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Old 04-07-2018, 06:22 AM
  #16  
klswift
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Join Date: Dec 2012
Posts: 1,857
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I sell quilts - BUT - i only do throw or lap size and I have a system for how I buy, what I make and where I sell so that I can make a profit. This has taken me years and years to develop. (I have been selling many different items in a small shop and online for over 10 years.) My suggestion is that you make smaller items and tie them into what your area/market will want. This is a shop attached to a grocery ?? Make sets of placemats, table runner, pot holders, wine bottle bags. Make some out of the same fabrics so folks could buy a couple matching items to give as a gift. For the last few years I have been selling lots of the fold n' stitch wreaths in various styles. I have a small tag showing the different ways to use them (wreath, centerpiece with candle or vase, holding cutlery at a buffet table or with a raised cake plate). One thing we sell dozens of is the soup bowl microwave potholders. Make sure you have a shelf label saying what they are and attach a small card stating they are for reheating, not long cooking, as a safety measure. Another big seller for us is the full body bibs for babies (they have longer legs with a button strap to go around leg). We make them reversible will cotton on one side and flannel on the other. Start out with most of your items being $10 - $20 with maybe one larger ticket item to draw their attention. But - you still need to be very good about your purchasing of materials. You will not be able to make any profit by buying fabric and notions at retail pricing. You must get super sales, clearance, after season purchasing. I rarely, rarely pay more $4 per yard of fabric and often a lot less. For pricing, the 2 basic rules are take ALL your materials cost and times it by 3 or take all of your costs and add an hourly wage. These formulas depend on the product, but you will find they often result in very close numbers. Just try to keep it fun and interesting, do not overwhelm yourself with trying to get a lot of product quickly, your quality will suffer. Make a few items and group them in a small display, grow the display as you complete more items rather than start with a big space and try to fill it. Good luck - it is a really good feeling when someone gives you money for something you create!!!!
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