My friend and I are trying to go into business selling some embroidered items. Does anyone know where we can get a site that has a reasonable cost to set up our website to sell?

Here is a delightful group. But you'll need to join, no cost. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Sew...

Thank you all, you have given me some good ideas.. I will let you know as we proceed..Darlene

1 comment

by sand 25 Feb 2008

Yes please tell. It is very exciting how things turns out for you.

Hi, For a website of your own, and until you gain your confidence with internet selling, you could try:
http://www.freewebs.com

For just selling your wares if you prefer to avoid Ebay's unfair charges, which have just increased again, you could try http://www.etsy.com/index.php
I have another friend who sells there and she is very pleased with her sales. hope these help, cheers, Meganne

2 comments

by meganne 25 Feb 2008

Later on after you have gained some experience, if you wish to create your own website this place might make a good starting point or graduating step after freewebs,,- http://www.fg-a.com/webhosting.ht... cheers,
Meganne

by marjialexa 25 Feb 2008

Meganne, I haven't sold on eBay for a while, didn't know their charges increased. Just seems like 'everybody' goes there. I've thought of trying Etsy myself, glad to know your friend is pleased, maybe for handcrafted stuff I'll go there. I'll stick with eBay for my 'yard sale' stuff, lol. Thanks for the heads up! Marji

I do some work for small locally owned boutiques. A first I bought some of their products, then I monogrammed or embroidered or both and took them back for the owners to see. They liked my work and I left the things there for their customers to order off of. Just another idea. Good luck to you and your friend. ;)

For your art-pieces I think I would try to make exhibitions at nearby companies, factories, bankers instead. Maybe you could make appointments with there art-club (almost every bigger company has that here) or with some manager. They would have something nice for the employees to look at, and you will sell some pieces everytime. If you make towels and that sort as well, you could arrange to be there for a day or two during a break and sell your things. Just a different suggestion.

1 comment

by shirlener88 25 Feb 2008

sand, thanks for the tips - I might have to use this - for myself. *4U

ddoersch, I too would like to know how to establish a little online business, if you come across anything. Not that I would ever have time to do it. Hehehe! *'s4 all.

ddoersch, I'm not into this kind of thing so can't be of much help, sorry, but here's some hugs and a flower, with best wishes for your new venture.

Best of luck in establishing a business!

I would think seriously about eBay first, because the cost is so low and the exposure is very high, if you write your title and descriptions well. You can also get a PayPal account & take that as payment, which is very safe for both buyer & seller, & really drives your sales up when people can just click & pay that way. There is also www.etsy.com, that caters specifically to hand crafted items. I'm not as familiar with them, but give a look. Websites can be rather expensive for a good one with a shopping cart, etc.; I think I'd test the waters with eBay or something cheaper first, myself. Best of luck to you!! Marji

Try E-bay for sales, other than that, I could not tell you. I know our area has a crafter's mall, but don't do that myself.