Scrapbook Muse just opened an Etsy store and it has me thinking of a question. Since she is a rarity on the internet and usually only checks e-mail, I figure I should ask this on her behalf.
I’ve seen two methods of making money with scrapbooking. One is selling supplies, which I have yet to see any success with. Scrapbook Muse isn’t a saleswoman. I’ve seen her in action and she doesn’t have it in her. She can sell supplies to friends, but most of the time she has bought supplies that never sell.
The other method is doing scrapbooking albums, cards, and pages for people. I’ve seen an issue here because most people want to do it themselves. At least the people that have been approached. Scrapbook Muse is more artist than saleswoman, so I think this is her strength. She’s already figured out how to do albums, cards, pages, shadow boxes, and simple cover art.
My question is if it is feasible to make a living doing scrapbooking jobs. Is there any way to market this like a musician or an author? She has the Etsy store, which feels like a step, but it’s for pre-made products. How can she get clients that request special jobs?
Legends of Windemere 
Offer to scrapbook life events for people…anniversaries, milestone birthdays, weddings, honeymoons, vacations, debutante balls/sweet sixteen parties, decades to remember nostalgically, graduations…market to the same crowd that hallmark cards does. I know a photography company here in Orlando that does weddings, and they include a scrap booking package in their sales portfolio. It is called “The Story Telling Experience.” They also do make up and hair. They have a whole team that puts together the wedding packages. Big business down here in Orlando…with all the resort and convention places. The Japanese are coming in droves to have their weddings at Disney.
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Do you think it would be worthwhile to contact local wedding companies and photographers to offer her services as a scrapbooker? Long Island is big for weddings and there are areas all over NY that are popular.
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A few phone calls to check for interest couldn’t hurt and might help. She would need a three minute elevator pitch to dive right in and not waste anyone’s time. Best to know who the owner is and ask for them by name than to cold call and get a receptionist who’s job is to screen solicitors. if she has a portfolio and the time, she could go out on appointments and actually show these to wedding planners.
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She has a portfolio and I was suggesting she e-mail a few local companies and photographers tonight. She can request a meeting or ask if they wish to see some of her work if they’re interested. Currently, she has the time.
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Like any other event, you can sign onto the bridal shows as a vendor.
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If you know of planned events you can usually sign up as a vendor online by contacting the event planner or organizer.
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Thanks. I’m wondering if there’s any way for her to get a freelance thing going too for people that want it for non-standard events.
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Wedding Planners and Photographers usually offer package deals for a price and she would probably be paid on a commission if the buyer wanted to include a scrapbook in the purchase of the package. It would also get her name out there and give her credibility. the have bridal shows all the time for the express purpose of enticing brides to be to buy into the whole package. Doing the bridal shows would be ideal.
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Good idea. Need to sit her in front of a computer, so she can look into this.
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Great! Setting up her web site, a way for people to contact her, and a facebook page are key elements to getting a business off the ground now so she is on the right path. Attending a few bridal shows wouldn’t hurt. Jennifer, my friend who does this, found a niche there because she did not see another person at the events providing the same service.
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She has a scrapbooking Facebook page and she’s going to make a Twitter account. Trying to convince her to use Tumblr and Pinterest too.
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She could also have just one branch of her business catering to the wedding/bridal crowd and call it something romantic like “The Story Telling Experience” or something better even. Jennifer is a photographer, she also does, the bachelorette parties and wedding showers as part of her premium package.
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Bachelorette party scrapbooking sounds interesting. I’m assuming those are like bachelor parties.
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It all goes onto the wedding package. You would be surprised at the keepsakes women cherish!
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That’s what she’s counting on.
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She could partner with a photographer, different photographers, or freelance on her own.
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She’s looking at photographers now. My best friend’s father is a nature photographer and does local stuff too, so that might be something.
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Definitely, this can be marketed. Like most indie authors who learn they must market, it won’t be easy, and will also be different from marketing a book. Like self-publishing, it’s probably something that can grow in time, but would be a big challenge to quit the day job out of the box.
Business cards. Free website (to put on business cards, promotional tools). Go to civic center or wherever they handle community activities and offer scrapbook classes (provide some income plus help with marketing and image branding all at once; can do this in multiple locations). Study how self-publishing cover artists go about marketing themselves among authors; like cover designers, a scrapbooker is marketing a service. Talk to stores, especially local small businesses, that sell supplies; try to get a flyer/business card posted. Friends/family/acquaintances can help a little to start spreading word of mouth.
Good luck. 🙂
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She’s been at this for a few years, so she does have the business cards and tried to teach classes. Nothing took because scrapbooking is very common around here. Seems everyone jumped on the ‘teach a class’ bandwagon. This is why she’s looking at the freelancer thing.
The cover designer research is a great idea. I think she should put a page on her blog about how to contact her for projects. I’ve seen a lot of artists do that.
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If it’s common and people like to do it by themselves, she needs to find a way to market some kind of distinction. For example, a special wedding scrapbook, so amazing everyone will want to have it, where wedding planners will recommend it. What makes her scrapbooks special, that others can’t do themselves, which others will want? (Or think, how do you find those people who would love to have scrapbooks, but can’t or don’t want to do it?)
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It’s funny, but every friend and family member that says they prefer to do it themselves never do it. The issue is time for a lot of people. They want to do it and plan on doing it, but they never get to it. That makes it harder to market in the scrapbooking world. She has the resources and time to make them look professional. That’s really the big thing between her and a dabbler.
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Sorry to take up so much of your comments section… I would focus on this point. Time is so valuable, nobody has enough, they all want nice scrapbooks. Can you get the time issue into a slogan? You want people thinking, “I wanted to do it myself, but could never find the time. She did a fantastic job, I wish I had done this sooner.”
Is she looking globally? People who live anywhere can send the images for it.
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She says she’s looking to eventually go global. She would have to figure out a way to use words in their language since she puts words in.
I’m relaying all of this to her as we chat, so the comments are greatly appreciated.
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Also, was she just trying to teach adults? How about youngsters looking for a one-day summer activity? Ordinary scrapbooking might not appeal to the younger audience, but there may be a way to turn this into something that they would enjoy. Or get senior citizens involved. Even if she does this for free, community involvement can help spread the word.
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To teach, she has to go through a craft store and they market to adults. Nobody signed up when she tried. She tried at the local libraries, but they have several classes already. She hasn’t tried the senior citizen stuff yet, so I’ll pass on that suggestion.
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That is a really cool idea! Has she tried an add in the phone book or newspaper? Even in this modern day and age, there are still plenty of people who count on the Yellow Pages and local papers.
Maybe we could have like a virtual scrapbooking party where Mrs. Scrapbooker shows virtual samples of her work and answers some interview-y questions. If enough people hosted her on their blogs, perhaps that would draw in some new people with connections for her.
And by the way, the Etsy shop is so cool, great job Scrap Muse! 🙂
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They don’t get used as much over here and putting up an ad is expensive. E-mail her about that idea and see what she says. I’m not really sure how to explain it.
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Okay, sounds like a plan! 😉
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Instead of classes, what about in-home scrapbooking parties? Women, wine, scrapbooking supplies, you get the picture. The parties could be themed…something like “bring your beach vacation pictures” and she could provide supplies and guidance for a fee. ???
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She goes to scrapbooking crops for that. We don’t have enough room in the house to host.
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Okay, I said that in a goofy way….I meant she would go to other people’s houses…kind of like a thirty-one or Pampered Chef kind of thing except for scrapbooking. 🙂
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Like one of those tupperware parties that get mentioned in old tv shows all the time?
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Yep! But those things have come a long way! I hear rumors that some women actually enjoy them…possibly because there tends to be more alcohol involved now? 😉 Trust me…it’s a thing. Purses, jewelry, sex toys, cooking supplies, candles, home decor, spa stuff…I’ve been to parties for all of them. Why not scrapbooking?
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Good point. Guys never do anything like that. We just drink and yell at sports on the tv. 😉
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In some ways, I think men have more sense. 😉
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This could be marketed – I’m not entirely certain how, but it can be done. I’m one of the target audience. I love the idea of scrapbooking and other crafty things. I can make some of my own stuff (simple stuff) but scrapbooking eludes me – it never ever turns out as well as I want. I’d rather buy it from someone else who can do it well.
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Feel free to contact Scrapbook Muse then. 😉
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I intend to – I love Etsy and already favorited her shop! 🙂
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I’m like that, too. For a while, I bought scrapbooking supplies, thought I would spend hours putting together scrapbooks of trips we had made. Instead I just put everything in a pile and turn to my knitting. I like the idea of her marketing to people who want to scrapbook but don’t have the time. And people who THINK they want to scrapbook and then get overwhelmed and need an expert to save the day. I headed over to Etsy now …
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I’ve heard that a lot. I hope she takes that advice and aims her marketing at that.
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I would recommend finding supplies that are unique to the art…. charms and papers and things of that sort…. things one cannot just go to a supplier to find. Ebay is GREAT for finding things cheaply and quality too…. I get most of my natural beads from there at dirt cheap prices…. need to set up an Etsy myself and get back to beadwork LOL
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I love the idea of scrapbooking however I’m lazy and could never be bothered to do it so i am one of those people that would pay for my photos to be scrapbooked.
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There seems to be a lot of people like that. Just wish I knew where to easily find them.
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