Start a Handmade Paper Business: Part Three
Time for the final post in this three part series. In Part One, we learned how to make handmade paper. Part Two was on creating more elaborate papers and this article is on raising your profit levels by creating paper crafts with your handmade papers.
You could just sell your paper as is. You might get up to $5 a sheet, which is a great price for paper. But imagine if you turned that same sheet of paper into a lamp. You add another dollar to the cost in wire and materials and bam, you have a product that you can now sell for $40!
Creating secondary products is an excellent way to raise your profit margin and you should consider doing it whenever possible. This is true of any business, not just papermaking. For example, if you sell scrapbook supplies, why not put together a set with pre-made pages. Suddenly, the same materials are worth about $25 more, with just a bit of extra time on your part.
Great Paper Products
Now that you have your handmade paper, you can turn it into a wide variety of items. Here are a few ideas for what you could do with your handmade paper:
- Envelopes and writing paper. Combine for a rustic writing kit.
- Photo frames covered with a stamped or floral paper.
- Notebook covers.
- Origami mobile. Try butterflies, cranes or fish.
- Gift boxes, jewelry boxes, etc.
- Gift bags, make your own tissue paper to go inside.
- Greeting cards, layer different papers for a more elegant look.
- Bookmarks.
- Coasters or trivets, set the paper between heat proof glass plates.
- Before turning your pulp into sheets of paper, press it into a shallow mold to create raised paper art that can be framed.
I´m sure you will be able to come up with plenty more!
Leave a Reply