at home mum needs business idea

[sjharrison]

Hello, I have been previously self employed restoring dolls, unfortunately, even though the business grew, it was not enough to sustain a living, ideal for a part time venture. I have since had a child and now she has turned 5, am on Jobseekers Allowance, which I find totally depressing as the jobs aren't out there, and even if I did find a job, the childcare issues, would be a nightmare being a single parent. I am looking into an online shop idea, maybe even ebay, or selling on behalf of another company. I really need to make about £200 guaranteed turnaround per week for wages alone. Does anyone have any ideas for a business I can set up from home to work around my family. That's purely internet based. I am pretty good at sending stuff out and organising and packing etc, this is second nature. And would I need to have an outlay of cash attall? Any ideas would be most appreciated. I so want to escape the benefits trap

 

[That Bates Girl]

You could offer to sell other people's things for them on ebay - not necessarily on behalf of another company, but on behalf of other private individuals.

You list the items, take the photos, manage the auctions and sort out the postage for them, and in return they pay all the expenses and give you a cut of the selling price.

I don't know how much you'd have to sell to clear £200 a week, but at least you wouldn't have to worry about finding the money to buy stock before you could do anything.

Lyds

 

[vvaannmmaann]

These from Google......
http://www.mumsclub.co.uk/
http://www.workformums.co.uk/
http://www.mumplusbusiness.co.uk/

 

[ethical PR]

Now your daughter is five and in full time education with most schools having pre and post school and holiday clubs it's easier for parents to go back to part time and full time work.

Perhaps look for family friendly companies like Boots and M&S or home working for say your local council.

You could supplement this with childminding, dog walking,, producing goods for farmers markets depending on your skills and experience.

 

[That Bates Girl]

Actually, thinking about it, rather than try to set up a business in a completely new area, why not try to expand what you were doing with the doll restoration?

Start doing the restoration again, but also set up an online shop (or eBay) selling restoration supplies. Aside from anything else, if you can get the supplies on a wholesale basis you may find that each restoration job becomes more profitable because you are spending less on supplies yourself.

You could write a blog sharing restoration techniques, and produce videos showing how to do things - both of which should help drive customers to both sides of the business.

Lyds

 

[sjharrison]

thank you for all your suggestions! And links very much appreciated, I was thinking of doing cat sitting/house sitting as one option.

That Bates Girl, I have thought about selling supplies in the past. Its just whether its viable as people don't seem to have the money to spend on hobbies so much now. I wanted to start my own online doll webstore, there are VAT registered companies like Petalina, who must make some money being Vat registered, so it must be viable to some extent. And yes someone did suggest a blog and youtube channel to promote my wears. I am competent in making videos. I have also tried posting an advert on people by the hour, as a singer. I have many talents, but just the focus to get people to part with their money for my services is another matter lol

 

[deniser]

If dolls are your passion/hobby then go with that as That Bates Girl suggests.

There is a huge market for those dolls which look like newborn babies and accessories for them. This sort of thing is perfect for social networking too.

 

[sjharrison]

those are reborns, yes reborns are very popular. Although my area is restoring vintage 1970's fashion dolls like Barbie, Sindy, Pippa etc, and with a twist on Blythe - there is a gap in the market here for someone to sell the Japanese Takara dolls, and resin Dollfies. I usually have to shop abroad to get my supplies like clothes, wigs and eyes in.

 

[easttrade.co.uk]

Hi,
There is potential we can help depending on what you decide to do; we are manufacturers who are happy to help small startups by supplying small order quantities directly from the UK, at internationally competitive wholesale prices. please have a look at our website and get in touch if you want to discuss further.

Selina Dong

 

[Excel Expert]

I think Thats Bates Girl has a good idea. A content lead blog / vlog would be a great way of establishing your expertise and in turn will get you clients.

What form did your past business take? Was it just UK based or did you sell your services online around the world? Doll repairs sounds like a very specialist and niche service, which is normally a good thing for a business, so it may well be worth a revisit from a different direction to see if you can rejig it. If it wasnt international before, make it international now. Put together guides and sell them as ebooks etc

You obviously have artistic flair to be doing this sort of work and the singing, so I would have to ask, do you think you will be happy shifting boxes and doing admin all day?

 

[deniser]

those are reborns, yes reborns are very popular. Although my area is restoring vintage 1970's fashion dolls like Barbie, Sindy, Pippa etc, and with a twist on Blythe - there is a gap in the market here for someone to sell the Japanese Takara dolls, and resin Dollfies. I usually have to shop abroad to get my supplies like clothes, wigs and eyes in.

Sounds like the perfect business to me!

Just out in interest, what sort of people use your services? Are they collectors or traders or just people who keep a sentimental attachment to their toys? I have a whole bag full of old Barbies at home which my daughter played with as a child but they are a dishevelled lot as they were second hand when we bought them - from Ebay probably.

We also have lots of vintage My Little Pony which go for large sums on Ebay but again, they are rather unkempt!

 

[CompuGlobal-Hyper-MegaNet]

there are VAT registered companies like Petalina, who must make some money being Vat registered

that's not a valid assumption

 

[Talay]

Even if the kid is in school, the OP will only be able to go out to work for 4 hours a day (10am to 2pm) and will likely get pennies over minimum wage but with nearly full time work costs (fuel, car park etc.)

No, the OP is better off looking to stay at home with near zero extra costs and set up something which can be done in the daytime and also in the evening if work picks up.

As an example, I just came across a few thousand items from a trade supplier. Now I have no outlet but I have given the task over to someone to set up a page on ebay and flog them off. Priced well they should go out over the next few weeks and someone can spend an hour a day bagging and sending out. With a couple of quid net per item in the deal it will be a decent earner.

Likewise, I put someone onto a hundred or so steam generators which were available for around half the normal cheapest price. They might take a few weeks or even a couple of months to shift one by one but it'll still be a decent earner for what is truthfully very little work and light years away from the minimum wage.

Even with limited capital, knowledge of the "usual" price at which things sell fast can bring a bargain when folk are selling stuff off to shift a product line. Remember also that Asda will sell to the trade and they advertise this, unlike the others who routinely find ways to have no stock available. I know folks who ship pallet loads out weekly.

 

[ethical PR]

Talay why are you assuming that if the OP (or any parent for that matter) goes back to work they are only qualified to do minimum type wage roles?

I went back to work and was able to work full time by using after school clubs and childcare at far more than minimum wage type roles and so did many of my friends.

If a parent wants to go back to work part time and works locally to their child's school, they can normally work 9.15 to about 3 and supplement with home based working if they need to.

There are are also tax credits and other benefits that can be claimed if someone is on a lower wage.

If a parent wants to set up their own business full time and feels they can generate the income they need to support their family from it from the off that's fine.

However some may prefer the security of a part time or full time wage, or may feel they don't have the skills to run a business and for them full or part time working outside the home (or home working ) maybe the answer.

 

[Talay]

Talay why are you assuming that if the OP (or any parent for that matter) goes back to work they are only qualified to do minimum type wage roles?

I went back to work and was able to work full time by using after school clubs and childcare at far more than minimum wage type roles and so did many of my friends.

If a parent wants to go back to work part time and works locally to their child's school, they can normally work 9.15 to about 3 and supplement with home based working if they need to.

There are are also tax credits and other benefits that can be claimed if someone is on a lower wage.

If a parent wants to set up their own business full time and feels they can generate the income they need to support their family from it from the off that's fine.

However some may prefer the security of a part time or full time wage, or may feel they don't have the skills to run a business and for them full or part time working outside the home (or home working ) maybe the answer.

The OP states that she was never able to earn a living from her previous part time business, she is now on JSA, she says there are no jobs available and her goal is around £200 a week, which equates to little over part time minimum wages.

Perhaps if you live next to the school you can be at your place of work by 09:15 but hardly if you have to drop the kid off at 09:00 and get a bus across town and then walk a bit to this job which the OP states does not exist. You also cannot leave at 15:00 as that is the time you have to pick the child up, after you traverse the return journey. You'll be leaving shortly after 14:00.

The OP already knows about the benefits trap, where the state is far too generous and pays too much to force people back into work, else they have to give up their Sky TV, car, internet, fags and booze etc. (not directing this at the OP).

My last childcare bills from a few years ago were around £1200 a month, probably more now. Add in the loss of benefits and you'll probably need a £50k salary before tax.

Of course, the real problem is that there is an absentee father, seemingly not contributing.

 

[Latebloomer]

Got few friends who are single mother and they usually choose jobs that are flexible...Asda, Tesco et al. You can also do a bit of childminding. Nursing home is hard work but offers loads of flexibility.

Business wise, I am still in full time job and my syndicate is bringing me not much so I am not the best to advice on how to work from home.

Good luck.