Starting a new business
 

Hi I want to start a new business and sell Rice bags, burp clothes, bibs, but trying to figure how much to charge for them. Could you give me an idea what to charge or what you would pay for them? Also what would you charge to do fleece tied blankets.

Starting a new business
 

I want to start selling rice bags, burp cloths, bibs, also tied fleece blankets. I was wondering how much you would pay for these items. You help is greatly needed.

I think the pricing of these types of items depends *greatly* on how cute/unusual they are. I have been at craft shows where these kinds of things did not sell at all, I think largely because they just weren't sufficiently outstanding. People have to have a reason to buy your burp cloths instead of a package of them at Target, for example, especially if yours cost more. It helps to have some clever feature associated with the item, and especially that the item look especially colorful or pretty or just plain eye-catching.

How would you market these items? Who would be your target customers?

I myself would probably never pay for a fleece tied blanket. I know that people buy kits from JoAnn's to do this, but not sure anyone buys the finished product? It might actually be easier to sell these as kits; however, then you have the problem of paying more for the kit fabrics than a place like JoAnn's pays (because they can buy wholesale).

Are you planning to create a real business, applying for a wholesale license (so you can buy materials at wholesale prices) and charging sales tax (and filing sales taxes)? Or are you thinking more in terms of just a home hobby type of thing? I think it's hard to make money doing this either way, but probably harder if you are doing it without being able to buy wholesale.

It would depend on where and how you are going to sell them. If you are thinking of Etsy, research what like items sell for; ditto with eBay and wherever else you are thinking of. If it is local, you need to ask local people since prices vary all across the country.

Please know that the field is very crowded.

This was my reply to your other thread:

It would depend on where and how you are going to sell them. If you are thinking of Etsy, research what like items sell for; ditto with eBay and wherever else you are thinking of. If it is local, you need to ask local people since prices vary all across the country.

Please know that the field is very crowded. And Prism99 is right. without the ability to buy wholesale you will find it hard to make any money at this.

Sorry - not trying to discourage you. But we all would be making money from sewing if we could. You may be able to hit on just the right unique and appealing "thing" that will be greatly sellable!

As Prism 99 said the item has to be something really are attracted to. It reminds me of when my mother, sister and I went to craft shows and my sister had the soft scupltured dolls and a lady was right across the isle from us with the very same dolls but they were so stiff she never sold a one and my sister had the soft cuddley ones and sold all of hers.

Thanks for your response I was pretty much going to place samples of my work in a friends shop and take order this way I don't have a lot of over head and get stuck with a lot of product.

There are some really great bib patterns. I made a friend a strawberry shaped one with a matching pillowcase dress and bloomers (i used seersucker for the dress and bloomers with a fruit print). Very easy and cheap to make. I bought a pattern for the bloomers and bib at joanns when they were .99. Pillowcase dress pattern I got off utube. The bib pattern has 8 different fruits and veggie bibs. It was a baby gift for her. Unique and in style. I don't sew for money but I have to say when I posted pics on facebook i could have had tons of orders. Just an idea!! People love matching baby stuff that's why Gymboree does so well!

Answer to your question sorry I forgot....for the set I would have charged $20.00 for the set and made a profit. How much you charge also depends on where your at....military enlisted $20.00 is a good price but in a higher income area you could charge $30.00. Depends on the local economy.

thanks for the info i will have to look for that pattern