Alexander Kaptsov

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Creating handmade postcards is a business option that you can start with a minimum initial capital and combine it with studies, work, and raising a child. In addition, this is a way to make money on your own hobby. How to create your own business in the market of hand-made gift products?

Handmade postcards: who is this business for?

Making handmade cards is a pleasant and exciting hobby that allows you to create unique and effective gifts for your family and friends. However, you can also make good money on it, moreover, you can do business without leaving your home.

Unlike many other ways of making money, it is the production of postcards that is an option for a profitable business that is suitable for:

• Women on maternity leave.
• Schoolchildren and students.
• Pensioners.
• Working citizens who have several hours free from work and rest every day.

Everyone can master cardmaking or the art of creating exclusive, elegant, interesting cards: you can find many master classes on the Internet for mastering the basic techniques. The further activity of the master is the result of the application of his imagination and creative streak.

What styles are used to make handmade postcards?

For those who are just starting their first steps in the exciting path of creating handmade cards, it is important to know the basic styles of cardmaking. This will allow them to find out in more detail the preferences of customers, as well as not to make the mistake of buying materials for profitable creativity.

An important point: Among the creators of handmade postcards, another style is known that skillfully combines elements of all the above styles - the Mix Media style.

What is needed to start a handmade greeting card making business?

Before accepting the first orders for the production of postcards, a novice entrepreneur will have to acquire a solid set of tools and materials, including:

1. Colored and white paper, corrugated paper, cardboard.
2. Blanks for postcards (if they are not available, you can buy roll cardboard and a cutter).
3. Simple and curly scissors, hole punches.
4. Decorations (beads, dried flowers, buttons, stickers, lace, braid, etc.).
5. Glue.
6. Threads.
7. Colored pencils, paints, markers.
8. Stamps, embossing devices, etc.

An important point: On sale you can find ready-made kits for cardmaking. However, they are more expensive than purchasing all the materials for the postcard separately and therefore are completely inappropriate for mass production.

How much do handmade postcards cost: calculating the cost, taking into account costs

Currently, the price of one handmade postcard on the market is on average 200-300 rubles.

Where does this cost come from:

• At first , the price of materials is taken into account - about 70-100 rubles can be spent on creating a postcard.
• Secondly , the colossal work of the master, who often spends about 1-3 hours on one product.
• Thirdly , the use of the equipment is depreciated - scissors become dull, the ink in the machine for applying stamps runs out, etc.

Therefore, in order to earn tangible profits on the creation of handmade postcards, you must:

1. Find a source of standing orders.
2. Organize bulk purchases of raw materials.

Otherwise, the income will hardly cover the cost.

Where and to whom to sell handmade postcards: market for products

Plain postcards are sold at post offices, newsstands, and flower shops. In this case, we are talking about exclusive handmade products, the sale of which has a slightly different specifics.

That is why for the sale of postcards it is worth choosing:

• Art stores (you can sign a long-term cooperation agreement with them).
• Supermarkets and small and gift items.
• Direct deliveries to large customers - offices, schools, universities, public organizations during the holidays.
• Manufacturing for private customers upon prior request.

It should be noted that the promotion of such a specific product will require active steps on the part of the entrepreneur, in the form of:

1. Creation of your own online store and its promotion on the network.
2. Work with potential.
3. Place advertisements on electronic boards in the network.
4. Participation in fairs of handicrafts with distribution of brochures and business cards.

It is advisable to act in all directions at once: this will allow you to quickly promote the name of the entrepreneur on the market and cover a large share of customers.

Sample business plan for making handmade postcards: calculating profitability

If the purchase of materials is carried out on a wholesale basis, and the equipment is updated only once a year, sales channels are established, then the business of producing handmade cards can be extremely profitable.

The calculation of the main financial indicators can be presented as follows:

• 10 postcards can be made per day (by the entrepreneur's own resources).
• The total costs will be 1,000 rubles (400 - materials, 150 - equipment depreciation, 400 - foreman's work, 50 - other costs).
• Total income from sales (at a price of 200 rubles per item) - 2,000 per day.
• The net profit from the sale of 10 postcards a day will be about 1,000 rubles.

It seems expedient to calculate the profitability of postcard production:
1000/2000*100% = 50%.

By gradually honing the skill, the entrepreneur can produce more cards per day and sell them at a higher price, while making a solid profit. You can involve other family members in creating postcards and create a profitable home business with minimal costs and high returns.