How to Start a Scrapbook Store

You probably have fallen in love with scrapbooking if you want to start a scrapbook store. You may see a scrapbooking business as a way to combine your hobby and your desire to make money. You are certain it will be a hit, but you need to know how to start a scrapbook store.

Market Research

Market research is your first step. You will want to investigate to see if a scrapbooking business is likely to have customers in your area. Ask friends. Have them ask friends. Each person has a circle of 250 acquaintances. Try to get as much information as you can about whether there is a market for a scrapbooking business. If there is, where would you have it?

What Kind of Scrapbooking Business?

Have you considered that a scrapbooking business can be something other than paper, glue, and embellishments? Before you make a final decision to start a scrapbook store, consider other scrapbooking business ideas. Here are five possibilities.

1. Brick and Mortar Scrapbook Store: This is the scrapbooking business people most often consider, but is it the right one for you? Your market research should tell you whether or not an actual store might succeed in your area. The question now is: do you really want a store? You can give personalized attention, but can you compete with the big boys’ inventory? You will need capital to launch a scrapbooking business of this kind, and cash flow will be an ongoing concern as you try to stock a large enough variety to meet your customers’ needs.

2. Online Scrapbook Store: This scrapbooking business has several advantages over the first. You can often operate without inventory; won’t need to rent a store; won’t have many overhead costs; and even if your business grows, you won’t need employees. By becoming a consultant for one of a number of scrapbooking businesses, such as Creative Memories or Stampin’ Up, you can sell scrapbooking supplies online. Details vary with the company, but scrapbooking consultants can earn free products, as well as commissions on quantity sold.

3. Scrapbooking Parties: Using the same plans available for an online store, you can develop a scrapbooking business around in-home parties. Again, details vary by company, but commissions and discounts are available for such a plan.

4. Scrapbooking Services: Many people love the idea of having a scrapbook, but for one reason or another, do not want to get involved in scrapbooking. Your scrapbooking business could be as simple as offering your expertise in making scrapbooks for others. All you need initially is to prepare a few business cards (attractive as the scrapbooks you hope to make), and a portfolio showing examples of your completed work. Then spread the word among family and friends. Offer reasonable rates, with an overall set-up rate, and rates per page. Give a choice between your supplies or supplies chosen by the customer. Allow customers to choose styles from your examples, and ask for copies of their “best” photographs. They will be choosing their favorites this way, and copies will insure you against loss of an irreplaceable memory.

5. Scrapbooking Classes: If you believe you have teaching ability, you can make a scrapbooking business of teaching your techniques to others. A local community college or park district might be interested in your expertise. Adult evening classes might readily pay to have you teach scrapbooking. Private classes could be held in your home – or a local craft store might schedule you. This can be a lucrative scrapbooking business to add to one of the above, as it will provide contacts.

Business Plan

Whatever scrapbooking business you choose, take time to prepare a plan. It need not be elaborate if you will not require financing.

If you decide on a scrapbooking business that will require financing, you will need an official business plan. The easiest way to prepare one is with a “Microsoft Word” template. In the “Word” program, click “File” and select “New”. A menu on the right side of your screen offers “Templates”. In the search box, type “business plan” and hit “go”. Select the first choice, “Business plan for startup business”. Using this template, create your scrapbooking business plan. Include your market research in your business plan. Also include several possible locations for your scrapbooking business.

Approach a Bank

Unless you have enough capital to invest on your own, your scrapbooking business will require a business loan. Take your business plan to a bank and discuss your needs with them.