Want to work from home but not sure what you can do? The Hot Home Business Directory helps you find a business to run out of your home, lists the skills you need to do it and tells how to get started and where to get more information. Read on to find out if this Hot Home Biz is for you!
What You'll Do:
Take orders for, assemble and ship gift baskets for private or corporate customers, filled with nonperishable foodstuffs, beauty and body products and other gift items.
Skills You'll Need:
A flair for design and handicrafts, a sense of creativity and a sharp eye for market trends. You will need to be able to market yourself, handle ordering and inventory, and deal with shipping your assembled products. Time-management skills are key--most of your business will come at such peak times as Christmas and Valentine's Day, and you have to be able to schedule accordingly to be able to meet your orders.
Items You'll Need:
You may want to use a computer, for keeping inventory and accounting files or for building and maintaining a Web site. You may also want a fax for receiving orders and plan two phone lines, so you can use the fax and phone simultaneously. Other items you'll need include:
- Containers, wrap, bows and product to make the baskets with
- Glue gun
- Shrink-wrap machine
- A large assembly table on which to work
- Marketing brochures or flyers featuring photos and descriptions of your products
- Photo portfolio of your work
- Business stationery and cards
Start-up costs:
Initial inventory of product and basket assembly items can run from $200 to several thousand dollars depending on how many months' worth you buy, and what market you are going after -- the higher end your projected clientele, the higher your product costs. (As a side note, the pros say to put that money into product, not the baskets -- people are more interested in what's inside than what's holding the items.) Other costs may include:
- Glue guns -- about $5 at craft stores
- Shrink-wrap machines -- $300
- Marketing materials (brochures, flyers and photo portfolio) -- around $800
- Business stationery and cards -- $100
Interested in other home businesses? Browse the hottest ones right now!
Find companies that are looking for work-from-home'ers on the Home Business Opportunities board.
Watch for home business scams.
Then get a jump on your business with help from other iVillagers on the Getting Started board.
