Startups: Home Based Greeting Card Business

Card sold by CallMeArtsy you can view/buy here

I know there are many people like me, that are wanting to start a greeting card business. If you've researched online you know that most of what you find are articles and blog posts on selling your writing and/or illustrations to other card companies.

But what if you want to sell your own creations straight to consumers?

Well the few others that I read have set, in my opinion, a high number as a start up guideline, they say on average it will cost $1,000 to get started.

So far this has not been my experience.

I did find some of the information useful, but mostly the suggestions feel as if they were written pre-Etsy, pre-eBay, pre-social media well basically, pre-internet. That isn't to say you shouldn't pound the pavement and use the consignment method to get your cards into local shops if that is part of your plan, I just feel that it isn't the only way.

And yes, I haven't actually open my (virtual) doors yet so please take this with a grain of salt. But so far the focus groups and research I've conducted leads me to believe these days people usually turn to the interent to shop for greeting cards BEFORE heading out to stores (if they can't find anything). It's the convenience factor.

And because I found so many "how to start a greeting card company" articles during my initial research lacking what I was looking for, I decided to simply look at similar businesses. I read about how they started and what worked for them. Just remember to research while still staying true to your own vision. That vision you had when you first decided to start your business.

It's easy to want to do exactly what others have done. But we are all different and so are our businesses, we need to test and find what will work for us.

The businesses I looked into where textile, stationary and paper companies as well as a few artists that sell their artwork in different formats.

So remember, research, keep true to your vision and look into all avenues to get your cards seen. After that you can decided on a sales and marketing plan that fits in with your product line.

Luck to us all. :)

How To Go From Idea To Startup To Full Fledged Business

Perseverance and stick-to-it-iveness.

We all have Ideas from time to time. We all get inspired, all of us. Then why is it that only a select few act on this?

I'm no expert but I believe those of us that don't, let the fear of failure and the scary "what ifs" keep us stuck.

Those who chase those ideas say to hell with everyone elses's opinions, if I don't try then I'll never know. And that is a good way to think.

So if you do decide to break away from your 9-5 and just go for it, remember the quote above. Because being in the thick of it myself right now and having many things go left when I'm steering right, it would be so easy to say "Ef this, I'm done."

I refuse to give up though,  I'm stubborn like that this time around. :)

We can do this!

Logo For My New Online Business

Sooooo, to Logo or not to Logo, that is the question.

As someone who is trying to get her company off the ground, I've decided that the money I have will be put towards materials, to give my customers a better finished product.

That is to say that when I decided I needed a logo I hopped on over to fiverr.com and went on exhaustive search for a designer that was comfortable with vintage inspired logos.

I had already created a (completely hilarious - I am SO not an artist) rough draft, chosen my colors and even knew how I wanted the placement.

Unfortunately the designer didn't really "get me" and the final product isn't exactly what I envisioned.

So to that end, and perhaps even until I can finance the logo I truly want, I will continue to use the place holder I created myself (see above) courtesy of cooltext.com for fah-ree! And I'll sit on the one I had done on fiverr, at least for now.

A Small Business Startup Is Like A Hot New Romance

For those of you that are, like me, starting a business or have done so in the past, a question. Is it just me or do you also see the similarities between starting a business and starting a new relationship?!

-Butterflies in your stomach
-Little to no sleep
-You forget to eat
-All you talk about is your business
-If something goes wrong you feel sick
-Nervous
-Trying to put yout best foot forward
-Obsessively daydream about making out, sorry, sorry, I meant "making it" ;)

So in conclusion darlins', starting your business is likely to make you feel like a love struck teen again!

Just another reason to give it a go, dontcha think?

When Everything Seems To Be Working Against You

As I write this I have had a tumultuous few days. I'm on the brink of debuting my card line, of starting what I pray will become a legacy for my children.

But isn't it always the way that when you're trying to do good, be better, rise above the sadness and circumstances in your life people try to drag you down?

Some people seem to have nothing better to do that instigate themselves into where they don't belong, where they are not welcome.

I've decided to vent here then brush it all off for what it is. Haters will always hate.

Let 'em, I'm better than that.

Hello World and Welcome to Reality Bites!

Welcome to the blog for my company, Reality Bites! Cards & More.

I will be blogging about things that irk my last nerve : ), the ups and downs of my business adventures, as well as showcasing my cards and interviews with other micro, home and online businesses.

I am launching soon. Yay!

Its been exhausting yet exciting and I can't wait to debut my new card line.

Thanks for stopping by.

[If you own a micro, home or online business and would like to be interviewed, please email me.]