STARTING A HOME DECOR BUSINESS Having your own Home Decor Business has great benefits for the right person. You can start on a very low budget and sell what you enjoy yourself. If you live in part of the Country where Western Decor is popular than you may want to pursue that avenue. Maybe you live where Primitives are in great demand, thus you may want to start by selling some Primitives. You can start selling at some local Swap Meets or you can start out having a Garage Sale, that way you will find out what people are looking for and what they are willing to pay in your area. Another great way to test the market is to have a Craft/Home Decor open house out of your home. This is a good way to find out what goes in your area and a great way to build up some capital.
I started out about 25 years ago just by chance. My in-laws had a Second Hand Store and they sold some Antiques. This is how I was first introduced to Antiques. I was still young and hadn't caught the Antique bug yet. It really was not my decor, not until I started seeing what beautiful things they were finding and how warm and rich it made their home feel.
First we just started going to some auctions and bought some items for our own home. Then we couldn't pass up some good deals. My husband and I started to refinish some of the pieces we had bought. Friends and some relatives saw what we had in our garage and asked if they were forsale. Soon we were selling some of the extra items we had purchased at the auctions. Then we had out first official sale. We just advertised an Antique Sale out of our garage. Our first garage sale made us $1200.00 + in sales in just one day! We were hooked! We kept on going to a few auctions and did some refinishing and just sold out of our garage for about 2 to 3 years. We were doing so well we decided to add on a 20 X 20 room onto our house and open a Antique/Gift Shop. We sold what we liked, some Primitives, Kitchenware, Reproduction Collectibles. It was a great way for a Mom to stay home with the kids and make some money having fun!
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HOW TO GET STARTED
Think small! Start out small and get familiar with what sells and what folks in your area will pay. Like I said earlier I started out just selling out of our garage. I got a feel what people liked and where to find my merchandise at good prices. I not only used the 40 Wholesale Companies that I'm offering you, I also bought at Garage Sales, Swap Meets, Flea Markets, any where I could find a good deal. I have even bought from Antique Shops and sold it for a higher price in a different area. This is something you will learn as time goes by. You will learn to know a good deal when you see one.
If you like to refinish then there is a good chance for you to buy low and sell high. Taking an Antique Piece and restoring it brings alot of satisfaction besides being able to make some money doing it.
Going to Swap Meets & Flea Markets is a lot of fun, besides being able to make some money you will meet some very interesting people. I have done a large Swap Meet and walked away with over $3100.00 in sales. Again just start out slow, buy what you can afford to buy and try a local Swap Meet. You will learn quickly what folks are looking for, so don't go out and buy a warehouse full of items until you learn what you will be selling.
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WHERE TO SELL
Once you have a good feel for the Business you will have a lot of different avenues in where to sell. Just start slowly so you can learn as you go. Try some local Swap Meets or Flea Markets.
If you like to stay home you can try the online Auctions. There is alot of competition online, but with my 40 Wholesale Companies I know you will be able to find a line that you enjoy and that will sell great online.
You can also start your own Web Site and sell some merchandise that way. You would have to have some stock on hand if you had your own Web Site, you may get multiple orders for one of your items. If you sell at the online Auctions you can just offer one item at a time.
You can also rent a space in a Local Antique Mall. This is also a great way to sell. You do not have to be there everyday, you just go in about once a week and fill up your booth with some new items and just keep it always looking appealing. Most Antique Malls charge by the sq. ft. and you can rent a small space to a very large one, just make sure you have enough inventory to keep it full. Having a good variety is the key here.
Maybe you are interested in opening your own Shop. Whatever your needs my 40 Wholesale Companies will be able to supply you with whatever your venture turns out to be!
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