Hi IMs,
I have been thinking a lot lately about starting my own baby wearing business (Wraps, Tulas, Ring slings and other SSCs) and I can honestly say I don't even know where to start. I am a super keen baby wearer, and have collected quite a few wraps & carriers over the past four+ years and am VERY passionate about it.
You know when you love something so much and it just feels right? Well this is how I feel!
I have an idea of the brands I would like to sell, and where I would want the business to go in the future. I love helping people choose the right carrier for them and also offering advice. It would predominately be online, but would also love to be able to offer trying the wraps and carriers before buying (because I know it can be such a personal preference).
I'm after just a little advice. Where do I even start? What would I need to do to start up? How much money would I need to start up? How do I get stock to start?
How do I take this idea and turn it into reality?
Like I said - this path just feels so right and I am willing to do anything to make it happen!!
(If you have started and own a baby / baby wearing business and wouldn't mind being a 'mentor' as such can you let me know so I can PM you :) )
1 Replies
Hm....cant really help. I was sewing and making baby slings and portacot /pram mosquito nets and wedding veils years ago when my eldest was a bub.....
I started with maybe $40 of fabric and a sewing machine and sold them at the local market as quickly as I could make them. But I had already worked at the market for 8 years selling various stuff for the family and I was sewing because I wasn't putting in the hours on site to have the income and I gave them commission for selling them and taking orders....
Start small start local and grow from there....
For online sales check out google for hosting site options and even services like ebay etsy etc and see what fits your needs. to successfully sell online you need to be prepared to put in the effort promoting it it doesnt just *happen* they dont just find you magically.
As far as online sales goes I do more of the website design and admin....and I am in no way inclined to ongoing support I kind of insist that users learn about the software they are driving so I'm not being called every 2 minutes because they misused their database....although I do happily give lessons throughout the build process one retiree was flying from QLD to VIC about every 3 months for lessons and updates and to let me know what more and exciting features they wanted.