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Been doing some thinking...
So I have asked a few crafty friends who are completely supportive, but I would also like some outside, non-biased, opinions as well. For several years now, I have participated in crafts of all types- you name it; scrapbooking and paper crafts, jewelry, accessories, upcycling clothes and furniture, fine art, photography, the list goes on. Though some projects I have been more successful with than others, I have almost always been able to sell my items at crafts fairs/shows, farmers markets, and other small venues.
My newest idea both scares me and excites me more than I can say. I have been entertaining the idea of opening a brick-and-mortar store. The idea closely resembles the concept of ETSY and a juried art show combined, but in a boutique-like setting that allows a type of organization that shows customers how these decor items, clothing/accessory items and other elements of design for the home and wardrobe can be utilized effectively within their own home. Websites like Pinterest have opened up the creative minds of the world and shown people how to incorporate things they like into their own homes at a fraction of the cost it may take to have someone else to do it, but many people still prefer the convenience of having things ready-made. When is the last time you thought, "that looks easy enough to make!" but that thought was followed by "I dont have the time/space/materials/skill to do that!" As a person who has spent money (LOTS!) on things like silhouette cutters, a jigsaw, projectors, an embossing heat gun and MUCH more, I can say I would have saved a lot of money just in the tools realm of production costs. For these reasons, I think this type of store would be an interesting concept to integrate into an upscale shopping area.
The idea is to approach artists and crafters of all types and invite them to submit items for display in the boutique for sale. The items would be integrated in a display that changes every month (or season?) to incorporate many different styles. The store would display the items in a way that resembles a home- to show how the different pieces could practically be used within their own home after purchase. In addition to display within the store, the boutique would also have a place that distributes business cards of artists, crafters, and designers to help promote their work- like an artisans collective or guild.
The things I am wondering now are:
*Would everyday people be interested in a place where they could find ready-made "Pinterest-like" products to purchase for their homes?
*Is it more fair to charge a monthly membership fee, a per-item (listing) fee, or to collect a sales percentage of items sold? What is a fair rate for the one you selected?
*What kinds of Pinterest or Etsy items appeal to you most? Why?
*Much of the draw of Etsy is that crafters and artisans can provide customizable pieces. If you saw something in-store, but it wasn't EXACTLY as you wanted, would you consider taking the producer's card to seek them out for something unique for you?
Thanks for reading this, I know it was lengthy!!! In advance, I would like to mention that I also appreciate all feedback and would love to hear some insight on the above mentioned questions!
Re: Been doing some thinking...
*Would everyday people be interested in a place where they could find ready-made "Pinterest-like" products to purchase for their homes?
*Is it more fair to charge a monthly membership fee, a per-item (listing) fee, or to collect a sales percentage of items sold? What is a fair rate for the one you selected?
*What kinds of Pinterest or Etsy items appeal to you most? Why?
*Much of the draw of Etsy is that crafters and artisans can provide customizable pieces. If you saw something in-store, but it wasn't EXACTLY as you wanted, would you consider taking the producer's card to seek them out for something unique for you?
1) I would love to peruse such a place but if the prices are "boutique" I would probably not purchase anything.
2) This sounds like an antique mall type deal to me. All antique malls I've looked into charge a flat rate plus a percentage ($25 a month + 30% for example)
3) I would be most interested in unique/creative/disguised ways to organize my home and children's items.
4) Yes, assuming it was something I wanted to spend $$ on.