Jan 29 2009
Sweet, Simple and For Sale
I went back and forth on this — should I write this post or not? After all, the stamps are retired SU! — I can’t enable you there. The designs are very simple and ordinary — nothing to get excited about. I have a hard time photographing white so the photos are not good representations of how crisp and clean and perky they actually are. That’s a lot of negatives. But, truthfully, I like the cards for what they are, so I decided to share them after all.
All the cards are made with the same three sets: Doodle That, Fine Frames, and Absolutely Fabulous (a greetings set which is not retired). Two of them are window cards; the inside of one is shown in the next photo.
It was time for me to do a little practical stamping for my cards-for-sale basket I keep near my desk at work. I’ve never been much of a salesperson and in the beginning I had no confidence whatsoever that anyone would want to buy my cards. One day I carried a few into work and set up a little basket. Well…I was pleasantly surprised that they did sell and now I like to make an effort to keep the basket stocked. I haven’t been very good about that, but I’d like to do better.
From what I understand, most hand-stamped cards sell for $3.00 - $5.00. Every card I sell, no matter how much work goes into it, is priced on the low end. I do this because I only sell to my co-worker friends in my immediate department. I’m stamping, anyway, and they’re my friends, so it makes sense to me. There are certain things I keep in mind, though, when I’m making cards specifically for the basket.
My first consideration is that they must be mail-friendly, one postage stamp cards. I don’t want my co-workers to have to concern themselves about those matters.
Next, they need to be A2 size (4 1/4″ x 5 1/2″) and either vertical side fold cards, or horizontal top fold cards so they’ll fit into their protective cellophane sleeves. The photo above shows two cards in their sleeves, one open and the other closed. The sleeves give the cards a professional, finished appearance, protect them during handling, allow the inside to be viewed, and assure they don’t become separated from their matching envelope. I purchased my sleeves here, but if you do a Google search on “cello sleeves for cards” you can find lots of sources — different sizes, too.
A third consideration is the time and effort I put into making the cards. While I will frequently put more labor intensive cards in the basket (as long as they meet the other criteria), when I’m stamping specifically to restock my supply, I’ll try to keep it simple but cute. Ribbon and/or hardware of some kind is a plus, as long as it’s not too bulky.
I love taffeta ribbon for a non-bulky knot, but even just a length of ribbon with no knot or bow is nice. Eyelets are a favorite hardware for these cards — they’re lightweight, inexpensive, and virtually bulk free. Folks just love those neat little finished holes in the card, too.
Texture or dimension or any little thing not usually found on store-bought cards is nice — elements cut out or popped up, windows cut or punched in the card front, textured paper, designer paper, layers (but not too many layers) are all good things. Cheerful cards sell best. Cards with useful sentiments that say a little something are good.
I always keep in mind a stamp company’s angel policy, too, which is why I lean toward Stampin’ Up! cards for selling. I know their angel policy is very flexible when it comes to selling. A store’s angel policy is generally stated on their web site.
These are very simple cards, quickly made and quickly sold. I just thought I’d share what works for me because I know there are a lot of you who would like to sell cards but, like I was, are hesitant to take the first step. I’m fortunate to have wonderful and appreciative coworkers who find my mini-card shop a nice little convenience in the middle of their busy lives. Good luck to all my beginning stamper friends who decide to take the plunge into selling! Have a great day!
