Alright, I have had an idea, and I need input to see if it is a good one or not. So please read through it and leave a comment or email me to let me know what you think.
We want to stay in our house, but are needing to find a way to do so, while lowering our payment somehow. So we are thinking that we can live in the upstairs, and then do something different with the downstairs. We originally had the idea to just make it into it's own apartment and rent it out (which might still happen). There are good things with that idea, but then some negative too. So the other morning, while I was feeding Thomas, I had an epiphany. Are you ready for it?
What if we made it into a business? I was influenced by a new family that moved into the neighborhood and they are opening a preschool downstairs. She is going to be like an administrator, and not the teacher however. She will be hiring a teacher, maintaining enrollment, purchasing supplies, and cleaning. So I was trying to think what kind of business I could do. Preschool is not what I would like to do. Although I love teaching, I think I would get kind of tired of taking care of other people's kids all the time. And I want to have some more flexibility. So....
What do we like to do that we could turn into a business? I like to scrapbook. So that was my idea. Turn downstairs into something like a Crop Corner or a ScrapNook (I have been thinking of names, can you tell?). We would turn the current family room into a room with tables and chairs and scrapbooking "toys." Then I would turn one of the bedrooms into a kid friendly room with toys and such so moms can come and bring their kids to play while they scrap. Another of the rooms I would turn into a TV room. Then not sure about the other bedroom, that might become storage or another scrap room. There is a bathroom down there already. Then we could charge a per visit fee, or buy a punchcard and get a discount, or get a monthly membership. I would not be planning to sell supplies, just provide a mom friendly atmosphere to come and scrapbook. I would have several trimmers, and cutting machines (like the Wishblade and the Cricut) and photo printers (they would have to be an additional fee if they were used). I would also have punches and cropadile and similar kinds of "toys" but would not plan on selling items that are not reusable. I would also have scrapbooking magazines and idea books. I would also try to have a small kitchenette in the main room, so people could bring meals or a snack to give them sustenance while scrapping.
In addition, I would also try to get some independent distributors (like Stampin Up, Creative Memories, I Remember When, etc. Reps) to come and advertise. I would allow them to bring their product that they can then sell and have parties there.
I would not want to be open all the time, but would shoot for 3 days a week, and then 2 weekends a month probably. I could also be open "by appointment" if people wanted to come at a time I wasn't planning on being open. We could also open for Midnight Crops occasionally. There could also be classes of techniques and how to's.
I know these are a lot of ideas, but I have just been having so many go around my head, that I needed a place to put them all down, and to get feedback from.
So, the things I would like to hear from you all, is:
1)Would you be interested in going to a place like this?
2) What would you want to have available to use?
3)What would you be willing to pay to come to a place like this? (I have been thinking something like $5-$10 for 2-3 hours, or like a $25-$50 membership fee for a month- I really have no idea)
4)Do you think a place like this would do well financially? (I am not really in it to make tons of money, just need to be able to net about $1300-$1500/month to help cover our mortgage payment and a little bit extra for the day to day cost of items).
5) Any other suggestions, ideas, or concerns that you would have that I haven't thought of.
We are just looking into seeing if this could be a reality and want to get a feel for it before we would go a head and start on it. We have to do something, and I would love to be able to do something I think would be enjoyable. So leave a comment and let me know!
7 years ago
7 comments:
Well, I am personally very creatively challenged, so I don't scrapbook. However, I do know a lot of moms that do, and I think they'd like something like this. A big night could be the nights of Priesthood meeting- nothing like getting out to "play" while Dad's away! Good luck!
That's a really fun idea. In addition, I would have a computer or two available and classes on digital scrapbooking as well as how to edit your photos.
Before you invested a lot into it, I would do a survey in the area (maybe at a scrapbook store or go to some of the scrapping parties like Stampin' Up) and find out more information that way.
I think the idea has a lot of merit. I would start slow and see if there is a market. The atmosphere sounds great. You could even rent the space out for birthday parties. I personally would be attracted more to an item by item charge. ie...stickers .75 laminator 2.00 wish blade 3.75 (this are completely made up numbers you would have to do the research to make them cost effective. But for more serious scrapbookers you could so a member ship. Then you could reach across several markets. I like the idea of computer access that someone added. I would go to this kind of place, but to make cards instead of scrapbooking. So how is that for advice!!! Good luck. Lauren
That would be a great place to bring a group of kids for a birthday party. They could make crafts to their hearts content and I wouldn't have to clean up the mess (sorry).
What you need to figure out is how much $ you need to raise each month and then plan and price accordingly.
Good luck with this new adventure.
Dana
It would be a fun place to scrapbook with my kids, but you've got some hard choices to make. How will you make sure no one goes into your house, or your personal areas. Are friends required to pay to come to your house to scrapbook? Will you get to scrapbook with the customers, or are you watching their children? I like the idea, and i think you have good space for a home business. It will be a lot of work, and some disappointments. Plus you have to be nice to the customers all the time. You'll have to set up some rules with the children, but the two rooms make sense. good luck!
Hi, its your cousin, Elaine (Lainey). I think this would be a great idea with ALOT of advertising and marketing. A while back I found this website called Meetups.com that might be a way to get the word out about your get togethers you could have with scrapbooking.
http://www.meetup.com/
Well I just found your blog and LOVE to scrapbook so I thought I'd throw my two cents in...
1)Would you be interested in going to a place like this?
YES!!! That sounds great, really!
2) What would you want to have available to use?
Mostly things that are reusable, ie: cutting machines, diecuts, stamps, etc
3)What would you be willing to pay to come to a place like this? (I have been thinking something like $5-$10 for 2-3 hours, or like a $25-$50 membership fee for a month- I really have no idea)
I think a monthly fee would be best cause then whether or not people always make it when they plan to you make the money still... I'd pay a monthly for something like that, especially if I had friends that did it too on a regular basis.
4)Do you think a place like this would do well financially? (I am not really in it to make tons of money, just need to be able to net about $1300-$1500/month to help cover our mortgage payment and a little bit extra for the day to day cost of items).
If you market it right and can get the word around enough... maybe you could have special crop nights that are an extra 10$ on top of the monthly fee and they include dinner or something?
5) Any other suggestions, ideas, or concerns that you would have that I haven't thought of.
too bad I don't live near you!!
Post a Comment