Starting an eCommerce Online Store (part 1)

When I start making crafts, and I see how easy and simple some are to make, I inevitably wonder why I ever paid so much to buy the same finished item. This will usually cause a light to go on in my head and I wonder, "Maybe people could pay ME a ridiculous amount to buy this item that I can make from home and sell online! I'll be my own boss! Set my own hours!! Be FREE!!!" Um...not quite. :) Although there are many successful home-based online businesses, there are thousands, if not millions, that flop over and over again.

I've jotted down some thoughts and resources that I've come across in my searches that I hope will help fellow crafters and entrepreneurs alike.

Does anybody WANT what you can make?
Before you spend one cent, do your homework. Do a search on Google and eBay for your product and see what the competition is selling and at what price. Search around on Etsy for similar handmade products and see how many each Seller has actually sold. If you can't find many sellers for the same item that may be because no one is buying.

Next Millionaire...or dollar-naire?
So people want what you've got, but at what price? Figuring your costs will help you determine your asking price = can you really make money with this idea?

• How much does it cost you to make the product?
• How long does it take you to make the product? How much is that time worth?
• How will you ship the product and how much do those shipping items (boxes, tissue paper, etc.) cost?

Setting up Shop
Etsy, Cafepress and eBay make setting up an online store easy. But they have their limitations - and costs. Their fees can eat up your profits. I recommend at least starting with one of these, though, to test your market. They're free (or cost very little) to setup at least a basic shop and you can test the waters and see how many actual buyers you get. If you've got a hit, then you can always build your own website from there.

The first thing I recommend is to read this article from an eCommerce and eBay expert, Chris Malta. He covers what to sell, where to sell, how to buy what you're selling, how to price what you're selling, and so much more.

more to come...

No-Sew Skirt

No way! It's music to my ears to hear the words "no sew" and "skirt" in the same sentence!! I found this adorable apparel in the Craft of the Day section of MarthaStewart.com. What's even more intriguing than making something so fashionable without lifting a presser foot is the list of tools you will need - which includes an oatmeal container...um, okay. Now do I have your attention? Click here for the full instructions.

Hyacinth Heaven

Out here in Northern California it's still a brisk 50 degrees but the sun is shining and I'm planting my tulip and hyacinth bulbs. I LOVE hyacinth. I only recently discovered them while buying bulbs on sale at Lowe's (a whole bag for $1!). I bought over 100 hyacinth and tulip bulbs for less than $20. Not bad at all...

Entryway Landscaping Contest

It's that time again...time to REMODEL SOMETHING! I've got the remodeling bug. I think being cooped up inside during all this rain and stormy weather just makes me want to break free and change everything! Dreams of flowers and paving stones and shovels dance 'round my head...and you get to help me!
I'd like to change the entryway to my house to something more updated, inviting and interesting. After viewing countless photos from Do It Yourself Landscape Design, I've created a slideshow of my ideas thus far ranging from simple and inexpensive to "break the bank" elaborate. I would LOVE for you to vote on which one you like best (see left column). Leave me comments of any ideas you have as well! Please note that the following photos were edited in Photoshop so all the lines may not, well, line up but you get the general idea:

My main objectives are:

• add some curves to break up the straight lines
• convert some of the driveway back to grass or flowers (we can park 6 cars in that driveway)
• more utility of front lawn. We don't really walk around that grassy area.
• hide the fact that I have easy, low-maintanence, no-frills plants by using interesting structural focal points

Trapeeze Baby

My niece is so cute. Baby Elle swings from the ceiling! She climbs up the sofa and onto the toybox then jumps for it onto a swing suspended from the playroom ceiling! She's been watching her older brothers do this for several months, but she is only just recently tall enough to climb up on her own. Crazy girl!


More Baby Elle links:
Posing like a model with her favorite fruit. Adorable!
Falling asleep while eating corn on the cob. It's hilarious!

Worst Storm in 10 Years!

Due to the recent major storms that hit Northern California, I went to Half Moon Bay, CA to film some of the major wave action at Maverick's surf spot. The waves were lightly spilling over the jetty and cement wall (see other videos for footage). As I turned away to photograph something else, I heard someone yell, "Here comes another wave!" I turned just in time to see the large wave and press "Record". You can see my point of view as I get smashed and run away to higher ground...


Ocean waves at Maverick's surf spot in Half Moon Bay, CA crash through the jetty and cement barrier and spill over into the harbor in the aftermath of the major storms in Northern California. You can see several of the large jetty boulders have been washed away from parts of the jetty.

Sprout a Couch

This is, by far, the coolest thing I've ever seen! Greg Tate of ReadyMade Magazine wrote an article on how to make your very own grass couch. I'm totally going to make one of these this summer and will post my happenings here. How sweet is this?! To see the full article and the How-To instruction, click here.

Hey, It's On Sale...!!

It's no secret that Christmas decor and other holiday items are on sale in stores across America, but did you know that this is also the best month to buy linens and furniture? The Deal Divas over at mormonchic.com have put together a Sales Calendar of when you can expect major markdowns on the items you use! I'll post the items most-likely to be on sale each month here on my blog so be sure to check back often. Here's the list for January:

JANUARY

• Linens
• Fall clothing and holiday items
• Appliances
• Baby carriages
• Books
• Carpets and rugs
• China and glassware
• Christmas cards
• Costume Jewelry
• Furniture
• Furs
• Lingerie
• Men's overcoats
• Pocketbooks
• Preinventory Sales
• Shoes
• Toys

Sew your own Yoga Mat Tote

Another successfully completed Christmas sewing project was this beautiful yoga mat tote. I chose this pink brocade because it reminded me of the cherry blossoms in Asian countries blooming with fresh new life and yoga also helps you breathe fresh new life! So, with no pattern, I simply followed this wonderfully easy video that I found on Pink of Perfection's blog and whipped this little puppy up in under 2 hours!
Yoga Mat Tote
2 hours
Easy beginner level
what you'll need:
1 yard washable fabric
1.5 yards non-fraying ribbon
scissors
safety pin
iron
sewing machine or needle and thread
a yoga mat for measuring (approx. 15"thick by 24"long + extra for seam allowances)