Cat Purse Tote

I want to make and sell tote bags and purses with pet portraits on them.?

I paint pet portraits. I want to make more $$$. Who doesn't?

What are your opinions about tote bags and purses with pet portraits on them? I sew too.

Do you think that they would sell and if so, what do you think a good price would be?

Think about a regular canvas tote bag with a washable, hand painted portrait of your cat or dog or hampster (whatever) and sequins and rhinestones sewn on for glitz. What do you think I could charge?

Think about a canvas Hobo bag with a pet portrait and glitz (Sequins and rhinestones) What would you pay for that?

Now, if the bags were premade, if I painted them with generic dog and cat breeds to supply a boutique what would you pay versus a special order with your own dog or cat or whatever on it?

What would a good price be? I don't want to be unreasonable to my customers or to myself. So, your feedback is appreciated!

Thank you

I recommend starting with Marketing 101: C and the 4 Ps.

C is your Customer. Who is she? Age, geographic region, income level, educational level, family status, etc. While you'll certainly sell a bag to anyone with the cash, who is your primary customer - the one most likely to buy your product? You may have more than one target customer, e.g. direct consumers and also area retailers. You'll need to define each customer and rethink the 4 Ps for each of them.

The first P is Product: you've got that pretty well defined. Although a survey of likely customers is always a good idea to look for ways to refine your product. What colors, materials, sizes, etc. are most preferable?

The next P is Price: This should be determined by three factors: (1) what the going rate for similar products is, (2) what your cost to produce is, including your time, and (3) what your customers expect to pay. If your main customer is women earning $100,000+ annually, you don't want to price it cheap. If she's a Wal Mart regular, you don't want to price it high. You get the idea.

The next P is Place. Where will you make these? Where will you sell them? Out of your house? Online through eBay? Local gift shops? Art fairs? Where do customers seek out similar products currently?

Finally, the last P is Promotion. How will you make customers aware of this product? Personal selling? Magazine or Newspaper ads? Through other retailers? Don't forget the power of public relations here: sending out press releases can pull in a mountain of free advertising if done right.

Two last recommendations:

Make a list of all known competitors. Determine what competitive edge your product has over each of them that will make customers buy from you. Price? Quality? Selection? Availability? Appearance? If you can't identify that advantage, you need to rethink the product.

Make a 12 month revenue and expense projection. List all of our monthly costs - variable ones like materials utilities and advertising expenses as well as fixed ones like internet, cell phone, insurance, etc. Add in your (conservative) estimates of how many products you'll sell and at what price. This helps in determining how much money to spend (and where), and to verify that this will be a profitable venture!

Good luck! Have fun!

Cat Purse $5.99 Laura Linse Cat Purse - Art Print

Lucky Star Cat Coin Purse $9.99 Lucky Star Cat Coin Purse

Black Cat Purse - Scaredy Cat $18.95 The black cat goes well with a number of different looks ? your own cat costume, witch, or anything in between! This Scaredy Cat purse is versatile to go with many of your Halloween outfits! Stylish with yellow eyes but functional for carrying all of your party needs, this Black Cat Purse will be a boon for the Halloween celebrator on the go! Grab the Scaredy Cat and bring along the Halloween spirit with this Black Cat Purse ? you won't need to worry about balancing having to store the necessities with the style of your costume!

SPOT Pink Purse & Pillow with Catnip Cat Toys $2.95 SPOT Pink Purse & Pillow with Catnip Cat Toys

Cats are like Potato Chips / Purse Pets Tote Bag by CafePress $21 Cats are like potato chips, you can never have just one. For that crazy cat lady you know Is it you? Pets Tote Bag Our 100% cotton canvas tote bags have plenty of room to carry everything you need when you are on the go. They include a bottom gusset and extra long handles for easy carrying. 10 oz heavyweight natural canvas fabric. Full side and bot

6 Gray Cat-Hand Purse(Pack of 36) $11.99 6" Gray Cat-Hand Purse. Zipper closure on top.

10.5 Red Fabric Tote/Purse for Valentine's Day $9.99 10.5" Pure Valentine's Day Red Fabric Tote/Purse. Decorated with pink hearts, send your love with this adorable Valentines Tote.

Fashion Brand New Hello Kitty shoulder bag tote handbag purse $20 Fashion Brand New Hello Kitty shoulder bag tote handbag purse

Women's Missy Miss Tote Purse $35.99 Metal Mulisha Women's Missy Miss Tote Purse Metal Mulisha white canvas tote with allover black lace print, corset-like black satin lacing at the sides, metal tack logo at center front, and black shiny faux leather applique with pink embroidery. 18"W x 10"H x 5"D

Cat Cat Tote Bag by CafePress $18 A great Tote for Everyday use Cat Tote Bag Our 100% cotton canvas tote bags have plenty of room to carry everything you need when you are on the go. They include a bottom gusset and extra long handles for easy carrying. 10 oz heavyweight natural canvas fabric. Full side and bot

Costume Purse Scaredy Cat $12.74 Item # 5929. Spooky black cat handbag with yellow eyes and an arched back. Raised, curved tail makes a purr-fect handle. Size: One Size Color: As Shown

Hello Kitty black leather-like tote bag purse with silver bow tote bag handbag HG1 $12.99 Hello Kitty black leather-like tote bag purse with silver bow tote bag handbag

Purse/Tote Rings 4/Pkg-Unfinished Light Wood(Pack of 1) $1.99 Purse/Tote Rings 4/Pkg-Unfinished Light WoodEVERYTHING MARY-Purse/Tote Rings. High-quality purse or tote rings perfect for your handmade projects! Choose from a wide variety of finishes; shapes and sizes: each set sold separately. Imported.

Ethical Pet Cat Toy Gift Purse $5.38 Fashionable Holiday Gift Purse For Cats. Filled With 12 Assorted Toys That Will Please Any Finicky Kitty. Includes: Jingle Balls, 1 Rattle Football, 3 Plush Mice With Catnip, 2 Sponge Balls, 1 Glitter Ball With Catnip And 1 Sponge Ball With Glitter Strand Search_Phrases: Cat Toys,Cat,Dog,Dog Toy,Cat Products,Ethical Christmas,Ethical Pet Cat Toy Gift Purse

Kansas City Chiefs MVP Jersey Tote Purse $39.95 When you want first class, you want this Kansas City Chiefs NFL MVP Jersey Tote Purse. Made from authentic jersey-style material and featuring such luxuriant details as a zipper closure, an oversized tackle twill appliquéd logo, and a faux V-neck collar. There are two interior pockets: one large zippered pocket and one smaller open pocket. The adjustable strap extends to 45", so the tote can be worn over the shoulder or cross body. The purse is approximately 13.5" x 13.5" x 4" in size. The MVP Jersey Tote is the "in" accessory whether you’re interested in this football season or this fashion season.

Dallas Cowboys MVP Jersey Tote Purse $39.95 When you want first class, you want this Dallas Cowboys NFL MVP Jersey Tote Purse. Made from authentic jersey-style material and featuring such luxuriant details as a zipper closure, an oversized tackle twill appliquéd logo, and a faux V-neck collar. There are two interior pockets: one large zippered pocket and one smaller open pocket. The adjustable strap extends to 45", so the tote can be worn over the shoulder or cross body. The purse is approximately 13.5" x 13.5" x 4" in size. The MVP Jersey Tote is the "in" accessory whether you’re interested in this football season or this fashion season.

Tennessee Titans MVP Jersey Tote Purse $39.95 When you want first class, you want this Tennessee Titans NFL MVP Jersey Tote Purse. Made from authentic jersey-style material and featuring such luxuriant details as a zipper closure, an oversized tackle twill appliquéd logo, and a faux V-neck collar. There are two interior pockets: one large zippered pocket and one smaller open pocket. The adjustable strap extends to 45", so the tote can be worn over the shoulder or cross body. The purse is approximately 13.5" x 13.5" x 4" in size. The MVP Jersey Tote is the "in" accessory whether you’re interested in this football season or this fashion season.

Pittsburgh Steelers MVP Jersey Tote Purse $39.95 When you want first class, you want this Pittsburgh Steelers NFL MVP Jersey Tote Purse. Made from authentic jersey-style material and featuring such luxuriant details as a zipper closure, an oversized tackle twill appliquéd logo, and a faux V-neck collar. There are two interior pockets: one large zippered pocket and one smaller open pocket. The adjustable strap extends to 45", so the tote can be worn over the shoulder or cross body. The purse is approximately 13.5" x 13.5" x 4" in size. The MVP Jersey Tote is the "in" accessory whether you’re interested in this football season or this fashion season.

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My Coach Purse/Handbag Collection

Find Your Niche in the Quilting Business; Make and Sell Quilted Accessories

If you want to start a quilting business but don't want to make actual quilts, how about selling quilted accessories?

Quilted accessories include a wide range of products: home d?r, clothing, pet accessories... and more!

In the home d?r category, your business could make and sell quilted potholders and matching aprons with pockets that coordinate with the potholder pattern. You could make and sell quilted oven mitts.

Table runners and mantel drapes are also popular quilted items for the home. Quilted placemats and coasters are also ideas.

For a living room, den, bedroom, dining room or kitchen quilted wall hangings are popular. These can be custom made to coordinate with your client's own interior colors and style.

For a guest room or bathroom, why not quilt covers for a tissue box or photo or mirror frame? Quilted pillowcases are also good sellers.

Take the idea of home d?r to a smaller scale and perhaps your quilting business could be making quilted items for doll houses. Many collectors will pay top dollar to have their dollhouse beds accented with tiny little quilts. Such quilts would also be a niche business for baby dolls. Little girls love their dolls and many parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles would pay good money to have a special quilt made for a special doll!

Holidays open up a wide range of options for home d?r as well. Keep that in mind if your quilting business will focus on home d?r. Your quilting business could actually focus on holiday items.

Christmas ornaments, stockings, wall hangings, table decorations...the possibilities for that one holiday alone are endless! Imagine if your quilting business focused on all holidays.

For January, quilted d?r featuring snowmen and snowflakes would be popular for the winter theme. February is Valentine's Day. Focus for that holiday would be on quilted items with hearts, cupids, etc. March brings St. Patricks' Day and Spring.

April is Easter, and brings another slew of quilted holiday items to mind. Baskets made from quilted strips of fabric would be gorgeous. Patchwork eggs stuffed to perfection would also be fun items.

May and June bring graduations along with Mother's and Father's days. These months are great for quilted photo frames or scrapbooks with a quilted cover.

July's patriotic theme would be great inspiration for quilted home de'cor as well. August and September sends children (and teachers) back to school. Quilted notebooks, tote bags, pencil cases would be great accessories for those months. Halloween and Thanksgiving also offer endless possibilities for home d&eacutecor, too. Use your imagination!

Quilted apparel could include a number of items as well. Belts and headbands are popular accessories. Quilted jackets are a higher ticket item you could make and sell. You could add small quilt blocks to simple cardigans as pockets. Combine your jackets with a matching quilted cap or tote bag and increase your price accordingly!

Other quilted accessories you could make include cell phone holders, lip gloss pouches, and eye glass cases. Coin purses and wallets are other ideas for quilted accessories. Purses and tote bags are also very popular items that translate nicely into quilted products.

The pet niche can be so much fun. People of all ages love to buy things for their pets. For cats and dogs, quilted carrying cases are good sellers. Pet beds are another top item.

Pet clothing is also very popular. Small dogs generally need the added warmth of a coat in the winter. Quilted coats, jackets and shawls are good sellers for pet clothing. Create a package by including the quilted coat or jacket along with a matching quilted hat.

No matter which niche you choose, any of these areas would offer great sales opportunities for your own quilting business.

About the Author

Penny Halgren
http://www.TheQuiltingCoach.com
Penny has been a quilter for more than 27 years. She enjoys exploring all aspects of quilting and sharing her knowledge with all quilters. If you are looking for an Internet quilting club with a wide variety of resources for all level quilters, check out http://www.TheQuiltingCoach.com .