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Saturday, January 17, 2015

Handmade Furniture Business Ideas

Furniture Business IdeasWoodworking is the process of making items from wood. Use your woodworking skills and start a lucrative business. The woodworking business is an enjoyable way to make money. This article also offers tips on starting and running a woodworking business. More people are interested in buying locally made products than ever before. Cross-cultural communications expert Marieke de Mooij points out that “localization is a clear counter movement to globalization.” You can capitalize on many consumers’ return to local shopping by emphasizing that all components of your furniture are made in the United States, or in your town or area. The same applies to handmade goods. Individuals who are tired of mass-produced goods are often the same people who are interested in buying locally. Given this climate, it is a good time to start a handmade furniture business.

The woodworking business is ideal for people who love doing handcrafted woodwork for a hobby. There are a lot of highly marketable products nowadays that make use of woodworking techniques. Furniture is a fine example and hand made wooden toys too is becoming a market favorite.

If you are looking for business opportunities and you possess woodworking skills and talent, then I suggest you explore this industry.

Handmade Furniture Business Instruction:

Step 1

Give your business a name. Name your business something that indicates what you sell. This will come in handy later on, when you are marketing your business and want people to associate your business name with handmade furniture.

Step 2

File a DBA, which stands for “doing business as,” at your local county clerk’s office. You may want to do a search to ensure that no other business in your town is operating under the same name. If you live in a large metropolitan area, a search is a necessity.

Step 3

Buy the materials you need for your business. For handmade furniture, this could mean a lathe, various types of saws and safety equipment. You may also need a computer to keep track of billing records and your expenses. Save the receipts from everything you buy so that you can use them later as a write-off on your taxes.

Step 4

Decide what market you will target. Do you plan to sell to upscale customers who will pay a premium for a custom piece, or will you sell basic unfinished pieces to the DIY crowd? Identifying the market before you open shop will help you sell more pieces at the prices you want to command.

Step 5

Create a line of furniture. You’ll need to have models of each piece of furniture that you intend to sell, so that customers can easily visualize what you have to offer. Add to your furniture line each year so that your stock stays fresh and on-trend.

Step 6

Establish an online presence, even if you don’t intend to sell online. Take professional-quality photographs of your furniture and put them on a website explaining what your business does and how you can be contacted. Put the name of your town on the website so that if people search for “rustic furniture Clearlake,” your site can easily be found.

Step 7

Offer custom work. You can do this by offering different options on your existing furniture models. You might offer your furniture in a variety of woods and finishes, for example.

Step 8

Offer delivery of the furniture. Many furniture customers will expect this. Establish a radius in which you will deliver for free, and inform customers of the charge per mile thereafter.

Handmade Furniture Business Plan Tips:

Starting a woodworking business can be simple as long as you are armed with sufficient knowledge. Here are some pointers that may guide you as you embark on starting your own woodworking company.
  • Figure out what kind of items you want to specialize in i.e. home decor, furniture, toys, etc. The supplies and equipment you invest on will rely primarily on the products you plan to produce.
  • Look for a good supplier for your wood and equipment needs. Make sure the supplier you choose will give you the best value for money deal. Naturally, you know better than procure sub-standard materials. Doing so will vastly affect the quality of your products and quality is one of the selling points in this business. Typically, you will need to buy clamps, a square, saws, tape measure, hammers, hand drills, and chisels.
  • Look for a space where you can work. If your operation is a small one, your garage or home workshop will do just fine. However, if you plan to launch a big business, then you will need to rent space where you and your craftsmen can manufacture your merchandise. The additional cost for rent and utilities should be computed and used as a consideration when making your price scheme.
  • Identify your target market and develop a promotional campaign tailor-fit to suit them. There are a lot of ways you can advertise your merchandise. You can post adverts in the internet, or on local bulletin boards, on trade magazines etc. The key is to establish your business in the arena and introduce your name to the market.
  • Look for a plausible sales channel. A website is a good option because it enables you to reach a wider market. If possible, equip your website with e-commerce capability. Aside from this, you can also participate in trade shows, arts & crafts fairs, and flea markets and so on.
  • Expound, explore, and discover. Take a look at the trends. Take a look at your competition. Make it a point that your products are better than theirs are. Don’t hamper your creativity and imagination. The best way to establish a niche market is to develop product designs that are uniquely yours. Remember to have these designs copyrighted so nobody else can use them.
  • In manufacturing your products, make sure you and your workers adhere to safety rules. You will be using sharp tools like knives and chisels so to avoid accidents and mishaps, always practice caution.
  • Put your customers first, always. The success of a business doesn’t only depend on the number of customers you entice to your store. What matters is the number of customers you retain. Keep them coming back by giving them the royal treatment.

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