Does anyone run a craft based business from home cakes/gift hampers

[bigeyes]

I have toyed with the idea of doing bits and bobs to work from home to top up my part time income from two days work. I dont need to but feel I 'want something' for me. I have considered:

Making and selling cakes - you are allowed to do this on an occasional basis from home via carboots

Selling stuff on ebay - gifts watever I get from wholesale section and breaking it down

Preparing gift hampers and selling them on line and to local area.

I know its tough time and I have a business bakground so know basis of whats involved in setting up for Tax etc but what are your thoughts?

Does anyone do any of the above?

Morning Tracey

I am poorly today and my house is a mess, DH had to wash his own shirt and wore yesterdays socks to office get the picture - no business for me today I am just about manageing to get ready to go to soft play and DS was the devil child lastnight and I am sure neighbours thought all sorts of sinister things.

I have just got rid of my posh gym!

Good luck with mail shot and dont underestimate the networking opportunties in the sauna!

Hope you are feeling better this afternoon BCTBE - and that you don't have the same pissy weather as we have here.

My house was a pit this morning but bumped into a neighbour who invited herself for coffee - so had to do school run and race home and gut house. So nice and tidy now - even though a lot of things are balanced inside kitchen cupboards to hide them!

Just updated my cashflow for the month - not looking too healthy I'm afraid. Surplus of £7.07 - if I leave £1500 balance on my credit card rather than paying it off as I usually do. Got a week in Spain mid month - so week of no earnings - will have to get the mailshot ready for soon as I come back. In fact will print off and ask mum to post for me on the Thursday - ready for the torrent of customers on the Monday!!!!!!!! Ha ha.

Hi TracyK

I got through soft play and a toy shop it was good to see DS being happy and cooperative. I felt bad about hosue so did wht I call hygene areas, then ended up doinf washing X 2 then dusted and hoovered! Ordered Dominoe so no cooking or smells or dishses - DH was pleased and he did come home sharpish to be here for me.

I got some new catalogues yesterday I would just love to have my own shop.....

BUT I felt worse this morning unsure wht my body was going to do next/first! I have managed crackers, water and now soup!

Well TracyK there is nothing like a visitor to kick your domestics into touch (I hide stuff in oven!)

Cashflow - OMG havnt looked at mine I sont have credit card! and Ive wasted loads of money on web hosts and I deal in hundreds! Oh have felt down about it all but Monday I am completely on my own so gonna get stuck in. Dont think I can work tomorrow (still do two days)

You lucky to have spain - we need to get sorted - Torrents, Torrents I would like a trickle TracyK a trickle I do declare!

I managed 2 hours work this morning. Then big Asda shop - I wish I could trust online shopping more.

I contacted an old potential client with a sales lead and she's come back to me to say that she would still like to get together and chat. I had blown our appointment off due to snow a couple of months ago and never heard fromher again - thought she was in a huff! She sells/hires? coffee stations for offices etc - she might give me lots of free coffee! She is a bit far away to travel - but I might be able to some from home.

Take some vitamin pills BCTBE - and keep warm.

I have got through the most horrendous time with getting my website published. I dont care whether it is cutting edge looking I m pleased to have done it myself and saved a lot of money - It will do for the time being.

I have a selling event booked and I am looking into a regular pitch at a market someone recommeded.

Anyone else updates?

Dubh I just read one of your early posts on this thread where you told me to take my time and not to make expensive mistakes. I have made some mistakes to date I have lost £100 over three different things (services)
I have been impatient but remind myself that I have my DS at home. I feel like I have done loads and have products on sale or return in two shops but not actually sold anything.

Locally there is a village center crying out for independant shops (I have cut out letters from local paper) and I would love to go for it but not in a position too (how frustrating)

Incidentally - anyone went against/behind there DH back with anything to being self employed?

???BCTBE?? You got something you want to confess??
I was always wary of having a shop - you're tied in for the length of the lease - and can't escape! Is there anyone else you could share the shop space with?

Back from hols now and have put in a good few chargeable hours this week - but nothing lined up for today or tomorrow. Sod it - I'm meeting a friend for lunch and doing some shopping! DS going to dgp's - so will make the most of free time - retail therapy!

???BCTBE?? You got something you want to confess??
I was always wary of having a shop - you're tied in for the length of the lease - and can't escape! Is there anyone else you could share the shop space with?

Back from hols now and have put in a good few chargeable hours this week - but nothing lined up for today or tomorrow. Sod it - I'm meeting a friend for lunch and doing some shopping! DS going to dgp's - so will make the most of free time - retail therapy!

Good for you TracyK

No just the odd little thing off ebay (like leaflet dispensers) I am more of a risk taker than DH and I would just go for it i.e. put the plan together, go see back and if the mn from delmonty say yes - I set shop launch date - but I think DH would kill me - as I would have gone behind his back and he hs said no more debt. (blardy TV stereo, ipod, and every thang lecky gadgets he ahs bought in two years would see me with enough set up costs (well plus a bit) aye if I sold his blastard CD and DVDVDVDsssss....

So no but wish I did TraceyK - I will see how market stall in Stratford-upon-avon(think all them US tourists buying my UK products!) over the summer months.

I am fed up with slow progress s I dont think I am ready for Fathers Day????

Haraummmpphhhh and hefalump

Have you enquired how much the running cost of a shop in your town would be? I'm sure in this economic crisis - you'd get a blooming good deal on rent and prob rates too - check with council.

Also see if any planning permissions are in transit of any of the other shops - maybe some other businesses are about to appear - making it a better proposition to dh ie - you wouldn't be the only risk taking shop in the town.

Surely if the bank said 'yes' it would mean they would have faith in the shop - and that would add weight to your arguement??

Hi Tracy - i just keep mentioning a shop to him. He is going to help me with my website at moments.

I have lost my momentum the last few weeks. I really need to get on.

I am not reliant on business for income which I havnt really got as I havnt sold anything yet.

Oh I need some motivation.

Oh the sun doesn't help does it? I can't be bothered either.

Struggling to get much chargeable work done at the mo. 1 client is going through a MBO - so not doing any work for him till it's sorted.

Summer hols start next week for ds - so that's me down to 1 or 2 days chidcare max. I'll be skint by the time school starts again.

I really need to try and get some kind of work set up for starting in Aug. I might just stick an ad in the local mag for cleaning services - at least it'd be £10 an hour for 6 hours a day - more than I'm getting just now!

Hi all whoever is still following thread - I have got a market stall sorted see new thread asking for advice - will up date properly soon.