Question

Topic: Other

My Startup Online Handmade Invitation Business

Posted by Anonymous on 7/22/2012 at 12:04 PM ET 125 Points
I'm thinking about starting an online handmade invitation business, and was wondering about how many designs I should start out with to showcase. Since the holidays are a few months away, I'm thinking about starting with some Thanksgiving and Christmas themes.

Later on, I'd like to add downloadable invitations, and I'm also having trouble coming up with a name for my business. Any suggestions will be much appreciated.
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RESPONSES

  • Posted by Jay Hamilton-Roth on 7/22/2012 at 1:15 PM Accepted
    Are you simply thinking of creating a website with some of your designs and hoping people will find you, and then decide to buy from you? Or, are you already well-known in some circles and are simply branching out and adding a new product line?

    To answer your specific questions:
    - studies have shown that too many choices for a customer overwhelms people at first blush. If you have some specific themes you want to showcase, group them appropriately. However, are you thinking people will come to your site looking for themed invitations or invitations in general?

    - A name for your business can be anything you dream up. But a name that's memorable is a bit trickier - since you want the name to resonate with your target audience. Who specifically will likely buy what you're selling? How old? Male or female? Located where? Income level? Why would they consider YOUR products? How often would they likely be buying your products - and why?
  • Posted on 7/22/2012 at 2:40 PM Author
    This would be a new business on the market, so I'm planning on advertising on the internet so people can find me. My target audience would be mothers who have small children, so I'd like to offer invitations with different themes for little kids (ex: ladybug, bumblebee, firefighter, dinosaur, etc.). As for location, I'd probably start off in the US, but I'd offer my services in both English and Spanish (which I think would make my business more competitive as there aren't much handmade craft businesses in Spanish out there). People are always celebrating kid birthdays so I would think my designs would be purchased on a regular basis, provided I have effective advertisement for my website.

    As a new mommy myself, I find that the birthday invitation themes offered out there are the same old boring ones. I'd like to offer different options so moms feel their kids' birthdays are unique in some way.
  • Posted on 7/22/2012 at 8:36 PM Accepted
    I'd start with a relatively limited set of designs initially. You don't need to overwhelm prospective customers with choices. You just need to have a few terrific designs for each gender, and perhaps a few unisex designs (e.g., elephants, etc.).

    As for the name, I'd try to communicate the uniqueness and the emotional payoff rather than anything too mechanical or descriptive. Perhaps:

    The Yellow Platypus (or pick a color and an animal you think might be better)
    The Great Celebration Emporium
    The Creative Mama ("to show your child how special he or she is")
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