Ways to Make Money...

[Wolfwoman]

mediazeal, that is a GREAT idea... I could even include a pattern or two. Awesome!

 

[MuranoFarms]

Are you good at googling things? answer questions for chacha, get paid per answer: http://becomeaguide.chacha.com/

Take good pictures? www.filmearth.com

Google a lot of stuff? Use the search engine at www.swagbucks.com and earn giftcards.

 

[mediazeal]

Quote:
Yup, the best part of selling information products is you have to create it once and then they do the work for you after that. And it can sell without you having to ship, etc. Just hook them up as a download post payment in paypal. It feels like free money!

I love the pattern idea. You can include a couple of patterns in one like hats and mittens and then you can make another PDF with a few more patterns in it and sell it separately. $7 seems to be a sweet spot. People are willing to spend $7 on something on the internet. Do some internet research to see if anyone else is competing with you, how are they priced, etc.

You can also advertise in google ads, just do it cheaply. Set a daily limit on how much you will spend. But really the best way to get traffic is writing ezine articles and posting to blogs, twitter, etc.

I have lots of info product examples. you want to include the copyright, do not resell etc info

I had another thought after looking at the bones and dreamcatchers
what about a line of earrings? You obviously have the dexterity and creativity going for you

 

[Sequin]

Take your camera with you Everywhere, and take pictures of cool, fun/funny, pretty, stuff around you. You can play with it in photo shop and turn the image into a watercolor, then create that into a nice card or a post card to sell at your store and online. Greeting cards can be easy and profitable if you use a little creativity.

Other than that, knitting specialty(either in design/pattern or materials used) scarves can be quick, easy, and also turn a profit. I would think of things like this that not only do locals use and enjoy, but also any visitors to the area.

 

[Wolfwoman]

Everyone and their sister makes jewelry and dreamcatchers...lol Fur, not so much ;0 And NO I don't have the patience for those teeny tiny things, especially the beading!

I'll see what I can write up in the next couple weeks and get back with you... it's an interesting concept and I do have paypal, have had it for years.

Murana Farms: Yep am good at finding stuff, hubby is too, I may put him to that task!! Pictures.... the problem with photography is everyone wants to just GIVE their good pics to the news station or post em all over for people to steal, real photogs really don't stand a chance anymore with the great DSLR cameras out there.

However, there's not a ton that can do these: (yes, I sell them)...

 

[dancingbear]

Quote:
Would it be possible for you to do any kind of small classes or workshops at the store? Something you know how to do well enough to teach to others, for a small fee?

If you have an area in the shop where you could set up a couple of conference tables, maybe a white board or chalk board, you could give small lectures/learning sessions.

What kind of shop is this, anyway? That might suggest some ideas that could augment your business. Maybe small classes/workshops/demonstrations that could increase sales at you shop?

 

[Wolfwoman]

I have a General Store, gas, propane, snacks, drinks, crafts, that sort of thing.

I don't think I could do face-to-face classes. I am HORRIBLE with people (that's why I have 9 dogs and 60+ other critters...) and sometimes it's all I can do to get thru the day without calling someone a complete idiot (truly, they do exist). The stories we could tell you after 7 years in a small store.....

Plus, I couldn't do the classes during open time, too many interruptions and I SURE as heck am not gonna work more after being here 13+ hours

 

[dancingbear]

Quote:
I just read all the other responses, and yeah, mediazeal has a great idea. Something that may work well for you in conjunction with that...have you checked out Amazon's publishing-print-by-order thing? You write it, (doesn't matter if it's a novel, a booklet, a how-to manual, whatever) submit it to Amazon in whatever the format it is they ask for, (I'm not very computer-tech-wise) along with the pics you want on your listing. When people order a copy, Amazon prints and mails it, you get your money. I think they pay out monthly, I don't remember. They keep a percentage. It could give you a much larger potential sales base.

A lot of people can't do face-to-face instruction/speaking etc.. I can, and I want to. I don't have anyplace to hold classes right now. Hoping to, in about a year. Besides, if you're the only one in the shop, it wouldn't work anyway. You have to have a 2nd person.

 

[Wolfwoman]

I will check out Amazon too, I often buy things thru them.

I guess I am a bit jaded by the end of the day because of customers - constantly being.... not so bright, I shall say. Not to mention the out and out buttheads that have no respect for private property.

 

[dancingbear]

So much depends on what kind of customer base is available. If your location/business has a lot of, hmm, shall we say, "less than pleasant" people, you sure wouldn't want extra face time with them. having worked retail before, I totally get that.
Sounds like internet sales are the way to go. Especially since you're in a remote location, it's not like you have a large population center nearby to draw on.