I am thinking about selling my designs part-time (craft fairs, special events, etc). Is this feasible? Most of the posts I read seem to come from full-timers.
At this particular time, I hope to make enough to pay for my press, materials and expenses, and have a little Christmas money left over by December (I'll be using my own designs, not purchased transfers).
Yes, this can be done part time profitably. To me, part time and full time folks face the same challenges, finding the target market, and next, making the goods that make the market want to part with their money. There are many different kind of folks on the forum, from the full time pros, to the person who is a hobbiest doing this for themselves, and learning how to make the best product they can in their craft. Lol, I sometimes think what happens to some of the part timers is things start going so well, they end up in full time! It's all good. Have fun and...
Can you tell the problem is really that I am scared to death to TRY?!!
There is a $400.00 Stahls machine that will do what I need and I wouldn't need hundreds of shirts to fill orders, but I'm still a chicken. Anyone know where to find courage at wholesale prices....?
The courage is found in the " gotta " section. You gotta have faith, and you gotta love what you do. For us, its when i sew a school mascot on a cap for a new high school freshman and he says " wow man thats so cool thanks" or when we print a baby's name , dob, weight, and so on , on a shadow box tee and the new mom says OMG thank u so much, that is where u find the gotta section. Good luck
I am thinking about selling my designs part-time (craft fairs, special events, etc). Is this feasible?
Fairly feasible. It depends on how organised you are, how much spare time you have, whether or not you enjoy the production time, what skills you have, how much money you need, how much money you have, what you know, who you know, and probably a bunch of other things. But it can be done.
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Originally Posted by paintergirl
Most of the posts I read seem to come from full-timers.
It would often seem that way, but I think the majority of members here are working at it part-time and trying to expand to full-time (although there are many full-timers and new starters too - with 50,000 members there's a lot of everything).
Best of luck!!! I'm trying to do something similar so I can stay home with my infant. My husband works full time, so I just need a few hundred bucks here and there to supplement so we are not eating rice every day! I was looking at that same press, but then found a used hix basix in like new condition for 275! It was on ebay...so I just filtered through all the cheap stuff and watched closely for a more reputable brand.
Anyways, I'll be doing plastisol transfers of my own artwork. Keep in touch!!!
Don't be scared!!! While in SC this summer I went to a Flea Market and found a wonderful idea. A lady was selling heat transfered pillows with dogs & cats on them. Maybe it was pressed onto fabric them sewed into a pillows.. Think outside the box!! Believe in yourself..
I started my business 13 tears ago as a part time business and it has grown to a full time. I still work a second job and have turned orders away lately to keep my ability to meet deadlines. My issue is a control thing, I want to do my own work and not deoend on hiring someone. I feel nobody cares about your name, like you do. My wife and I put in long hours, but we keep happy customers. I have had clients that have been with us from the start. They call and say what they want and never check price, they tell me my quality is worth comming to me for and if the cost is a little higher so what. I was told you can't put a price on peace of mind and I agree. When I use extra help, I have to be there to watch them and do quality control. .... JB
This is a horriblepart-time job. The reason is because once you start doing this, your full time job will become meaningless!! For days while you sit at your desk job typing away on your next quota, you are daydreaming about what cool designs would look good on a shirt, or whether you will get the right look out of 100% cotton or a 50/50 blend.
My advice, is stay away! Unless of course you like being your own boss, making your own schedules, taking vacation when you want, paying yourself what you are worth, and so on and so on. . .
Good one Spank. I do the same thing. I end up placing material orders and apparel orders while working, spending my lunches working in Corel and so on. I still work at my day job buy most of my focus is on my own business.
As far as part time, it is part time for now, but the hours I put in are almost full time. I'm up until 2 or 3 every night averaging 20 items each night, seven days a week. That's just my wife's ebay and etsy stores. I also have a premium Cafe Press store which is generating good income and is funding my own business.
I would say go ahead and do it. For most distributors, you will need a resale certificate to get wholesale pricing but it would be worth it. It doesn't take much to start a sole proprietorship.
I agree with COED on the issue of control. I focus on sport uniforms and school spirit wear but I have only outsourced one project. I use plastisol transfers and do everything myself in my spare time. I am right at the point where I am getting too busy to do it part time, but not busy enough to take place of my full time job. Just word of mouth and good quality have allowed me to make a profit on a part time basis. I have yet to advertise on anything and all my business is word of mouth. But it will definitely get in the way of your full time job as this is much more fun
Does this make a good part-time job? 
Have fun and...
Loosing a job is an excellent motivator.
Re: Does this make a good part-time job? 
