Anyone here who does custom scrapbooking??

Hi! I've visited this site a handful of times and posted once or twice, but I'm definitely a newbie...

I've been scrapbooking for about 4 years and absolutely love it. I'm in the beginning stages of starting my own "custom scrapbooking" business after a friend in a nearby town started one of her own and has been very sucessful. I've found dozens of sites offering this service so clearly there are lots of people doing it, and I'm looking for info and advice from people who know about it first hand. Is there anyone here who has their own custom scrapbooking business? Have you drawn a fair amount of clients? Do you have any advice? I consider myself pretty darned good at scrapbooking and it would be great to have something I love to do become profitable as well. If there's already been a thread covering this topic, I'm sorry for being redundant...

Thanks in advance!

Christy

For those that ask me to create books for them, I first show them three sizes: 8x8, 8 1/2 x 11, and 12x12. The first consultation is letting potential clients look through one of each album and talking with them about the benefits and costs of each. The vast majority of my clients choose 12x12. During that first consultation I ask them to let me know of certain lo's or color combo's that they liked. A second consultation is when clients give me their pictures and tell me a little about the people/events. We also go over the order they want pics to be in. That same evening we go shopping together. Some things I make a "executive decision" on and buy (especially embellies), but ask them about certain colors of cs or possible patterned paper possibilities. After that I do my thing. I begin putting pages together (without permanently inserting pics). I ask for about 2-3 weeks until our next consultation. At that time, I show them the pages I've put together and show which pictures go where, just to be sure. 99% of the time, clients are thrilled with the inital pages. I think I've only had a handful of pages clients have asked me to redo or alter colors for. After I put the pics in I have one last consultation with the client about journaling and titling. I do all journaling and titling on the computer unless the client wants to journal in their own handwriting. I ask for a few more days to get all the titles and journals put in and deliver the book to them.

A few tips:
The first consultation, where I have them look through 3 of my albums, I do at their home. This takes about 30 minutes.

The second consultation I meet them at their home again and then we go to one or two scrap stores together. This will be an overwhelming experience for them, so keep it simple for them. They choose their album. I generally just ask what colors of paper they like and what patterened paper they like to get an ideal of their style. This consultation often takes longer, about 2 hours.

The third consultation (looking over pages before I put the pics in) I generally do at my home unless it's totally out of the way for them. This is generally about 30 minutes or so.

The fourth consultaion (titling and journaling) I need to do in my own home since I do mostly computer journaling and titling and use special programs for this. This takes from 30 minutes to an hour depending on how much journaling they want. I try to have 2-3 title samples already made for each page so all they have to do is point to one they want for that page.

Make sure clients know you may be cropping their photos. If there are certain ones they don't want cut, make sure you know!

Also, make sure they know you will be permantly taping/gluing their pics in the album, unless they otherwise state.

I do albums with 25 pages as a general rule and charge about $350 for the whole thing (depending on the cost of the album they chose). This includes the album, page protectors , 4 consultation sessions, and most of the supplies for a 12x12 album. If they want lots of embellishments or materials that are more costly, the end price goes up.

I ask for a deposit up front of $150 (this is money I use to buy some of the supplies while we shop at our 2nd consultation) and the remaining balance is due when I deliver the album to them.

Thanks Jessica....I would love to do this for a business sometime next year.

Marygail

Thank you so much for your reply - the run down of how you put together a customer's scrapbook is very helpful!

Do you aquire your customers through friends and word of mouth, or have you put any real effort into advertising? Flyers? Business cards? Craft Fairs?

Sorry to be so nosy - I'm just not sure where to get those first clients!

Thanks

It all started with my mom, step-mom, and mother-in-law. Each had seen the albums I did for the kids and asked me to put some together for them. They purchased all the supplies and I put the books together. They loved them and started showing the world. I also take every opportunity to give gift albums for wedding and baby showers or for nieces/nephews/cousins b-days. Things just started rolling from there. At showers people would ask questions and I let them know I do this on the side. Co-workers and friends of my "three" mom's began asking questions. I don't advertise - just word of mouth and those that have seen my work. I find it difficult enough to find time to scrap my own kids! I generally average about 1-2 a month. I've had several people request another album once they've really had a chance to sit and look through their first album. Most people are a little shaky after that first album because of the cost, but once they enjoy it for awhile and begin showing it off and realize how much more they look at their photos, they tend to come back for more in a month or two. I've been doing this for about 2 years. Some months are busier than others; I've kept my teaching job for stability. I don't foresee this as a means to end my teaching career, but the extra money sure comes in handy! I don't know how far I could take things if I did advertise. I'm a pretty cautious person and fear job stability or overload. What I've got going seems like a great deal. Most people are so overwhelmed by the scrapping process but want to get their photos into something they'll at least look at once in a while instead of letting their photos all just sit in a pile in an old box in the basement! I hope this helps ladies! Keep me posted on how things are going for you. If there's anything else you need, just let me know!!!!!!!

There is also a "scrap for cash" thread that I started recently...it has some almost helpful info on copyright info, if it's something you're interested in.

I have thought of it a couple of times, but I didn't know if the time and consultation with costumers would be very profitable. If you do go into this business let us know how it turns out.
Good luck.

Valorie