| What if you could make more money than you | | | | Tamaira says that running this type of |
| spend this holiday season? Soundslike a | | | | business is fun because it allows herto do |
| pretty good idea, you say? If you'd like to | | | | something she really enjoys. "So it doesn't |
| be on the making moneyend during the | | | | really seem like work,"she says. |
| holidays, now is the time to start preparing. | | | | |
| Below I'm goingto give you several | | | | ONLINE AUCTIONS |
| money-making ideas. Pick the one or two that | | | | |
| interestyou the most and have fun! | | | | The hype of eBay has not gone away, but has |
| | | | only grown. When among a groupof people, I |
| CRAFTS | | | | can usually find someone who has either |
| | | | bought or soldsomething in an online auction. |
| It doesn't matter if you're into woodworking, | | | | Colleen Wallace has made it her business |
| sewing, painting, pottery, orcreating | | | | tosell merchandise online. "The holiday |
| handmade paper. More than ever, people enjoy | | | | season is the best time of year forme. People |
| giving thatone-of-a-kind special gift. You | | | | are always looking for unique and interesting |
| can sell your wares via the Net, at | | | | gifts to give theirloved ones. What better |
| holidaybazaars or craft shows, or even | | | | place to find something different than the |
| consignment style. Once you become known | | | | onlineauctions," says Colleen. Start thinking |
| foryour crafts, word-of-mouth will keep you | | | | about what you might have that youcould sell |
| very busy. | | | | online. Colleen has found that the items that |
| | | | sell well are thosethat can be used for |
| RUBBER STAMPING | | | | stocking stuffers, are limited editions, or |
| | | | are signeditems. |
| One idea is to create your own line of | | | | |
| holiday cards with rubber stamps. | | | | BAKING |
| | | | |
| Melissa Duquette has found this to be a | | | | Then there are the people who cannot stop |
| profitable business. She explains, | | | | baking during the holidays. Areyou the type |
| | | | of person who finds that at the close of the |
| "The card season is upon us and everyone will | | | | season, all ofyour neighbors' refrigerators |
| soon be searching for theperfect holiday card | | | | and cookie jars are bursting at the |
| to send to family and friends. This is your | | | | seamsbecause baking is just your thing? |
| opportunityto break out into business and | | | | Believe it or not, this is not thefavorite |
| create unique hand-stamped holiday cards. | | | | activity of some people. |
| Orwhy not offer a class teaching this great | | | | |
| hobby? Rubber stamping can beworked into so | | | | Stacy Robinson has found that A Holiday Home |
| many different businesses." | | | | Boutique is a fun way tonetwork with others |
| | | | who provide a holiday-related product or |
| I've been to a rubber-stamping party where we | | | | service. Eachvendor displays her product or |
| were able to create our owncards. I had a | | | | information about her service, and friendsand |
| great time hanging out with my friends and | | | | neighbors are invited to come to shop and |
| making my ownunique cards. If you are into | | | | share fellowship. |
| rubber stamping, seriously consider having | | | | |
| arubber stamping card party. You would supply | | | | "As a cake decorator, I sell gingerbread |
| everything needed, and couldcharge either a | | | | houses, as well as display andserve a |
| flat fee or charge per card made. | | | | holiday-themed decorated cake - which the |
| | | | hostesses love becausethis becomes part of |
| T-SHIRTS | | | | the refreshments! Visitors to the boutique |
| | | | get a chanceto taste and see my cakes, and I |
| Kim Moya runs a T-shirt business and finds | | | | take orders for holiday party cakes. I |
| this a way to make extra cashduring the | | | | alsodisplay a few 'dummy cakes' to showcase |
| holidays. She says you can create inexpensive | | | | my designs for birthdays, weddings,etc." |
| holidaysweatshirts, and long- and | | | | |
| short-sleeved T-shirts. And she doesn't stop | | | | The niche market that has been Stacy's |
| at | | | | holiday bread and butter since 1991is selling |
| | | | gingerbread houses to real estate agents. She |
| T-shirts, but also includes tote bags, felt | | | | leaves agingerbread house with order |
| and cloth ornaments, advent andtraditional | | | | information in large real estate offices for |
| calendars, aprons and many other items that | | | | afew days. She also offers free delivery to |
| you can purchasewholesale and sell at retail | | | | the real estate office, ordelivery for a fee |
| prices! | | | | to their home-buying customers and other |
| | | | colleagues, suchas mortgage brokers, closing |
| FLEECE BLANKETS | | | | attorneys, etc. |
| | | | |
| I don't know about you, but I love fleece | | | | PLAN IT RIGHT |
| blankets. I was really excitedwhen I found | | | | |
| out I could make these awesome "Snuggly" | | | | These are just a few ideas you can use to |
| blankets withouthaving to sew a stitch. Cinda | | | | make a little extra cash thisholiday season. |
| Louden has been making these types of | | | | Use your imagination. Remember, people are |
| blanketsfor a while now and explains, "These | | | | more than willingto spend money for that |
| blankets are made out of Polar | | | | special gift and holiday service. Why can't |
| Fleecematerial. They are soft, warm, cozy, | | | | you bethe one who pockets that money? This is |
| durable, and wonderfully 'Snuggly.' | | | | such a great time of year to makeyour |
| | | | business work. |
| There's no sewing or needlework involved; all | | | | |
| you do is cut and tie. Making | | | | Another great reason to consider this type of |
| | | | seasonal work: If you plan itright, you |
| Snugglies is a great way to start and create | | | | shouldn't be working too close to or on the |
| a business, make a little extracash, or just | | | | actual holiday. Beingyour own boss has never |
| make them for gifts. It's all up to you!" | | | | sounded better, now has it? |
| | | | |
| SANTA LETTERS | | | | Start thinking now if you want this to be |
| | | | seasonal work, or if you want tocontinue your |
| Tamaira Sandifer, the owner of Fun Mail For | | | | business into the new year. All of the |
| Kids, has been creating Santa | | | | business ideas I listedabove can be run |
| | | | throughout the year. This could be the start |
| Letters for a while now. "I thought, what | | | | of somethingvery profitable! |
| child wouldn't like to get aletter in the | | | | |
| mail full of goodies just for them from Santa | | | | Additional Resources: |
| Claus. Once Iinformed family and friends | | | | |
| about starting Fun Mail For Kids, the | | | | Ebooks are available on each of the subjects |
| letterspractically sold themselves. Last year | | | | listed above, and each ebookcontains more |
| brought in approximately 680requests, which | | | | information on starting that particular |
| is pretty phenomenal since I don't do much | | | | business. Theyinclude: |
| advertising." | | | | |
| | | | * Bizy's Guide To: Making Snugglies! |