Am I kidding myself?

[sugarplumfairy28]

OK maybe a bit of a long story. I have always worked a full time job, and then around 2 years ago I became a SAHM, I struggle with the concept of not working even though we're doing fine with just hubby working.

In an attempt to give myself something to do and feel like I'm being productive, I started making String Art gifts for family and friends, for Christmas and Birthdays. I got such an amazing response and so much encouragement to set this up as a sideline business, that in January I took the plunge and set up an etsy account and a Facebook page, so far I have had 2 sales, one was a colleague of my husband, the other a stand alone sale in its own right. I live a fairly closeted life so don't really have the ability to listen to impartial parties and not just friends and family who may just being polite. I recently made some gifts for my daughter's Kindergarten and they were delighted but this is as close as I have come to impartial.

I'm not sure how else to get opinions from effectively strangers. This is my Facebook page.

www.facebook.com/millotti/

Do people think these are nice, or just worthless tat? Do I need to work or promoting this or is it that people have just been too polite with their feedback?

Your art isn't my style so I wouldn't buy it, but that's irrelevant. It's not tat, it clearly takes time to do. People glitter spray plastic bottles on my fb - that is tat

How realistic can you make the art? People like bespoke things like this of pets. I think rather than creating signs for kid's rooms etc you should go for things that people will give as gifts.

I seriously doubt you could make a living from it.

They are not something people would consider a piece of art, more a craft thing, so there will not be money in it.

Lots of people make the same sort of thing, so you'd need something really unique to draw their family/friends (who as you've noticed, will be a large part of the market) away from their version.

They also have the potential to become terribly dated, some may think that has already happened.

You could probably sell a few string Christmas trees or snowmen in November, especially at craft fairs, but would it be worth your time?

It's really nice, but it's also something that I can imagine being mass produced in China for a fraction of the cost you could afford to do it at.

Is there another related direction you could take it? Have you seen other businesses selling similar and examined what they are doing in terms of prices, marketing, supply chain etc?

My main concern is that if you think of it in terms of an hourly rate for you, I'm betting that you come in WELL under minimum wage, and unless you can start selling them for hundreds each (which I suspect will be nigh on impossible) I don't see how you can improve on that.

The alternative is to DESIGN them, have them manufactured elsewhere and retail them here, but again, you'd be up against the big guys, and would find it almost impossible to compete with their prices, margins and marketing budgets.

Sorry to be all doom and gloom, but I have worked in this industry for years and it's a bloody nightmare from the perspective of designer/makers.

Check out the show Top Drawer to see what the competition is like.