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disabled and Desperate to find work from home

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teady79

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Sep 8, 2008
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I was wondering if any members had any legit ideas for working from home!!
I know you get asked this all the time,but i'm really desperate and very frustrated trying to find something.I've tried selling at craft stalls etc,but
you barely make your table money,let alone a profit. I guess the easiest thing for me to do is sell on ebay or similar.I don't know where to start with
what items that sell best and where to source them. Any help would really
be very much appreciated I've thought of drop shipping,but again,don't
know where to start. Help!!!
 
Boxby said:
Firstly, what do you like, what are you good at, what are you interested in?
Click to expand...

That is what I was just going to ask!

To do any sort of work you have to have an interest in it - you mention craft work.

Have you tried selling what you do directly to a small outlet, I know people who do this.

Some do painting, quilting, knitting, making cards etc, and then they sell direct.

There is not a lot of money - but they cover their costs, and make some profit.

Do you like animals?

Could you look after someones pet in your house - lots of people are wanting the homely service for their animals. Does not have to be cats and dogs, rabbits, gerbils, budgies.

Online surveys bring a 'small' amount in, if you are on the computer anyway, then a few a day - will not make you rich, but all add to the pot.

It all depends as to where your abilities are, and what you enjoy doing.

Please get back with some more information.

Good Luck

Poppy
 
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Do you have good computer skills? If so what kind?

Obviously the answer to "Firstly, what do you like, what are you good at, what are you interested in?" will be most helpful, but before that, a general thought: offering some sort of service (rather than product) might be a better way to go?
 
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If you can narrow down crafts to those you like doing (for example knitting or crochet etc) go onto ebay and do some research to find out what sells well in that category.

Don't just make things to sell. Find out what people want to buy (and preferably why) and then adapt your skills to make those items accordingly. If it looks like it will take far too long and cost too much to produce the item, don't do it.

On the other hand if you can get people to make items for you quite cheaply then you could resell. I know someone who owns an alpaca farm who gets the local old dears to knit up her alpaca wool into items to sell in her farm shop. Basic costs for outsourcing knitting isn't that expensive, but the fact they knit in alpaca wool makes the finished item worth more than a standard wool item.

An example of what not to do: I read a blog where the lady buys secondhand furniture and 'shabbies' it up using cheap paint. The last item she sold - a chair - went for 99p for cash on collection. She was devastated.

She didn't realise that:

a) shabbied chairs are ten a penny on ebay and worth nothing
b) furniture items need to be picked up so that narrows down your market straight away
c) using non-branded paint can backfire. Using brands such as Farrow and Ball or Cath Kidston appeal to a certain type of buyer and make the listed item easy to find because they are both search terms people use on ebay...

Spend some time doing your homework.
 
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ebay is a good place to start. you will need loads of research on what to sell (best if you understand some industries well) and you will need at least some investment.
if you find a good product to sell on ebay you can make quite a bit of money. In last 4 days for example, I've made about 400 pounds - money you can live on.
Homework is crucial here though.

Downside is that you will need to go to the post office quite often (I go twice a day), so if you have a disability and the post office is far away, it might be a bit of a problem. If it goes well, you can hire some college kid to do it for you for a tenner or so
 
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SarahCollins said:
If you can narrow down crafts to those you like doing (for example knitting or crochet etc) go onto ebay and do some research to find out what sells well in that category.

Don't just make things to sell. Find out what people want to buy (and preferably why) and then adapt your skills to make those items accordingly. If it looks like it will take far too long and cost too much to produce the item, don't do it.

On the other hand if you can get people to make items for you quite cheaply then you could resell. I know someone who owns an alpaca farm who gets the local old dears to knit up her alpaca wool into items to sell in her farm shop. Basic costs for outsourcing knitting isn't that expensive, but the fact they knit in alpaca wool makes the finished item worth more than a standard wool item.

An example of what not to do: I read a blog where the lady buys secondhand furniture and 'shabbies' it up using cheap paint. The last item she sold - a chair - went for 99p for cash on collection. She was devastated.

She didn't realise that:

a) shabbied chairs are ten a penny on ebay and worth nothing
b) furniture items need to be picked up so that narrows down your market straight away
c) using non-branded paint can backfire. Using brands such as Farrow and Ball or Cath Kidston appeal to a certain type of buyer and make the listed item easy to find because they are both search terms people use on ebay...

Spend some time doing your homework.
Click to expand...

I buy furniture and restore ie paint and decorate it, and it does not sell for 99p - and I do not use FB paints either (sad for your friend)!

I have seen furniture listed on Ebay as having used Farrow and Ball, and most struggle - there are over a dozen items listed at the moment, most with no bids.

Agree that K Kidson, Laura Ashley they do sell really well.

All depends on the OP craft/artisitc skills, and the market!

Until we hear back from the OP, then we have no idea as to what area they would like to home work in.

Poppy
 
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what about becoming a virtual assistant for small companies?

you know, answer the phone, take messages, place orders, proof reading, doing spreadsheets/reports, being a mailing address (some people like to have an address to register their business that is not where they live/work - no idea why, i assume they are all very dodgy!! LOL)

There are a few virtual assistants on here, maybe one can give you a job or you could licence their business model to set up a similar thing in your area
 
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Hi,ebay would be a perfect home working job for me,its as you said though;finding the
right things to sell!! I see lots of wholesale site,s,but most ask for a monthly fee etc and i worry that i will be let down with rubbish products that don't sell etc.I have a post office and sorting office very close by,so thats not a problem.Its just finding the right products at the right price.
 
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Hi,i love lots of crafts,but particularly like sewing.Only problem with handmade items,is that you really only barely cover your costs,with very little if any profits.If i could sell
items for other crafters to use,that would be great.
 
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To fund my website development ventures i've been writing articles for people across the net over the last few years. Plenty of work out there, although I don't really bother spending hours looking for the higher paid work as it's just bread and butter money.
 
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I can imagine that sewing clothes is uncompetitve with the mass prduced ones unless you were doing something very special such as wedding gowns and you would need expertise in that area.

Home furnishings come to mind as many people hate sewing curtains and that sort of thing.

I know people have made a business sewing names and motifs on baby blankets.

Best wishes,
Christine
 
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Hi,I like sewing and knitting,but i think the ideal thing for me,would be to sell on ebay.
I just need to find the right products and then find a supplier.Finding a supplier is the
hardest part.A lot of wholesale listers ask for fee,s etc.Is that normal!
 
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Hi,thanks for your pm.I have come across dhgate before,but as with most sites like this,
its not until you have a personal recommend that you trust them.Do you use them yourself? I also need to work out which items would be the best to sell.
 
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I bought loads of stuff from them. They have escrow protection scheme which is very useful - buyer releases the money when he's happy with the purchase. Still you need to evaluate buyers yourself - look at their products, feedback etc.
 
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teady79 said:
Hi,I like sewing and knitting,but i think the ideal thing for me,would be to sell on ebay.
I just need to find the right products and then find a supplier.Finding a supplier is the
hardest part.A lot of wholesale listers ask for fee,s etc.Is that normal!
Click to expand...

These links are to sites that offer help on wholesale buying/selling might help!

Forum

Forum This one is a directory.

Forum

Good Luck

Poppy
 
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Hi Teady just a shot in the dark for this idea.You Want to work from home and say you have handwork sewing crafts skills etc.So what about Wigmaking.I do remember from many years ago my friends mum used to do that from home.Seemed at the time to bring in some tidy money for her as she said they were expensive ones she was doing.Ive no idea if there is a market out there anymore for this type of thing,maybe they are all done in factories now dont really know.But an idea though.

Ive been looking around myself for something I could run from home but i,m not really a craft,skilled hands sort of person so my search goes on.Good luck in your venture.
 
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Hi there
I don't really know if this is your cup of tea, but there is a new UK Company just launched called L'Amore UK Ltd.
They promote a range of natural skincare products something for the whole family at very affordable prices. They are adding Four NEW Slimming products to their range. ( Hopefully will be shown on the website today ). http://www.lamoreuk.com

Distributors are wanted in all areas of the UK. and global expansion is due very soon.
It's a grteat opportunity to be in at the beginning of something so new.
Kind Regards
 
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Do you have any local gift shops which you could stock with your products? Perhaps they'd be interested if you offered them an attractive profit split...
 
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Have you considered things like Access Audits and consultancy - going into companies doing equal ops training etc?
I realise you said about working from home but certainly the audit side of things would be an hour or two at a premises and then the rest of the time writing a report which you could do at home.

Do you know if there is a group that is run and controlled by disabled people in your area - they would probably have some ideas of the need for this sort of thing, certainly locally.

The other thing is brokerage - this is working like an advocate for people who are receiving an independent budget instead of a fully funded care package or a direct payment - a broker basically acts as an intermediary between the authorities and the actual services/companies. It is much better if the broker is a disabled person and you would have an idea of some of the problems, pitfalls, needs and services required. You would need to find out in your local authority who has the responsibility for IB's, and what the roll out plan is for your area - the other people to contact is a CIL, Centre for Independent living or group of disabled people.
Again this type of work would require going out and about to meet people but at least you can do the majority of it at home, phone calls, writing up reports, etc

IB's are still very new but the majority of local authorities have signed up for it and they do have a responsibility to get with the program over the next year or so.

Hope this helps and maybe gives you some ideas.

Good Luck with whatever you decide!
 
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Hi OP

I am taking on staff who are able to work from home. As long as they have a landline phone, pc with internet access, then they can work for me.

I am looking for telephone operators to answer calls from the general public to give them business details.

Hope this helps

No118.co.uk
 
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Teady,

I too considered drop-shipping - if you pick your market (inc. financial metrics) right this could go well, however there's administration involved....

Have you considered affiliate marketing? Once again it's best to choose carefully but the down-sides appear as small as your likely to find, whilst the up-side has no limit - in theory!

Also, some schemes don't require a website - but that's really trying to beat-up on yourself!

Good luck.
 
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As you have a computer would you consider using it to make printed items for individuals and or companies

You would need to invest in some software and printer etc

Have a look at this site which could provide all you need www.xpres.co.uk

You could either sell direct or work for local gift type shops

Good Luck
 
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Have you tried paid surveys for market research companies, they send to you via email and you get paid for your feedback. I earn a decent amount by doing them, I have a website all about earning money from home (dont think I am allowed to post link) but its in my profile.

You can earn writing reviews of products you have used or tested. I also earn from reading emails and viewing other websites.

I hope you this helps

Good luck
 
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It depends on where you are based, and also what you can do but im sure there are many people on here, myself included who could offer work - i'm looking for someone to do some work for my business, home working is fine but im dorset/devon based.
 
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I am looking for people who would like to join me in L'Amore UK
L'Amore is a New UK Company based in Bristol and Distributors are wanted all over the UK to help promote their products, a smashing range of High Quality Natural Skincare products PLUS New Slimming products just launched with L'Amore .... SLIMtrym ...

Take a look at the website @ http://www.melpip.biz Click on Products on the Top Bar and plese feel free to contact me for a chat. 01823 337 670

Thank you for reading
Best Wishes
 
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