market for custom-made scrapbooks for others?
By squaretile
@squaretile (3778)
Singapore
January 11, 2010 3:50am CST
I have always thought that it is more meaningful to make your own scrapbooks, so you can write whatever you want in them, and arrange the papers in a way that appeals to you.
but recently I've started wondering. there are a lot of people who appreciate scrapbooks, but don't know how to do them, or don't have the time to get around doing them.
instead of just offering classes (which is what most scrapbook shops do, since they don't believe in selling end-products), perhaps I could offer the service of taking photos from others and making it into a nice page or nice mini-album and charge for the materials and time taken to make it?
wonder if there is a market out there for such a service? I suppose the person offering it has to build up a reputation and have a style that is popular in the first place...
2 people like this
7 responses
@Wizzywig (7847)
•
11 Jan 10
I would think there would be a good market because a lot of people would love to have them but just never get round to doing them - either through procrastination or laziness. People buy hand made greetings cards (even the mass-produced ones) and kits with full instructions so why not scrap books - which would, of course, be uniquely personal. Good luck with it 
2 people like this
@lordwarwizard (35747)
• Singapore
11 Jan 10
Yea, if you can make the ultimate product look stylish and professional (show images of examples), it could tip the customers over your side. 
1 person likes this
@squaretile (3778)
• Singapore
12 Jan 10
thanks - I haven't quite decided whether or not to go ahead with it, mainly because I can hardly squeeze out enough time to do my own.
lww - well, most people build up a portfolio and post their works on online forums to get publicity. then people know their style...
@cher913 (25782)
• Canada
14 Jan 10
i think there is actually a market for something like that. there are lots of people that love the look of a scrapbooked page but dont have the time to do it. i did do some scrapbooking for money but i knew the people. i think its good to know the person you are doing it for, though.
1 person likes this
@squaretile (3778)
• Singapore
15 Jan 10
that's true - i was thinking it's impt for them to like my style when it's just as true that i should know the person i'm doing it for since I'd then know how to add little touches that reflect their life and I'd know better what they'd like me to include!
@lordwarwizard (35747)
• Singapore
11 Jan 10
Hmm... I am not sure how feasible that is as a business idea - not to dump cold water.
For me, if I feel it is more meaningful to make my own scrapbook, then I would make it m.y.s.e.l.f. It feels kinda strange to send my private photos to a stranger and have them do up for me.
Plus, what about those captions? How would a stranger know what to write better than me?
Then again, that said, in business, you just need to find your niche. You do not need to sell to the world, just to enough people who like your idea. So... I guess it is worth a try! Good luck!! 
@squaretile (3778)
• Singapore
12 Jan 10
I guess I could leave space for people to journal their own thoughts...
@jillhill (37354)
• United States
14 Jan 10
There are alot of those around. I have a friend that used to have a scrapbook store and she does them...and just pages and sells them at craft sales etc. I have also done a few for people who don't scrap and give them to them as gifts. I do think there is a market....
1 person likes this
@kun2349 (23381)
• Singapore
12 Jan 10
So u mean, u wanna make a scrap book for them, and sell it?? hehe
Nice idea though, but how would u know what they want, and how they want their scrap book to be like?? Even if u done it for them, but it's not thru their own efforts, and thus they wont really appreciate it?? hehe 
Nice idea though, but how would u know what they want, and how they want their scrap book to be like?? Even if u done it for them, but it's not thru their own efforts, and thus they wont really appreciate it?? hehe 1 person likes this
@squaretile (3778)
• Singapore
12 Jan 10
yeah... unless they are familiar with my style and don't mind something that looks similar...
1 person likes this
@buggles64 (2709)
• United States
17 Jan 11
I bet there's a market for that, after all scrap books are often given as a gift...so going along with that line of thinking, there are those that appreciate a nice scrap book, but have no desire to make one or taking the time to make one.
@palonghorn (5479)
• United States
4 Apr 10
Catching up on discussions I missed while I wasn't around mylot lol. Anyway, there is a market for it, but it's not easy to break into it. I did it for a while in Pa. however, I was doing them specifically for a girls softball team. It took time, as I was at all their games (no I didn't have a daughter playing), took the photos, made the layouts and put them into an 8 x 8 album. Each player could order one if they so desired. I charged $30 dollars ber album, half when ordered and half when delivered. If you can get in with something like that, you do pretty good, you were there, you took the pic and so it helps with captions and journaling on the page.
