in order to rent the facility. This is particularly true if any food will be served. Contact a qualified, business insurance agent for more information about available insurance and cost.

Conclusion

Starting a home-based, scrapbook business can be a great business opportunity for those who are creative or artistic and enjoy scrapbooking. The variety of business models available for those interested in starting a scrapbook business means that scrapbook entrepreneurs can focus on the approach that best fits their own interests and needs.

SOURCES

Sue DiFranco. How to Start a Scrapbook Business. FrugalMom.net. Site accessed on 23 November 2010.

KC Morgan. Work at Home with Scrapbooking Services: Start a Business, Become Self Employed. Suite101.com. Site accessed on 23 November 2010.

Clay Collins. What You Should Know Before Starting a Scrapbooking Company. Business Ideas. Site accessed on 23 November 2010.