so you want to start a home-based
business making and selling quilts hi
I'm Lorraine Fagan and I have been
quilting for over 10 years I'd like to
talk to you today about some basic ideas
on how to get started with your very own
home-based business making them selling
quilts start out by researching the
internet for some successful businesses
one article that I've come across was
West Bay women love of quilting helped
her piece together a new career by
Stephanie Powell deciding what theme to
use can be fun it could be country
modern Flair or anything in between
getting information from Internet books
magazines can also be helpful this book
here that I have instead of Homes and
Gardens 101 full-size quilt blocks and
borders by Meredith Corporation has a
very good wide variety of quilts even
tells you how to make them so it's a
good book and there's many more out
there
one thing you want to start out with to
begin with this start out with just one
theme at a time a sewing machine is a
good way to make make a quilt also
however some people do like to just make
quilts by hands they don't want to use a
machine now I personally I use the
machine to quilt my pieces together and
then I hand quilt my quilts these are
all hand quilted inside but there are
pieces together with the machine
choosing what types of quilts to make
can be kind of challenging because they
can make to be a back quilted wall quilt
or anything in between
when making a bed quilt you want to know
what size it's going to be it's very
helpful know if it's a baby a twin
double queen or king size bed this quilt
here that I have this king-size bed
just remember when making a larger quilt
that it's going to be more time
consuming and more materials will be
needed wall quilts can be any dimension
small or large they can be any shape
square of rectangle oblong round the
sky's the limit on
that one making a smaller quilt or
starting at with wall quilts is a good
way to start to inventory because they
are quicker to make and usually easier a
mixture materials will be needed to
start out making a quilt for any quilt
fabric is a must
can be fun to be able to choose what
kind of fabrics you want you can
purchase your fabrics online or if you
need to start out smaller you can also
go to other quilt shops in addition
items needed that you're going to be
needing will be scissors thread needles
of a rotary cutter here that's just
saying a few just depending on how
you're gonna do it equipment needed to
begin with will depend on how you're
going to make and sell your quilts a
sewing machine and a computer is to I
believe important items needed these
days to get your business started make
sure that whenever you do some research
before you purchase your quilt before
you purchase your sewing machine or
computer to find out which one's best
used for you you can also if you're low
on funds need to start out small you can
use a less expensive brand there's a lot
of good ones out there a computer helps
by keeping track of your records
corresponding with other customers
finding new patterns and many other
helpful things remember whenever you are
starting your business that you're going
to want to check with your to get a
business license to sell your quilts
just check with your local City Hall of
what to do on that before starting a
business advertise to begin with I like
what one lady said and Carolyn Nelson
she owns a quilt shop in Burke County in
Virginia
she you stick that she her husband
excuse me found was to purchase a phone
service before their shop even opened
that way the number was in the phone
book and be prior to opening they just
forwarded that's that number two
cellphone advertise online can be done
in many ways one good way would be to
make your own website and also you can
sell your quilt projects online through
eBay st or craigslist and the setting up
an account with them it's pretty easy to
do another way to advertise is locally
by local newspaper newt on the radio if
one decides to have a quilt shop in
their home also don't forget to if
you're gonna have the quilt shop in your
home you want to advertise the
surrounding counties as well this is
helpful once customers artist an
established sending out newsletters it's
a good thing to do to keep them updated
on the latest news there's two ways to
be able to do that one would be through
emails when the customers come in just
get their email address or by their
physical address I recommend to email
because then that way you don't have to
purchase postal stamps through making
quilts and getting items started I hope
this is hope you're on your way to a
successful business now hope that this
has been informative and helpful thank
you that was good too