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Make
Money This Holiday Season - Don't Just Spend It
by Liz Folger,
Bizymoms.com
What if you could make more money than
you spend this holiday season? Sounds like a pretty good idea,
you say? If you'd like to be on the making money end during
the holidays, now is the time to start preparing. Below I'm
going to give you several money-making ideas. Pick the one or
two that interest you the most and have fun!
CRAFTS
It doesn't matter if you're into woodworking, sewing, painting,
pottery, or creating handmade paper. More than ever, people
enjoy giving that one-of-a-kind special gift. You can sell your
wares via the Net, at holiday bazaars or craft shows, or even
consignment style. Once you become known for your crafts, word-of-mouth
will keep you very busy.
RUBBER STAMPING
One idea is to create your own line of holiday cards with rubber
stamps. Melissa Duquette has found this to be a profitable business.
She explains, "The card season is upon us and everyone will
soon be searching for the perfect holiday card to send to family
and friends. This is your opportunity to break out into business
and create unique hand-stamped holiday cards. Or why not offer
a class teaching this great hobby? Rubber stamping can be worked
into so many different businesses." I've been to a rubber-stamping
party where we were able to create our own cards. I had a great
time hanging out with my friends and making my own unique cards.
If you are into rubber stamping, seriously consider having a
rubber stamping card party. You would supply everything needed,
and could charge either a flat fee or charge per card made.
T-SHIRTS
Kim Moya runs a T-shirt business and finds this a way to make
extra cash during the holidays. She says you can create inexpensive
holiday sweatshirts, and long- and short-sleeved T-shirts. And
she doesn't stop at T-shirts, but also includes tote bags, felt
and cloth ornaments, advent and traditional calendars, aprons
and many other items that you can purchase wholesale and sell
at retail prices!
FLEECE BLANKETS
I don't know about you, but I love fleece blankets. I was really
excited when I found out I could make these awesome "Snuggly"
blankets without having to sew a stitch. Cinda Louden has been
making these types of blankets for a while now and explains,
"These blankets are made out of Polar Fleece material. They
are soft, warm, cozy, durable, and wonderfully 'Snuggly.' There's
no sewing or needlework involved; all you do is cut and tie.
Making Snugglies is a great way to start and create a business,
make a little extra cash, or just make them for gifts. It's
all up to you!"
SANTA LETTERS
Tamaira Sandifer, the owner of Fun Mail For Kids, has been
creating Santa Letters for a while now. "I thought, what child
wouldn't like to get a letter in the mail full of goodies just
for them from Santa Claus. Once I informed family and friends
about starting Fun Mail For Kids, the letters practically sold
themselves. Last year brought in approximately 680 requests,
which is pretty phenomenal since I don't do much advertising."
Tamaira says that running this type of business is fun because
it allows her to do something she really enjoys. "So it doesn't
really seem like work," she says.
ONLINE AUCTIONS
The hype of eBay
has not gone away, but has only grown. When among a group of
people, I can usually find someone who has either bought or
sold something in an online auction. Colleen Wallace has made
it her business to sell merchandise online. "The holiday season
is the best time of year for me. People are always looking for
unique and interesting gifts to give their loved ones. What
better place to find something different than the online auctions,"
says Colleen. Start thinking about what you might have that
you could sell online. Colleen has found that the items that
sell well are those that can be used for stocking stuffers,
are limited editions, or are signed items.
BAKING
Then there are the people who cannot stop baking during the
holidays. Are you the type of person who finds that at the close
of the season, all of your neighbors' refrigerators and cookie
jars are bursting at the seams because baking is just your thing?
Believe it or not, this is not the favorite activity of some
people.
Stacy Robinson has found that A Holiday Home Boutique is a
fun way to network with others who provide a holiday-related
product or service. Each vendor displays her product or information
about her service, and friends and neighbors are invited to
come to shop and share fellowship.
"As a cake decorator, I sell gingerbread houses, as well as
display and serve a holiday-themed decorated cake - which the
hostesses love because this becomes part of the refreshments!
Visitors to the boutique get a chance to taste and see my cakes,
and I take orders for holiday party cakes. I also display a
few 'dummy cakes' to showcase my designs for birthdays, weddings,
etc."
The niche market that has been Stacy's holiday bread and butter
since 1991 is selling gingerbread houses to real estate agents.
She leaves a gingerbread house with order information in large
real estate offices for a few days. She also offers free delivery
to the real estate office, or delivery for a fee to their home-buying
customers and other colleagues, such as mortgage brokers, closing
attorneys, etc.
PLAN IT RIGHT
These are just a few ideas you can use to make a little extra
cash this holiday season. Use your imagination. Remember, people
are more than willing to spend money for that special gift and
holiday service. Why can't you be the one who pockets that money?
This is such a great time of year to make your business work.
Another great reason to consider this type of seasonal work:
If you plan it right, you shouldn't be working too close to
or on the actual holiday. Being your own boss has never sounded
better, now has it? Start thinking now if you want this to be
seasonal work, or if you want to continue your business into
the new year. All of the business ideas I listed above can be
run throughout the year. This could be the start of something
very profitable!
Additional Resources:
Ebooks are available on each of the subjects listed above,
and each ebook contains more information on starting that particular
business. They include:
Bizy's Guide To: Making Snugglies! A Step-by-Step Guide
to Making and Starting Your Own Fleece Blanket Business
By Cinda Louden
Bizy's Guide To: How to Create a Profitable Cake Decorating
Business "From Scratch" By Stacy Robinson
Bizy's Guide To: Making Money With Online Auctions By
Colleen Wallace
Bizy's Guide To: Starting Your Own Personalized Letter Service
For Kids By Tamaira Sandifer
Bizy's Guide on How to Start and Operate A Home-Based T-Shirt
Business By Kimberly Banfield Moya
Bizy's Guide To: Starting a Rubber Stamping Business
By Melissa Duquette
You can purchase any of these ebooks by clicking HERE
Liz
Folger is a work-at-home expert and author of "The
Stay-at-Home Mom's Guide To Making Money From Home."
Liz has also created a resource site for work-at-home parents
at bizymoms.com.
When you visit, don't forget to sign-up for the free Bizymoms
newsletter.
Copyright 2004
by Liz Folger.
Reproduction without permission prohibited.
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