This Business Has Your Name Written All Over It

by Cathy Molitoris

Start your own business making novelty cards, CDs, and more!

If you’re enthusiastic, driven to succeed, and energetic, you have what it takes to make it in the home-based and franchise novelties industry. Whether it’s selling candles, personalized books, or gift baskets, there’s something out there for anyone who wants to make money while working for themselves, setting their own hours, and providing a product to be proud of.
Although many products offered in the novelties industry are unique and creative, being a creative person is not a requirement for success, says Katie Zwain, marketing manager for Charmyn Group LLC, who handles OccasionOgraphy. OccasionOgraphy specializes in personalized products, including candy-bar wrappers, “mintbooks,” bottled water labels, and cards.
“To succeed with OccasionOgraphy, you need to have the desire to help people commemorate their special events,” she says. “You don’t need to be creative at all. OccasionOgraphy has over 400 pre-printed products, so all you do is add your client’s message or photo using the software from your start-up package and a laser printer.”
Tim Runner, president of Awesome Specialties International, a company that markets personalized CDs, agrees with Zwain.
“The only creativity you need is finding places you can set up and offer the product,” he says. And although you are selling products, you don’t need to be a “salesperson” or even have extensive sales experience to find success.
“The music sells itself,” says Runner. “All you have to do is get a child’s name and then play the music for the prospect—parents, relatives, grandparents. Once they hear it, they want it. If the child is with them, it’s almost an automatic sale because the child will become very interested and want to listen to the songs with their names being sung in them.”
Andy Concilio of PhotoThrow, which features personalized photo products, says tapping into a business that specializes in personalization is especially lucrative.
“Who doesn’t like an image of their children on various products such as coffee mugs or T-shirts?” he says.
Personalization is one of today’s hottest industries, Zwain says, because people are interested in products they feel connected to. And now’s the perfect time of year to consider the business,
“The best time to start is now, so you’re prepared for the holiday season,” Concilio explains.
Runner agrees, adding, “The holiday season is always the best, but this is truly a year-round business.”
If you’re not sure you can work a home-based business by yourself, don’t worry. With the novelties industry, you get plenty of support and training. OccasionOgraphy, for example, offers phone support, live chat, e-mail contacts, and an online Consultant Resource Center, which features training videos, audio, a newsletter archive, and a frequently-asked-questions section.
Like OccasionOgraphy, most novelty businesses offer a wealth of training that comes with your start-up kit and continues after you begin your business. Conwin Inc., which specializes in balloon decorating opportunities, and Delightful Bouquet, which provides candy bouquets, offer support ranging from newsletters to meetings, Internet chats, sales leads, and phone support.
Runner explains that businesses in the novelties industry don’t need to offer much training material to business owners beyond phone or e-mail support. “Little support is needed because our clients are using standard programs built into their computers to [make samples] and burn CDs,” he says. “There’s no special software to learn or to have fail.”
Think the novelty business might be right for you? Opportunities can range from hundreds of dollars to hundreds of thousands. On the low end, you can get started with PhotoThrow for less than $400. For personalized CDs through Awesome Specialties International, it costs $1,900 for a license to one music library and $2,900 for a license to both of the company’s libraries. OccasionOgraphy’s start-up kit costs $449.
Regardless of the start-up costs, the experts recommend doing your homework when considering an opportunity in the novelty industry.
“Ask yourself, How reputable is the firm you’re looking into?” Concilio suggests. “Are the products guaranteed and can you earn your investment back?”
Runner agrees pointing out that it’s important to consider the business model and profit margin as well.
“You need large markups and low prices to succeed,” he says.
“Before considering any home-business opportunity, you should consider the initial cost, the ongoing cost, the support offered, and the return policy,” Zwain adds.
Once you’ve found an opportunity you want to pursue, go for it—just be sure to dedicate the time and energy it takes to succeed. Even the best company won’t help you get far unless you love what you do.
“Find something you are interested in and understand,” Runner says. “It’s very important that you love the product.”♦