My daughter wants to start selling some of her paintings online. I don't mind helping her with this as I know I'll have to since she's only 8yo but she's a good painter. I know that homeschool parents start businesses with/for their kids all the time but how do I get started? Any suggestions?
Good luck, hope something helps. Or Ecrater or Ebay can both be used to open stores. Ebay costs, Ecrater is free but less popular. I suggest you also go to the library, museums, community center, church, youth club, cafe, community hub, flea market, small businesses around town, local schools, HS groups, Crafts fairs etc. Find some place that she can perhaps have her work displayed in public and still offer it for sell. Make an Ad on Craigslist for your local area. Find Art Exhibits, restaurants. Contact the editor of the "'Round the Town" section of your local paper and see if they can help you. Maybe your daughter can give art lessons to children in one of the places above and also advertise her own work. Talk to hospitals. Find out about Fundraiser auctions in your area and see if you cant donate a painting or two. Maybe split auction profits with someplace. Check out webs.com to make your own website, then get a digital camera and take pictures of her paintings and host them online. Join a routine community garage sale.
Etsy is your best bet. It has more traffic than any of the other handmade sites. WAY more, so she is much more likely to sell something. Though it does take a LOT of promotion to sell online. It's not as simple as post it and they will buy, so make sure she understands this. It can take a month or 3 or 6 to get your first sale, especially in this economy. I've had a couple of successful shops on Etsy, if you have any questions, feel free to ask, and if she needs a banner and avatar, let me know, I'll make her one free of charge.
WOW you're full of some great ideas. Thank you. Someone also suggested http://homeschoolecourse.com/ which I plan to buy as soon as I can afford it (single mom, tight budget) I do have an online writing business myself but it's so different and everything was learned by trial and error (something I don't want her to go through)
SimplySonita Is etsy as expensive as some people say? I realize it isn't "build it they will come" but I think she'll dowell. I may take you up on the avatar/banner once we get everything going. Thanks for the offer.
Can you post a pic of her work so we can see? How about getting her a blog on homeschoolblogger.com where she can post some pics and descriptions of her work, along with journaling or something. She can get a following and it can help spread the word.
I will as soon as I get my camera cord from my parents' house They put together her portfolio for me last school year LOL
