Other Business Ideas?

[Former_Member]

Anyone working on other business ideas? Come share, get feedback, advice, help on moving forward with your ideas, encouragement, and more!

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I'm working on a new website: www.shophealthyjunk.com where I will showcase/sell healthy, all-natural snack foods from small businesses from around the USA using a drop-ship agreement with the vendors. What do you all think of a one-stop shop for healthy, all-natural snack foods? I'm in love with the idea because I love snacking, but am now more cautious about what I'm putting in my body and I'm sure others feel the same. I wanted to create a space where people can find the "junk" foods they love and be able to enjoy them the healthy way. Feedback/ideas are appreciated!

[Former_Member]

I and my son have Celiac Disease, so if you include gluten free items and shops that provide gluten free items, that will generate some interest from people who cannot indulge in regular "junk" foods. :)

[Former_Member]

Great idea Monica! I am definitely speaking to some vendors now who make gluten-free items.

[Former_Member]

So excited! I got my first vendor today! The Great American Popcorn Works of Pennsylvania! WOOO! = D

[Former_Member]

Great idea Jacque! I love healthy snacks, too.
My husband and I own a martial arts school: www.ascensionmartialarts.com
It's interesting to see the parallel challenges of two completely different businesses. We have great customers, but not enough of them yet!

[Former_Member]

Wow! That is great Robin! I want to learn martial arts, I wish I were closer. So much fun doing multiple businesses ideas of things that interests you and your passions!

[PlainJBodyandHome]

Jacque...I love that new idea...how fun! I checked out the website and it looks great so far! I'll be checking back...:)

I want to learn martial arts as well...if I can ever get the tendonitis in my achilles tendon under control, I may take a class. There is something intriguing about know that you can take care of yourself if need be without any tools...:)

I don't have any new business ideas currently, other than I've thought about doing another Etsy shop, but I just really don't have the time. Still trying to get my original shop going. Good luck everyone!

[Former_Member]

I do!!!
I learned a few weeks ago that I'll be losing my current full time job in December (I'm a technical fashion designer) because our whole dpt will be relocated in Europe (and we are in Montreal!)... So I decided to start working on a little project I had in mind for quite some time now...

I'll make great use of my graphic skills by opening a 2nd Etsy shop offering digital printables (birth announcement, gender reveal, baby shower invitation, bday invitation...) I'm currently working on my templstes, would really like to be able to finish everything & open up in the upcoming weeks! :)
Really thrilled with this new project, hope it's going to work out great! :)

[Former_Member]

Thanks Jessica!!! I really want my bath & body business to take off, but in the meantime I want to get other income streams going to generate some traction! = D

[Former_Member]

I've been collecting supplies (new & old) and beading for most of my life (over 20 yrs now) and besides having enough supplies to make creations for my etsy store, I also have lots of bulk supplies laying around that are easy-beading type supplies (i.e. kids with yarn and a scotch-tape-needle could totally have a blast with these big hole/inexpensive wooden and clay and plastic/acrylic beads).

OK SO NOW THE IDEA PART: I was thinking I might advertise my services for Young Girls' Jewelry Parties?! I would bring all the supplies and teach them how to do simple bead stringing and assure they all go home with a handmade bracelet or necklace ..... it would make a neat addition to a homespun backyard bday party, in my opinion.

Has anyone else done anything like this before - I am almost more concerned about liability issues, and organization of the whole shindig, than advertising and supplies as my previous corporate experience was in sales/marketing and like I said I have plenty of supplies and supplies' outlets. Lemmeno if anyone has any suggestions ;-)

Thanks!! (newbie to QYDJ, this is my first post!)

[Former_Member]

Hi Lauren! Welcome to the team! It sounds like a great idea that you have. I do think you would need liability insurance, JUST IN CASE. But you would set up a website where people could book dates/times and you would just show up with the supplies and fun stuff!

[Former_Member]

Thanks Jacque, I do think a great first action would be for me to look into the liability insurance. My store/crafts show appearances run under an LLC but I know thats limited liability, which while its sufficient for sales of jewelry to an end-user, working with little ones probably warrants a bit more protection on my end no matter how safe I make sure to keep the atmosphere. And I do have my own websites already so I am sure I can figure out how to set up a booking page (which is a FANTASTIC idea). Thanks for your input.

[Former_Member]

Jacque: With regards to your healthy junk food venture, if you run into a situation where some special companies you want to sponsor on your site only want to or only can afford to operate through the avenues of sales they have already worked hard to setup at the natural distribution houses, you can always look into joining the distributors' ranks as a "buying club" (not sure if you know of these, might be worth looking into in case you find a worthy vendor who can only go through distributor channels) which would allow you to take orders for some obscure little companies and submit the orders once you meet the distributors minimums for shipment (kinda like how people on etsy group up to place bulk orders). A few great natural distributors are Tree of Life, UNFI, Lotus, Avenue Gourmet, Nature's Best and Threshold Enterprises - they're all pretty darn easy to work with too, and some of them even sell stuff worthy of crafting such as bead supplies, oils, incenses, paper, spices and the likes.

Another great resource is NPA, Natural Products Association, as they have their hands all over the industry and they help run the natural products expo which is the end-all-and-say-all for company presentation and tasting, held once a year.

Been a natural and organic vegetarian for almost 20 years, and obviously spent quite a bit of time (ok way too much time) in the natural products industry on the middleman side of things, so give me a holler if you need help/advice ;-)