Seeking Advice About Starting Own Card Business

Hi S. - I have a very niche line of greeting cards so i might not be your best reference, but I have certainly learned a lot about the card business since launching my collection back in 2006 at the National Stationery Show in New York. If you want to do this because it is something you enjoy, I say go for it. If you want to do it because you think you can make a lot of money, run fast :-). There is a yahoo goup called Greeting Card professionals you can join and Doug Ready has a great guide you can reference there too. Good luck, and if you have any other questions, feel free to let me know.

Have an "uplifting" day,
C.

PS - you can see my line at www.liftmeupcards.com. It was just featured on NBC and in D Beauty Magazine, as well as in Redbook, WWD and others.

Hi S.,

I started my own business (not cards) last year and I am a part of a "mom" community that would be a huge help to you. The website is mompreneursonline.com the women there are awesome. Very helpful and always willing to point you in the right direction when starting your own business. I know a few of them are in the "paper stuff" industry, so feel free to pop over there and ask some some questions. I have no doubt that they will know what you have to do. Good Luck! See you there.

N.
p.s. go to the community forums section when you get there.

www.Etsy.com

It's only 20 cents to list an item and a very small fee once it sales. I have 2 shops there, feel free to convo me through one of them and I can help you set up and learn the ins and outs of selling online as I have learned a lot.

www.JeweledAmbrosia.etsy.com
www.LittleLovables.etsy.com

If you are in the Keller/Southlake area - - try some of the bakeries. When people come in to pick up a cake - - wouldn't it be nice if some pretty cards were right there!

I was in the shop, "Nothing Bundt Cakes," which is in Southlake Town Square but facing Carroll Ave. I noticed she had a rack of cards made from old black-and-white photos. (I bought three of her mini-bundt cakes which she wrapped into a perfect little sampler package with a bow for a friend's b-day.)

You might want to start with craft fairs and such and see how your products responds with the public. You could advertise on etsy.com and see how that turns out. There are alot of options, but the most important thing that you can do is get your name out there any way possible. Hope that helps. K.

for 20.oo you can register with a business name at the tax office, and use this business name at wamu for a free small business checking account. This will help you keep tax stuff seperate from your household stuff.
For a card business, you might check with local antique shops about selling your cards. Also, you can purchase a webpage, and sell them in a yahoo online store.
Maybe even go to a place like 'Cookies by Design' in Arlington, to see if they would sell the cards at their store.