Hello everyone, I have been a member of idea cafe for some time now and have received incredible advice and insight - so I am back in a different form . . . its called starting over.

Is it possible to take a hobby and create a $$ making business out of it? I am talking about my love of working with glass - primarily fused glass. I would not consider myself an "artist" as I do know many artists, but I do extremely enjoy creating with glass. I have been on Etsy.com and of course there are literally hundreds of people posting their "fused glass" items, many of which are very nice. My concern is, if so many people are doing it - what chance do I or others have of standing out and distinguishing myself from others in order to make a living doing something that I absolutely love.

As a side note, my husband welds and is very good at his hobby - so we are of course looking at ways to combine our joy of what we like to do - and make some money at it.

I have learned a lot in this forum and appreciate the importance in offering something different. I guess I am venting and hopiing for some sage advice at the same time. So often, just a simple comment can make a lightbulb go on and for some . . . the rest is history.

I appreciate any advice, guidance and straight up honesty. I will continue with my hobby regardless, but it is said so often that in times like these many successful companies are started. That is where I would like to be.

Thank you.

Sj

yes you do want to create some art out of it. Once you have it as art, you could sell it online via your own website, ebay, etsy etc.

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Hello

i'm in a kind of same situation only with a different product,
but i'm hoping to make a business of a hobby.

Here are my plans on how i will try to approach my goal,
and i hope they can help you to get in a good direction.

- Finish my school.

- Write a business plan (even if you do not need finance from a bank)
it will help you get a realistic view on how your business will
succeed, and what you should do to beat your competition.

- Get your own internet site with shopping cart. you could place
video's on your site and youtube, of you creating your products,
to promote your work

- Make brochure with pictures and prices of the products (pictures
and brochure should be done by a profesional, it needs to look
really good to represent you).

- Make appointments with store owners and present your work
and leave the brochure.

I do not have the space at home to transfer it into a shop
and the location is not so good as well, but if you have a good location, it is all the better.

I could have missed a few, but these some basic steps i got in my head that might get my to make a living out of my hobby.

I hope it can help you,
if it does, I do not want all the credit, some tips are from people on this forum

Best of luck

Deny

Thank you everyone for your ideas and encouragement. It is tough to get back on the horse sometimes when you put so much into creating a company to have it not work out the way you plan. So now with your encouragement I will continue to look for ways to take my hobby that brings me joy and turn it into $$.

All the suggestions are worth looking into. At least I will be enjoying what I am doing, while I wait for the market to turn around - which may allow me to take another look at my other company.

Thank you.

Sandie

It is tough to get back into the game. You really have to trust in yourself and want it. Don't let past mistakes in business discourage you. Remember the person the person that created the last business. You are NOT that person anymore. You now have more knowledge and experience. Think about the mistakes you made take ownership in them. If this is something you really have a calling for you will do it. I wish you the best.