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07/11/2006 08:12:04 PM · #1
Does anybody have any creative ways that they are currently making money...part time type stuff?
07/11/2006 08:13:27 PM · #2
Weekend Gigolo?
07/11/2006 08:17:45 PM · #3
Yes, but I'm writing a book about them; so it's top secret;)

How much money are you talking about? I'll toss out a couple of things.
07/11/2006 08:21:28 PM · #4
Geez, I don't know...maybe $500-2000/month. I'm trying to find a few ways to supplement my income. My wife and I are having a baby at the end of August, so she won't be able to work her normal hours for a while (maybe indefinitely), so we're trying to find some "creative" part-time things she can do from home.

There's a lot of gimmicky stuff out there (obviously)...I'm looking for some proven methods.
07/11/2006 08:21:53 PM · #5
i work part time for an answering service. i guess i can get creative with the ways i talk to whoevers on the other line haha
07/11/2006 08:27:10 PM · #6
I used to referee volleyball and basketball, and umpire baseball and softball. year round part time income at about $40 a game.
07/11/2006 08:33:16 PM · #7
OK, here's some that come to mind:

Make handmade soap and sell on the internet, at flea markets and to local shops.

Visit local tourist shops and find out what the popular themes are. Pay an artist to design a T-shirt. Print them in bulk and wholesale to the shops.

I had this design printed with "St. Augustine, Florida" on it. They sold like hotcakes. On the east coast, lighthouses are very popular too. The best selling shirts I knew of were incredibly simple, corny and cheap to print.

Your images are beautiful. Come up with a line of handmade notecards. Simply print your photos on quality paper and combine with matching envelopes. These cards, with local themes, sell well in gift shops and bookstores.

Hit nice neighborhoods on trash day and pick up goodies that they've put out with the trash. Have garage sales and/or sell them at the flea market. Some people make a living doing this.

Any and all of these products can be sold on the internet.

Pet sitting is a great way to make some cash too.

The best thing is to find something you are passionate about and market it, somehow. I have made some decent money collecting live beetles and selling them to breeders over the internet. That's not something most people would want to do.

Good luck. Ask me if you want more. I'm full of these ideas.
07/11/2006 09:15:48 PM · #8
Good ideas...
07/11/2006 09:20:16 PM · #9
I too am trying to find something to do from home.....great ideas greatandsmall, if you have any more, please pass them along :)
07/11/2006 10:33:08 PM · #10
There's a site I have a membership at, Bill Myers Online, which is a fantastic forum for the discussion of the development of all sorts of products, be it tangible ones (DVDs, newsletters, etc.) or not-so-tangible (software, subscription websites, etc.)

What Greatandsmall said about finding something you are passionate about and market it really is key. You're not likely to be very successful at something you don't like very much. But if you love something, you're all the more likely to finding a creative way of making it profitable. Another key thing is to think up a need that isn't being fulfilled, and then set out to fill that need. However, sometimes (oftentimes) what works even better is to figure out a WANT that's not being fulfilled - because people will often jump all over something that they WANT, even if it's not something they need.

Anyway, I know this stuff is all easier said than done, and I can't say that I've done any of these things, either. But also, I haven't tried, and time and again I've read about members of that site having success based on the principles I outlined about.

The thing that I personally see as being a hot moneymaker right now, is the subscription website. Yes, just like DPC! And just like Bill Myers Online. If you find the right topic (preferrably something you and enough other people are passionate about), and the right niche market to target, and you can provide continually updated content (like articles) and a discussion forum, you just might have a hit. And what's even better, the startup costs of trying something like this are minimal (domain name, hosting, etc.) so if it doesn't work out, you haven't lost much. Plus, you can do it from home!

I guess it shows that I've thought a lot about this. I do have my own ideas of some subscription sites I'd like to try (don't worry, D&L - they're not at all photography-related), but the one down-side is that these do take a lot of time, which right now I don't have. But maybe someday. :)

Hope you can find some of this useful, chafer.

Liz
07/11/2006 10:48:24 PM · #11
I teach skin care classes and teach make up techniques with (warning, link will take you to my site) Mary Kay. :)

I like it.

Oh yea, and I provide supplemental educational experiences and test homeschoolers in the local area..
07/11/2006 10:52:40 PM · #12
Here's a copy of my email to Russel:

Hi Russell,

Glad you liked the ideas. I used to sell souvenirs and have a decent idea of how to make some extra cash through selling to gift shops. It can be a profitable business, on your own time, from your home.

It's a good idea to get a business license, FEIN and sales tax ID numbers. None of this is very expensive. With these things anyone can purchase wholesale and become a distributor.

The best way to start is research local souvenir and gift shops and talk to the owners about what sells. Typically your product shoud represent what's unique and popular about your area.

Where I lived it was lighthouses, ghosts, pirates and all of the local landmarks.

I designed a variety of domestically made products featuring such themes; including pencils, refrigerator magnets, key chains, thermos mugs, Christmas ornaments, T-shirts, coasters and post cards. I purchased them at manufacturer's price; and my "wholesale" price to the gift shops was 100% markup. In turn, the shops doubled their cost, again, for retail. Therefore, the end customer pays 4 times the manufacturer's price for a product. If it's a hot seller, you can mark up your cost even more. A refrigerator magnet might cost you $.50 each. You will usually have to buy at least a gross (144) of one design. If you sell those, you will make $72.00 profit per gross. It doesn't seem like much until you have a few good designs and are selling many gross per week. It's actually not that hard.

Once you find the right market, you can focus in on a few select items, and keep very busy supplying them to the stores. It's as easy as counting, putting in boxes, delivering and collecting checks.

For product ideas, go around to local souvenir shops and ask them what they sell the most of. Perhaps there is something the customers keep looking for, but the shops can't find, or that their other suppliers have stopped making.

The key is to come up with a good design and hit all of the stores to take orders before you make them. If it's a potential seller; most shops will commit to a certain quantity and then wait until you have it made. I think I paid about $250.00 for that pirate design, and have the rights to use it on any product. Once you find a hot design; you can print it on many products.

There are people who take photos of local themes and print notecards on quality paper with their ink-jets. Simple and profitable. You will probably have to provide a small display holder, of some type. If you begin to sell a lot, you can have them printed wholesale.

The regular post cards you see on the racks are usually provided by one large company. Their racks are proprietary. I have a post card in print; but I gave the image to my former employer. He probably earns $5000.00 per year profit from that one design. If you sell a lot of designs, that adds up. You might be able to sell some locally themed photographs to the post card manufacturers, but they are usually pretty stingy.

I am attaching an image of the hottest selling T-shirt I ever saw.



It is cheap to make and never goes out of style. If you come up with an idea like this, you can find a printer to make them, wholesale. Stores who sell T-shirts will give you ideas for what they want. Shirts are more risky (and profitable) than the cheaper items; and there is a lot of competition. Local landmarks will always do well, though; and you must have the city name on those shirts.

The best way to find a vendor is to search for T-shirt printers (wholesale) and talk to them about what they do; and their pricing. As a wholesaler you can purchase in large quantities, ask for a deep discount and avoid sales tax. (You must collect their sales tax ID, though) Come up with a prototype design. Get some estimates from printers (on quality cotton Tees of assorted sizes), double your cost and see how many orders you can get on spec. That way you have lost nothing but the cost of the artwork.

Marketing the right product is a no-brainer. The shop-owners are on your side; since you are doing them a favor by providing something they can make money on.

If you get some ideas; feel free to run them by me and I will see if I can scrounge up some of my old manufacturers for you. (It's been about 4 years since I've done this; but things are probably unchanged).

Another thing you can do is purchase something from Rhode Island Novelty and sell it. They have a very low minimum. On the 4th of July a guy was walking along the beach selling glowing necklaces and toys like crazy. Again, the markup is 100%. If you buy in bulk, you can sell some of these things to gift shops, too. I did well with all of the pirate stuff. The possibilities are unlimited.

I was also able to sell some of these things, in smaller quantities on the internet.

Sorry for the rambling. email me if I can help in any
way.

Cheers,
Roxanne

Message edited by author 2006-07-11 22:54:40.
07/11/2006 10:59:49 PM · #13
I once sold my soul to the devil...but he wasn't happy, wanted a full refund.
07/11/2006 11:15:38 PM · #14
This thread inspired me to look online for ways to make money and I came across this "take surveys to make easy money" website.... anyone ever try this or know of anyone who has? Is it a scam?
07/11/2006 11:18:11 PM · #15
If you take the survey's...you'll probably make money...for whoever put the website up haha. I once signed up for some free stuff (like over 50 different things) at something like //www.totallyfreestuff.com like 5 years ago...and I never got anything like it said I'd get.
07/11/2006 11:22:56 PM · #16
I do wedding videos, websites, promotional photos for bands and organizations, sell editing DVDs and video commercials (working on real estate advert).

I also have a part time job at a Youth Center teaching crafts to children between the ages of 4-13.

I volunteer for the United Way calendar too but I guess you wouldn't make much money at that.

And sometimes I have time for my own pictures... ;-)
07/11/2006 11:25:09 PM · #17
I am in the process of learning Corel Painter IX.

Really stunk 2 weeks ago, however, I am getting much better...fast. My first attempt was one of ColliopeKels shots. I stunk it up. I worked on my 4th wedding shot tonight and it is turning out 500 times better than my first! I have been picking up tips from the net and will receive my first book tomorrow.

I know a wedding photographer and may team up in a year or so and "paint" some of the wedding portraits....for cash I hope.

If that venture fails, at least I picked up another skill.

I can always pick up my lawn business again!

Good Luck,

Kenskid
07/12/2006 08:13:25 AM · #18
BTW Russell,

SUPER-MEGA-CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR BABY!!!
07/12/2006 09:09:11 AM · #19
take in kids.
like babysitting.
before/after school.

The lady i use sometimes for babysitting does this, and if your wife's gonna be home anyway...

Not sure what she charges other people, but she's cheap for us - $3/hour or 20 for the day (2 kids under 5). CASH only, no checks.

not a totally legal daycare situation, but if you go that route (another friend did but legalities vary from area to area) and she took in 3 kids at $125/wk each.
07/12/2006 09:35:04 AM · #20
i've taken lots of surveys and they say they will give money but instead i have received phone cards, gift certificates to restaurants, and one blockbuster gift card. I also do research atBaltimore Research. I have watched several TV pilots (My name is Earl was my favorite to do) $100.00. I got paid $150.00 for 1 hour to discuss my birth control usage. $75.00 to watch the pilots. The people who are marketing the products or the researchers sit behind a two-sided mirror and listen in.

Originally posted by skinnere:

This thread inspired me to look online for ways to make money and I came across this "take surveys to make easy money" website.... anyone ever try this or know of anyone who has? Is it a scam?

07/12/2006 09:44:02 AM · #21
Have you heard of www.melaleuca.com?

There are many people making a lot of money. It's a pyramid company but not one of those evil, cursed-for-all-time-walking-mummy-type pyramids. More like a Mister-Rogers-sells-dish-soap-to-the-neighbors-and-drives-a-Hummer-type pyramid.

The products are excellent and the up-front money is minimal.
07/12/2006 09:47:51 AM · #22
well, I'm currently doing the "take surveys and earn cash" thing. I'm going thru the sites where you don't have to pay to get a list of survey opportunities.
So far, it's taken about a month to earn thirty dollars (which is the lowest payout level), and it takes about 2 months after requesting payment to get paid.

So it's not a "quick" way to make money at all. However, if you're just looking for a little extra cash every now and then, it's an ok deal.

(Plus I'm hopeful that one of my sweepatakes entries will eventually come up and I won't have to worry about it anymore. Tee Hee. But I'm not holding my breath...)

:)
07/12/2006 10:04:59 AM · #23
here's my 14 year olds plan -

Buys glow sticks - the necklace kind - in bulk around .40 each
Gets a walking vendor pass for concerts and fireworks shows
Drags me along as the money guy
Sells them for $2 each or 3 for $5 until 40 minutes before the show - then it's $1 each

His secret is he cracks a whole case of them at a time - so they are REALLY bright - people come like moths to the flame

On the 4th he took in $250 in an hour and a half
07/12/2006 10:09:35 AM · #24
I shoot portraits, weddings, stock photography, sporting events --- wait... what spare time?
07/12/2006 10:12:50 AM · #25
Just scan in bills, then print them out.
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