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