Several people have asked me recently how this business got it’s start. And since this month is our Anniversary, I thought it would be appropriate to have a blog to answer to your questions!

I started making clippies in October 2007 and began by selling at the park to my Mommy-groups and friends. My daughter, Marin, wore them and friends would ask where I’d bought them. Practically everyone asked if I had a website, so I came up with a company name (All About M.E.) and bought a domain (www.hairclippiesforme.com) at Go Daddy. I created my own website using their product “Website Tonight”, but it didn’t have a shopping cart. But I had a place to showcase my clippies and a place people could go to learn about me and the business and it had an email for people to contact me if they wished. I spent a lot of time during the holiday season (September through December) each year trying to find craft fairs, bazaars, holiday boutiques in the area. I could make decent money at them each year. Some require a fee and/or a seller’s permit (I registered my company at www.legalzoom.com and got the DBA and seller’s permit at the same time). So, at a craft fair (I’ve only done fairly small ones, so far) I could make about $100. They can be a lot of work, but they are a great way to get your name out and an immediate way to see if your stuff is liked and is sellable. At www.vistaprint.com, they have free business cards so that is a great place to start with little cash up front – you pay for shipping. I also put my stuff on www.etsy.com and got a fairly good customer base from that. Etsy is easy to use and sell your stuff and they take only a small percentage of each sale.

From Etsy, I met a local store owner who asked me to put my stuff on consignment in her store and I make about $30-$100/mo, depending on the time of year. Last October, I decided that I had put enough work into it that I deserved a “real” website with a shopping cart and the online shopping experience. So I went with Sublime Artistry and Melody Hansen created the website you see now (she is AWESOME!). I do all the work on the admin side at Shopify (the shopping cart). I take and process the clippie pictures, upload them and manage the inventory through the Shopify site. Any design changes or modifications go through Melody. There is a monthly fee for Shopify (plus their fee the take for all sales).

From the website, I had a salon in Nebraska ask if they could buy wholesale and sell my clippies in their salon… so that was cool. I also donate clippies to various causes, participate in local raffles, I market on the internet, I give clippies away for free with my card – WHATEVER!

So I think, overall, I would consider my business a success. But not because I’m making any money LOL! I’ve put a lot of hard work into making something that I am proud of and I consider it a bonus that other people like it and buy them. I keep track of all purchases (from supplies, to my camera and accessories relating to the clippies, to laptop repairs, to holiday craft fair fees, etc.) and I make sure my tax guy uses every last $$ for a tax write off. I keep track of every sale.

In two years, I have put about $8000 into the business (the new website has a large piece of that, as well as my camera and a few other large purchases). I make sure that 90% of that investment is paid for… meaning I don’t put it on a credit card. I have made about $3500. So you can see that I have not been “successful” in making a profit yet from a monetary perspective. My new website just launched last April, so I want to give it some time to gain some ground and pay for itself.

I do not do this full-time. I think (and fantasize LOL!) that if I COULD do it full-time, I would be rockin’! I have so many ideas, a quality product but not enough time. I have two small children and I do not work on my business until they are in bed – I’m usually working from 8pm-11 or midnight. My husband is our provider and I’m thankful that he supports this.

If you are thinking of starting a home business, my advice would be to start small, try to do the free stuff (free business cards, trade design work for clippies, look for free photo book promotions, etc.) and let the business drive YOU – unless you have no issue with funding, of course. Call on your friends, and their friends, for feedback and comments. Start selling to them or give your stuff away for free in trade for something (help with babysitting, etc.). Look for holiday boutiques and keep track of venues, contacts, numbers and dates so you can use it again next year. Stay organized and don’t let the clippies get away from ya!

If anyone is starting a clippie business and has additional questions for M.E., I will answer them. It has been difficult for me to find FREE and helpful information myself, so now that I have some experience to share – I would be delighted to help others on their way!

Good luck!

Posted by Julie Covey on October 14, 2009