Checking out the market

I'm aware that there are a LOT of people out there making cards and other papercrafts for sale. I figure this means 2 things:

1. Loads of people to share ideas with and create a supportive network
2. Competition

So far people in these circles are proving to be remarkably friendly and willing to share their ideas. Its amazing what I've already found on YouTube in terms of tutorials for various techniques and on blogs by way of instructions and measurements for making particular types of cards. I've learned loads this way already.

I've also been paying attention to handmade cards that are on sale in local shops and I've been impressed on the whole by the quality of them but I've also found a few examples where things aren't quite right (wonky embellishments, inaccurate cutting etc.) and it makes me think it is probably very difficult to keep up very high standards of product when you are producing enough to supply a shop.

A lot of handmade cards seem to sell online rather than in shops and I wonder as well if this is because of the quantities that would have to be produced to keep bigger shops happy - and presumably people are making less profit this way as well because the shop takes a cut?

It's made me think a lot about how I might work this if I am going to start selling. A few things currently on my must-bear-in-mind list:

• how much profit should I be looking to make per card? 
• what cut is taken by various sellers (includes both physical and online shops)
• what is a reasonable price to charge for a handmade card?
• the more complicated cards are the more interesting and impressive ones - but also the more expensive to produce - are they going to sell for a higher price? Are they worth the time and cost to produce? 
• what kinds of cards catch people's attention? there is a lot out there to chose from already!

If anyone has any comments on any of these questions I'd love to hear them. Or if you have more questions along these lines that I should add to my list at this stage do let me know.

A little help from my friends

Well, things have been busy, between going to work, going on 2 holidays (yes, 2!) and spending a lot of time sorting out my flat (I moved in a year ago and things are just about getting into shape) I haven't made a single thing out of paper in quite a few weeks.

I have had some really helpful info from some friends though:

Shelly, an old school friend who now makes a living from her artwork over at Live Art Breathe Art has given me some information about suppliers for packaging materials etc. and even given me a few catalogues so I have a better idea of the kinds of things I might need / want.

Here's the picture I commissioned from her when my baby niece was born...

A more experienced craft blogger called Lisa left me a really helpful blog comment back in February explaining about the envelope sizes I was having difficulty with. Its a shame I have been so busy that I only just picked it up! (I also need to check whats going on with email alerts from my blog).

A mate of mine suggested I need to start really small so that this is all less daunting and I should just make 2 or 3 things and stick them on ebay and see how the process really works, "even if nothing sells, you are bound to learn something useful". I think this is excellent advice, and its what I intend to do next. Also it will be easier to do now that I know about the envelopes - thanks Lisa!

A few friends have also looked at some of my cards after I posted pics on facebook and have been very encouraging saying that some of them are good enough to sell. This is great - but of course you can never be entirely sure that people are being really honest - I guess there's only one to find out if things will sell...