Next you need to have a visual product for potential resellers to see this is when the quality of your work will speak for itself. Once you've survived the critics and potential lovers of your work it’s time to test the market. I chose to do a small stall with handcrafted upcycled small decorative items just to gain peoples interested and feedback luckily for me people loved my items and were keen to see what was next. My FB page will and is the best advertising ever and good for comments which help a lot even the negative ones if you receive any.
Finally all the boring stuff and financials done you are ready to make a business plan usually with the intention to apply for a start-up loan.
For me I already had a workshop at home Id collected many tools over time and also had a small stock of furniture, decorative items and pallets.... I love pallets even had an old ladder or two so apart from paint and some new brushes and my labour all I needed to do was crack on and save myself another monthly outgoing in the form of a loan. Yes, I need a van but my old golf is doing fine and gets filled to the brim with all sort of random finds and projects. I have a few contacts with local delivery drivers who don’t charge too much for larger items I personally deliver smaller items.
There are down sides to not having a shop but boy I’m glad I don’t have the added overheads and worries for now.
In general my business is slowly getting noticed Facebook groups are an amazing advertising tool but also engaging with your public and not constantly selling them something I think also plays a big part I spend a lot of time reading up on trends and colour forecasts which I do share on my page for all to see. My customers are increasing some value the art of recycling whilst others just must have a particular piece.
You can’t please everyone some people like Shabby Chic some prefer a more elegant twist others love industrial some like bling some like battered and worn the key is to be versatile at the same time bring a uniqueness that is yours, be on trend, be vintage, be whatever you need to be to get out there and start selling. Be able to give people something different but fitting to their own personal space.
Question "would I do it all again?" Well the answer is Yes! Can anyone do it mmm a question only you and your product, masses of market research and a financial forecast can answer for you?
For help and further advice on setting up your own business go to:
https://www.gov.uk>start-with-an-idea or www.sage.co.uk>starting-and-planning
Good luck
Kerry at Upcycled Me