Want to help my sister but don't have a scooby as to how

[Porky]

I’m on the same page as @fisicx

A business idea is nothing without good execution agreed however, you do need to put even a basic business plan together to test viability.

Maybe she could offer crafting day sessions for a fee to hotels so they could House crafting weekend retreats? Offer to provide premium cards on Etsy, go to her local leisure center or WI and see if she can hire a space and put on a class, work out how much material is required could she get a group of 15 meeting once a week learning how to do different card designs?

Maybe a mix of a lot. Her biggest challenge IMO is marketing costs. A website is just a lost website on the net without marketing, making videos is nice but getting people to find them costs, this is why a business plan is essential. You don’t want to be a busy fool, focus on what is the most profitable use of the time. Put the plan together first.

With something like this as @fisicx perfectly demonstrates your time is a limited resource, you can only make so many cards at home a day, a video takes so long, a class so long, the cost to deliver those routes to market something else - establish the most viable option and focus on that first and build outwards but start with a plan.

Really wish her well

 

[Shopclicks]

a video takes so long, a class so long,

A video takes as long as it takes to make a card. A class takes as long as it takes to make a card. And that's 90% of your marketing content on your social channels.

I seriously doubt that selling handmade cards on Etsy at a premium price is going to make any money. Otherwise, the OP's sister would be doing that already, instead of running workshops.

 

[alan1302]

A video takes as long as it takes to make a card. A class takes as long as it takes to make a card. And that's 90% of your marketing content on your social channels.

No planning/editing? All that takes a lot longer than just making a card.

 

[alan1302]

Etsy UK - Search 'birthday cards' - 1,310,313 results.

I expect that some of those sellers make some decent money as well....and some won't make sale...same as everything else that someone can make and sell.

 

[Shopclicks]

No planning/editing? All that takes a lot longer than just making a card.

We're not talking high tech here. Point the camera and hit the button. The OP's sister already knows how to run a class. No doubt practice makes a better video but the upside of starting now and creating content for SM posts far outweighs any hypothetical business plan and trying to sell into an already flooded market.

 

[Shopclicks]

Duplicate

 

[Shopclicks]

I expect that some of those sellers make some decent money as well....and some won't make sale...same as everything else that someone can make and sell.

As said earlier, the ROI on workshops / classes will always be better than the card made during the class.

 

[MOIC]

Create the card ideas and designs, as long as their original, you'll own the copyright.

Then license them . . . . .Moonpig, Thortful, Funky Pigeon, Cardly, TouchNote. You can also work as a freelancer for these companies.

https://www.moonpig.com/uk/blog/moonpig-careers/

thortful.com

funkypigeon.com

cardly.net

touchnote.com

Prepare your story and love of creating cards with novel designs.

Good luck!

 

[alan1302]

We're not talking high tech here. Point the camera and hit the button. The OP's sister already knows how to run a class. No doubt practice makes a better video but the upside of starting now and creating content for SM posts far outweighs any hypothetical business plan and trying to sell into an already flooded market.

If you are demonstrating you do want a proper edited video with close ups and different angles - you are selling the tutorials so you can't skimp on them.

 

[Shopclicks]

If you are demonstrating you do want a proper edited video with close ups and different angles

The entire video should be a close-up.

you are selling the tutorials so you can't skimp on them.

No. What the OP's sister would be selling is live Zoom workshops / classes. As she already suggested.

 

[fisicx]

The entire video should be a close-up.

Disagree. You need at least two cameras. People aren’t just buying the tutorial, they are paying for the person doing the demo. It’s a female thing. That’s not being sexiest, it’s just how they are, eye contact is important.

 

[Shopclicks]

Disagree. You need at least two cameras. People aren’t just buying the tutorial, they are paying for the person doing the demo. It’s a female thing. That’s not being sexiest, it’s just how they are, eye contact is important.

We're talking about getting started here. Perfection is just an excuse for not getting started.

I just started watching a card making tutorial. The channel has 449K subscribers and the video has 56K views. Not a face in sight.

 

[MBE2017]

We're talking about getting started here. Perfection is just an excuse for not getting started.

I hope the OP reads this comment and understands it, this is 10000% correct. Many YouTube channels start basic and grow, and their audience connects better with them because of it, and it helps develop a loyal fan base.

The subscribers “feel” part of the journey, seeing the videos getting better and better. One channel I watch and has a huge following is called Primitive Technology, it has 10.8 million subscribers, no voice overs, just film, showing how things such as a hut, water purification, pot making etc would be done with no tools.

 

[Dorian7]

I hope the OP reads this comment and understands it, this is 10000% correct. Many YouTube channels start basic and grow, and their audience connects better with them because of it, and it helps develop a loyal fan base.

The subscribers “feel” part of the journey, seeing the videos getting better and better. One channel I watch and has a huge following is called Primitive Technology, it has 10.8 million subscribers, no voice overs, just film, showing how things such as a hut, water purification, pot making etc would be done with no tools.

I am reading every post here. So much useful information and food for thought. I hope all that have posted read this and please accept my appreciation and huge thanks

 

[fisicx]

I just started watching a card making tutorial. The channel has 449K subscribers and the video has 56K views. Not a face in sight.

Different thing. The discussion here is about a paid for card lesson over zoom. Which raises the question, why would someone pay for a zoom lesson when there is so much free material available.

 

[Shopclicks]

Different thing.

Nope. It's a good example of how you don't need to be seen to get attention.

Which raises the question, why would someone pay for a zoom lesson when there is so much free material available.

You can watch people swimming, you can go swimming. But if you want to learn how to swim properly, you go to a coach.

People sign up for lessons on how to breath these days

 

[alan1302]

I hope the OP reads this comment and understands it, this is 10000% correct. Many YouTube channels start basic and grow, and their audience connects better with them because of it, and it helps develop a loyal fan base.

The subscribers “feel” part of the journey, seeing the videos getting better and better. One channel I watch and has a huge following is called Primitive Technology, it has 10.8 million subscribers, no voice overs, just film, showing how things such as a hut, water purification, pot making etc would be done with no tools.

So they have a primitive video for primitive technology - makes sense. They are well made, proessional videos though.

 

[alan1302]

The entire video should be a close-up.

Why?

 

[Shopclicks]

Why?

Because that's what card makers want to see. "Here is what we're making today ... and this is how we make it". If later on the OP's sister wants to include an introduction, then great. But to get started all it needs is the camera pointed at the card making process and a pair of hands.

 

[chickenlady]

Etsy, Folksy, NotOnTheHighStreet, small local craft fairs with flyers for local in-person classes (£10+ for a table, go bananas on facebook or insta or tiktok while you're there - only need a few sales to cover the cost); make sure you're getting your materials through a decent wholesaler (a lot of crafters just go to Hobbycraft or somewhere similar and pay the market rate) and find a niche - I wanted a nice, not-mass-produced civil partnership card recently for a man + woman - couldn't find one. There were very few for same sex couples. I know you are only supposed to do it once but now I'm looking for a birthday card for a not-son-in-law... Happy Divorce cards? Welcome puppy card?
As well as the YouTube stuff, there are the craft TV channels - if you can get on one of those and perhaps sell packs to make the card you are demo'ing, you might do okay - there are a lot of small business people pretending they are big among the larger players on there.

 

[Paul FilmMaker]

Just on the video thing, it is clear there are a ton of channels making their creators an enormous amount of money. This is either by selling advertising or sponsorship on the videos themselves or drumming up a load of business.

There are different ways to achieve the same results.

So there's a doormaker on YouTube who makes a ton of money from both. He now charges a massive premium for his doors and is booked solid for a year. He literally can't make them fast enough so he's raised his prices.

All he does is put up a camera and film himself making a door.

Similarly, the number 2 Tiktok in the world is just an artist filming their hands while they create a painting. It's a fantastic way to advertise and get higher paying customers, especially if there are 50 million people looking at what you're doing.

So different formats, methods, editing styles etc... work. In fact, there's an insatiable appetite for 'craft' videos with a seemingly never ending number of viewers. It's an awesome way to advertise a business and also make heaps of money from the channel itself.

 

[Dorian7]

I just want to say a great big thank you to all those that have contributed with all their amazing advice. I have passed this all on to my sister and she was overwhelmed with all your input. It has given her lots of food for thought. Thank you to you all

 

[MOIC]

I'm sure all at UKBF, especially those that contributed and offered suggestions on this thread hope it inspires her to follow her passion.

Best of luck and wishes to you & your sister.